Attempting homemade incubator

[KNAndrs]

So my Grandfather was an amature chicken farmer when it wasn't popular to raise chickens in the backyard during the 1940s-60s. I got my first meat bird pen from his backyard this past spring and have expanded what I have. Since he died 2 years ago I was able to go through and raid his supplies again. Needless to say my Grandfather was a bit of a pack rat and a finish carpenter, we have spent a lot of time going through his things and now I am going to repurpose his treasures. I got so many amazing things to attempt to build a chicken incubator. An old styrofoam cooler, sections of hardware cloth, light sockets, plexiglass, tin and more. Pictures to come in the coming weeks.

I bought a thermostat and a thermometer/hygrometer today as well. A computer fan is all that is left.

I have to stop learning about chickens one of these days.

Growing the flock,
Pastor Ken

 

[laceynoelle]

oooh, let us know how it turns out!!! I havent yet been able to make one that actually works, but eventually!!

 

[aprophet]

the wafer t-stat is the cheapest that actually works well https://www.gqfmfg.com/store/comersus_viewItem.asp?idProduct=147 I use them on my HB's on my homade incys I use johnson controls electronic t-stats http://www.apexcontrols.com/A419ABC-1C-Johnson-Controls.aspx?gclid=CPvc9_O5uKsCFWhgTAodHRmkcQ they both work well in the last 2-3 years I have hatched hundreds of quail using my 2 homemades and I recently bought another HB I have also hatch 50-100 chickens any incubator has a learning curve it has certain things you need to do to get it to work right most folks do not take the time to learn these things and then blame a certain brand of bator LOLOLOL good luck with your project READ as much as you can about how a egg is constructed how it develops potential problems and after a coupla hatches you will see what you did not do right and what you did do right

http://gallus.tamu.edu/library/extpublications/b6092.pdf

http://www.ansci.umn.edu/poultry/resources/gamebirds.htm

https://www.backyardchickens.com/media/b-5084.pdf

 

[Dingo]

Mine is made of an old coleman cooler and a normal WH thermostat. It works great, hatched 2 emu eggs in it (56 days + of non stop running) and now it's cookin' come quail for me.
I have notice the air temp fluxuates by about 5 degrees, but the thermometers I have in a couple of water snake toys are holding a pretty steady temp of 99-100 degrees. my only complaint is it's a PITA to adjust the thermostat given it's location.

 

[jnkir7]

i made one out of an old end table , the kind with a door on the front , works great i had a lot of problems getting temperature to hold good untill i got a wafer thermastat, i tried others but this is the only one that actually works, i even put one on my little giant now it works great too. i highly recomend it janie

 

[Arielle]

How exciting to repurpose your grandfather's things into a incubator/hatcher. Many good diagrams here on BYC to help with set up and wiring. I'm between hatches and have been playing with new locations for the WHT (home depot). I also suggest water jar heat sinks as you will have room in a cooler, I'm assumming a large cooler. I used my grandfather's cooler too which I got after he passed away. I love seeing it and remembering him . . .

Fan--Find a cheep one at Home Depot for about $6-7. Much cheaper than a new PC fan. If you can find a free PC fan and free adaptor, they work too. Wiring takes a little work but I did it and I have never wired anything in my life! LOL I also wired the bottle lamp and WHT together. See Miss PRissy's diagrams and others for help.

I had a hard time getting the temp regulated. A frustrating process, but very rewarding when it's finally just right.

Loads of help here on BYC when you have a specific question during construction. GL