Cabinet incubator design help

[akaruby]

Decided to build a cabinet incubator this weekend. I have leftover cabinets after we recently put in a dishwasher. Pretty excited!

Here is the link I'm going off of for my design. I won't have plexiglass in the front, but will put a plexiglass window on one of the sides
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/als-homemade-cabinet-incubator

For those of you who build your own incubator...I think I'm going to put the 2 90w bulbs in the top with pc fans or small tabletop fans blowing on those like @Sally Sunshine cabinet cooler bator. I'll place the wafer thermostat in that area as well.

I also would have the hatcher in the bottom. Should I put water tray in the top with the fans and lights or in the bottom separated by hardware cloth?

Placing online orders for supplies soon.


Any suggestions for success welcome!

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Decided to build a cabinet incubator this weekend. I have leftover cabinets after we recently put in a dishwasher. Pretty excited!

Here is the link I'm going off of for my design. I won't have plexiglass in the front, but will put a plexiglass window on one of the sides
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/als-homemade-cabinet-incubator

For those of you who build your own incubator...I think I'm going to put the 2 90w bulbs in the top with pc fans or small tabletop fans blowing on those like @Sally Sunshine cabinet cooler bator. I'll place the wafer thermostat in that area as well.

I also would have the hatcher in the bottom. Should I put water tray in the top with the fans and lights or in the bottom separated by hardware cloth?

Placing online orders for supplies soon.


Any suggestions for success welcome!

Cant wait for your Build!! Good Luck!!

 

[akaruby]

Thanks! Found the wiring diagrams for the wafer thermostat, not as hard as a thought. I'm just not sure if it matters to have water pan on the bottom or top part of the bator

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Thanks! Found the wiring diagrams for the wafer thermostat, not as hard as a thought. I'm just not sure if it matters to have water pan on the bottom or top part of the bator

mine is at the fans, not sure actually I can put it in the bottom and tell you what changes? but I only have one running and its jam packed
so now isnt the time to mess with it lol

 

[akaruby]

I'll be testing mine out for a few days and I'll see if placing the water on top or bottom makes a big difference,

 

[HatchCraft]

The only problem I see with placing the water on the bottom is, bits of shell and debris will contaminate the water. Assuming you are using a hatching tray with a wire bottom. Not a big problem if you're cleaning out the water pan after each hatch.

 

[akaruby]

That's a good point, I will be cleaning it out though after each hatch

 

[akaruby]

I am going to put the fans and lights in the top of the incubator, water in the bottom and will hatch down there too. I will cut out the middle of the shelf and put hardware cloth in the middle for better air flow.

 

[akaruby]

So I'm starting my build this weekend and I'm torn on if lighting and fans should be at the top or bottom of the incubator. I've seen people do it both ways, does anyone have experience with doing it either way?

 

[akaruby]

I finished my incubator and so far so good. Humidity holding steady and temperature too! My hatching drawer in the top is about 94-95 degrees. I'm assuming that's too low to hatch? What suggestions do you have to raise temperature for lockdown while other eggs are in the turner?

Here's a pic