Can you take me through the process of building a homemade incubator?

[Arielle]

This is Miss prissy's design ; DH , my kids and I put it together yesterday. https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=8510

1.single pole water heater thermostat--Home Depot (do not alter it; the new designs can be ruined by modifying it according to one post who opened it to test this theory); I chose this over wafer because it was readily available and if it fails I can get another during store hours, and not wait for it to be mailed.

2.bottle socket easy to work with(Walmart); I used a long wire 14" from light to WHT to move WHT where I needed it either next to bulb or other end of cooler.

3. Fan--bought a desk fan for $7-8 at Walmart. ( Didn't have another free PC fan and adapter)

4. I added heat sinks + bottles of water, as many as I could fit.

5. Glass pane--I used a picture frame with glass from Salvation Army ( a second hand store)

Good Luck and enjoy the building; it's frustrating a moments and enormously satisfying when it works!

 

[Elite Silkies]

Quote:
That is the hatcher, and I am not sure how many eggs it holds, but a lot more than my incubator will hold. The hatcher is actually flipped upside down, due to the heating element needing to be on the bottom. I have to fix it and flipped it right side up again.

My incubator will hold 126 because I just use the hovabator turners.

 

[cmom]

This is one I made. I did not put a thermostat in it but am thinking about it. The light is on a dimmer switch and I use a 15 watt bulb so if the temperature goes up it won't go high enough to cook the eggs.

 

[Jloeffler]

Quote:
That is the hatcher, and I am not sure how many eggs it holds, but a lot more than my incubator will hold. The hatcher is actually flipped upside down, due to the heating element needing to be on the bottom. I have to fix it and flipped it right side up again.

My incubator will hold 126 because I just use the hovabator turners.

Okay! I thought you were cool after the whole taking classes, doing the mom thing, and not losing your mind at the same time! But now I know you are! I can't imagine getting to the point where I am set up to hatch like you are doing, but I sure would love to be someday!

 

[quintinp]

Quote:
You actually should alter the thermostat, I did it twice with my two homemade incubators and got GREAT hatches and great temps. Here is a video on how to properly alter the thermostat to make it WAY better, Thanks Rebel Rooster!

This is a picture of the kind of water heater thermostat that I use

 

[Elite Silkies]

Quote:
That is the hatcher, and I am not sure how many eggs it holds, but a lot more than my incubator will hold. The hatcher is actually flipped upside down, due to the heating element needing to be on the bottom. I have to fix it and flipped it right side up again.

My incubator will hold 126 because I just use the hovabator turners.

Okay! I thought you were cool after the whole taking classes, doing the mom thing, and not losing your mind at the same time! But now I know you are! I can't imagine getting to the point where I am set up to hatch like you are doing, but I sure would love to be someday!

YOu crack me up!! I also have 4 more styrofoam bators for backup

I don't hatch that much during class time, but since my husband built my new awesome brooder I might hatch a little more. I have a red bulb now, that one was temporary and it about blinded me.