Best Incubator (Low Budget)

[Welshies]

Don't know what to tell you, then. Incubators are either expensive or you have to wire them yourself.

There exist some options where you might be able to avoid much wiring but they end up just as expensive as buying one like junebuggena suggested.

I can avoid wiring completely if I spend $5 on an appropriate cooler, cut a hole in, use a light socket you can plug into the wall (already have one), use plastic or glass for the top viewing window (already have one), get a digital thermometer and hygrometer ($5-$10), and a light. I can also use a fan (it would give a better hatching rate), but if it's still air I can then use water bottles to manage heat spots. I can test out the light for my box, and if I need more or less wattage I can then adjust. Once I find the perfect wattage I should be fine if my incubator is kept in a very stable temperature.

 

[BantyChooks]

I can avoid wiring completely if I spend $5 on an appropriate cooler, cut a hole in, use a light socket you can plug into the wall (already have one), use plastic or glass for the top viewing window (already have one), get a digital thermometer and hygrometer ($5-$10), and a light. I can also use a fan (it would give a better hatching rate), but if it's still air I can then use water bottles to manage heat spots. I can test out the light for my box, and if I need more or less wattage I can then adjust. Once I find the perfect wattage I should be fine if my incubator is kept in a very stable temperature.

Good luck.

 

[Welshies]

Good luck.

Not sure if that was meant or not, but if so, thank you.

 

[BantyChooks]

Not sure if that was meant or not, but if so, thank you.

I meant it.

Let us know how it turns out.

 

[Smuvers Farm]

I suggest a DIY incubator. I made one for under $45 & it's so rock solid in temperature that incubation is boring when compared to the exciting times with my LG.

I can elaborate with plans if you wish.

Is this what you posted in post #18 on this thread? If not, I'll take those plans!

 

[BantyChooks]

Is this what you posted in post #18 on this thread? If not, I'll take those plans!

It is, yes. The re-build.

 

[Acre4Me]

Here is my homemade incubator (for Quail) from last November. Also found incubators expensive and didn't want to invest when I had never incubated eggs nor taken care of chicks (maybe I would never do it again). A styrofoam cooler (cheap). free plexiglass - I asked nicely at the big box hardware store if they had any scraps from cutting plexiglass). The heat shield is just from an old lunchbox (free), but was needed to keep the heat more even inside as I did not have a fan. Some rocks (free and cleaned) at the bottom to try to keep the heat in better when I would open to manually turn the eggs. I used the cardboard egg holder (free when I bought the eggs) and leaned it at a 45 degree angle on a wood crossbar. 3x per day I would turn 180 degrees and put bottom tray on top. I did wire in a dimmer switch and this was useful as sometimes the temp got a bit high, even though it was only a 25W bulb - behind the heat shield. I can't say this was perfect, but I did get a good hatch rate. I set 55 eggs (a few on the bottom) - some were from very young hens and may not have been viable or fertilized. I ended up getting rid of about 12 that were not fertilized (clear when candled at day 10), and hatched 32 live chicks. two chicks died trying to hatch, and about 6 partially or nearly fully developed but did not hatch for one reason or another. Overall, a pretty good hatch rate for a complete novice with a homemade bater.

 

[Annrw4369]

I suggest a DIY incubator. I made one for under $45 & it's so rock solid in temperature that incubation is boring when compared to the exciting times with my LG.

I can elaborate with plans if you wish.

I would like to know how you made yours I’m considering a diy incubator

 

[mcdze]

i researched it awhile back, and this design is pretty awesome ..