Building your own incubator

[Lil Zoo]

Can people who have built their own incubator tell of their sucess or failure with this. Ideas on what has worked for them. They have a section on how I know.

 

[frenchblackcopper]

If your a good carpenter,,they can easily be made just as reliable as the higher priced ones,,,digital humidity and temp controls,,auto turners,circulation fans,,,ect,,,I will have my Brinsea 190 EX for sale this winter,,,it may be too big for you,but mine has been running non stop since mid april,,and after tonight will still run another 28 days,,,then ornamental pheasany eggs will get cooked and rotated.If you know someone good at woodworking,,,give it a try,,better than the styrofoam ones by a long shot

 

[MamaBear46]

WE have built homemade reptile inc. but I am not sure what the chicken eggs would need...... but ill telll you about the snake eggs....10 gal fish tank 3/4 full of water 3 heaters plastic box with holes in the top and peat moss bedding and a black trash bog over the top.....taped down and temp guage.

 

[Stephanie739]

I have gotten about 85% success rates in my homemade styrofoam and light bulb still air incubator. I have learned a lot because I have to monitor everything. Its about as basic as can be.

Edited: this percentage includes the cracked eggs that didn't hatch...

 

[frenchblackcopper]

I at one time had to borrow 2 styrafoam incubators because Resolution sent me 4 dozen eggs when I wasn't expecting them,,since then the sight of those incubators gets my blood pressure up,,maybe change the name to ulcerbator?

 

[fried green eggs]

My incubators arn't fancy but, they work. I have made 2 igloo incubators this spring. I had one for incubating and small one for hatching so hatches could be stagered. I later stripped the small igloo and made a larger hatcher bator. I put a fan in both. The incubator has a light bulb controlled by thermostat and a auto-turner. my hatcher bator has a crock-pot heating element - controlled by thermostat. I had 100% hatch rate on my home-grown fertile eggs, 10 out of 12 hathced on eggs - I drove 2 hours to get (2 not fertile) , Shipped eggs hatch rate 0% to 80% and I incubated 4 free turkey eggs (after hen left nest) 3 out of 4 hatched -one bad died early in development.

 

[Lil Zoo]

If your a good carpenter,,they can easily be made just as reliable as the higher priced ones,,,digital humidity and temp controls,,auto turners,circulation fans,,,ect,,,I will have my Brinsea 190 EX for sale this winter,,,it may be too big for you,but mine has been running non stop since mid april,,and after tonight will still run another 28 days,,,then ornamental pheasany eggs will get cooked and rotated.If you know someone good at woodworking,,,give it a try,,better than the styrofoam ones by a long shot

Some years back family member had crafting business things went south. He needed money and to help him out we bought his saws etc, I thought it would be a nice project this winter to try. I also have two little college refrigerators that I had thought might be well insulated and might work to convert to incubators. I agree the foam ones really need close monitoring. I did good with chicken eggs but peas are more particular.
I seen yours and it would be pretty big for me. It really a good one you should easily get rid of it to a bigger breeder it would work for chicken, peafowl all eggs wouldn't it?

 

[Lil Zoo]

My incubators arn't fancy but, they work. I have made 2 igloo incubators this spring. I had one for incubating and small one for hatching so hatches could be stagered. I later stripped the small igloo and made a larger hatcher bator. I put a fan in both. The incubator has a light bulb controlled by thermostat and a auto-turner. my hatcher bator has a crock-pot heating element - controlled by thermostat. I had 100% hatch rate on my home-grown fertile eggs, 10 out of 12 hathced on eggs - I drove 2 hours to get (2 not fertile) , Shipped eggs hatch rate 0% to 80% and I incubated 4 free turkey eggs (after hen left nest) 3 out of 4 hatched -one bad died early in development.

That sounds good. I noted today my styrofoam bator seems to be warping. I ran some insulation foam tape around it to seal the sides more. I haven't noticed temp changes but suspect if it gets worse I will. I don't think they are built to last.

 

[fried green eggs]

Warping maybe from heat inside? Maybe you could put some Tin foil as a heat shield on the styrofoam by the light bulb? Check garage sales & resale places they often have have the plastic type of cooler really cheap for your next hatch. I hope this hatch goes well for you!

 

[fried green eggs]

Can people who have built their own incubator tell of their sucess or failure with this. Ideas on what has worked for them. They have a section on how I know.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...home-made-incubators-whether-they-work-or-not How many hours of reading do you want ? Lots of good information!