Attention DIY Bator Builders and Designers....I need your input!

[Serrin]

OK, I've had it! I have just utterly and completely HAD IT with this silly LG still air incubator in trying to get the temperature regulated.

Just had it up to my eyeballs and beyond!

So, what's the solution to the LG frustration. Why, build my own cabinet type bator myself, of course!

I've been gleaning through some of the other cabinet designs that others have submitted here at BYC, and some of them are very clever and impressive! Nice work folks!

. I've gotten some really good ideas and some things that I've seen that make me kind of scratch my head and think, well, I'm sure they had their reasons...

What I would really appreciate is to hear from those who have already built a cabinet type bator themselves who have learned from their experiences. What would you do differently if you were going to do it all over again? What design elements do you really like in your bator and what things did you do that you now really wish you hadn't?

So far, I know that I'd like my bator to be a three shelf affair with a large fourth shelf area in the very bottom for the water trays/sponges, water jars as heat sinks and the like. I'm also thinking that in addition to a glass top and front, I might put in a slender window in one side just for additional viewing. It will have at least one small fan scavenged from an old dead computer, possibly a second one. I can't remember if there's one or two in this big old hunk of junk under my desk!

But, there will be at least one.

I'll be salvaging the heating element from the LG for the heat source but I'll ditch the thermostat for a more accurate and controllable one meant for a hot water tank. I'm thinking that my light source will be from several of the small LED bulb night lights as they don't produce any heat and therefore won't interfere with the thermostat.

I also have the egg turner that came with the LG when I bought it. I'd like to find two more on the cheap if possible, but for my first run with this cabinet bator, one will be sufficient.

So, that's my plans thus far. If anyone has good/great ideas that they think I should incorporate into this design, please give a shout out! I'm a fairly competent builder of anything I set my mind to, and what I might lack in knowledge, the DH is sure to know. After all, if we could take this:

and in three years, turn it into this......

........

I think we can handle a little chicken incubator, don't you?

But I need your help fellow BYC'ers! I really do want to hear from anyone and everyone who has ever designed/built a cabinet type bator. And those of you who built the table top models, I'd love to hear from you as well! I know you have great ideas lurking in your minds too!!

ETA: If I've placed this in the wrong forum, could a moderator please move it for me and then let me know where it has been moved to? Thanks!

 

[rrhall]

That is a very nice Log Cabin you have there,you should not have any trouble building a incubator.
I built a home made incubator it is made out of 3/4" plywood,and I made it big enough to have four shelf's in it.Two of the shelf's have LG egg turners on them and the other two are use for hatching at lock down.I have found that I been using just one of the shelf's for hatching and been using the other one for putting extra water bowl on for lock down.

Things I would change.
The only thing I would have changed is,I would have made the cabinet 2" deeper so the air can be moved easier.
I am also wanting to put a auto watering system on it,I just haven't had it shut down long enough to add one,it has been running 24/7 since I made it.

Things I like.
I like the electronic end of it,set your temp and it does the rest.
I also like,that I was able to use my LG egg turners in it.
I installed a switch and light for each device,you can glance at the control panel and see what is going on.

Things that I did,that I wish I hadn't.
A few miss drilled holes,good thing for white sealant.

If your going to build a 3 to 4 shelf incubator,I do not think the salvage heating element from the LG is going to be big enough.You would be better off getting a 230 to 250 watt heating element for a cabinet that size.

My first test run,I set seven Buckeye eggs and six hatched.

Good Luck

 

[Serrin]

Hey rrhall! Thanks very much for your input. Your incubator is an amazing looking unit! I've looked at a lot of home made bators and yours is one of the best looking ones I've seen yet! I think I even recall seeing it in another thread if I'm not mistaken.

On the issue of the heating element: Can you be a bit more specific? If you were going to cannibalize one from something else, what, in your opinion, would be an appropriated appliance to take it from? Maybe something out of a toaster oven perhaps? If you can give me some kind of an idea, I'd very much appreciate it.

I did give a little bit of thought to purchasing the heating element for a small hot water tanks as those only require 110v to run as opposed to the bigger units needing 220v. If you were going to put a second element in, where do you think would be the most effective location? Middle? Lower? Upper? As we all know heat rises. I was thinking maybe one located lower down, perhaps situated to be a few inches below the lowest incubating shelf, would be ideal. Your thoughts?

I'm also curious as to the dimensions of your unit. How many eggs can it comfortably handle at a time? Do you feel comfortable in using it with staggered hatches? You mention that you have it running 24/7 and that made me think that perhaps you are doing just that. If so, how is that working out for you?

Just a few more questions on your unit that I hope you're willing to answer: Did you insulate the walls and top of your unit? I can't really tell from your pictures as the interior looks as though it has a professional fiberglass finish on it. Very nice!

It would be nice to know what you did utilize for your cabinet.

Have you ever felt the need to have additional thermometers in yours due to what appears to be a respectable sized interior? Or do you feel that the two fans are more than adequate to keep the air an even temperature from top to bottom? Due to the size I'm planning for mine, I'm concerned that two might not be enough. (approximately 20"w x 20"d x 36"h)

I'm sure I'll have more questions for you as time goes by. Thank you so much for your kind input thus far. And thank you for the compliments on our home. We have 3 years into it thus far and the better part of a year left before we are finished. I'm hoping this little side trip of mine into building an incubator doesn't take up too much time. I have tons of work on the house to do and it isn't going to get done all on it's own!

Thanks again and happy hatching!

 

[rrhall]

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