DIY CABINET COOLER INCUBATOR How we did it and TEST RUN Ready Set GO!

[ozexpat]

Hey Sally: Just finished the thread... Thanks for all the info and details! One more thing for me to add to my "to-do" list I have 2 coops in the process of being built, (and we have a winter storm advisory up for tomorrow!

) I've barely started on a brooder set-up, and my first ever chicks are due in just over 2 weeks from now When I started all this, I was of the opinion that "they are just chickens! How much work could be involved with that?" Well... I'm finding out! But it's been a blast so far, I've learned so much, and can't seem to get enough! Right now I don't "plan" on doing any incubation, but then plans have a way of changing, don't they? Anyway, again, just wanted to say thanks for all that you've done to help others across the site.

X2

 

[Regin]

X3
Hooray for Sally Sunshine! Thanks for sharing your wisdom! You've been a lot of help to me also.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Hey Sally:
Just finished the thread... Thanks for all the info and details! One more thing for me to add to my "to-do" list

I have 2 coops in the process of being built, (and we have a winter storm advisory up for tomorrow!

) I've barely started on a brooder set-up, and my first ever chicks are due in just over 2 weeks from now

When I started all this, I was of the opinion that "they are just chickens! How much work could be involved with that?"

Well... I'm finding out! But it's been a blast so far, I've learned so much, and can't seem to get enough! Right now I don't "plan" on doing any incubation, but then plans have a way of changing, don't they? Anyway, again, just wanted to say thanks for all that you've done to help others across the site.

Thank you, your welcome and I know, thats a chuckle! ha ha ha

X3
Hooray for Sally Sunshine! Thanks for sharing your wisdom! You've been a lot of help to me also.

 

[sonderah]

Hey Sally. I've had my cooler, fans, & thermo for at least a month now, but hard to find time with the 2 yr old to even breathe! Lol Decided to reread the beginning and I have a question!
In the tray section it says 3-4 trays, so 4 will fit u think? I already have 5, but the ones I have only hold 30 eggs to begin with, so would love to be able to use 4!

 

[Penny Hen]

I have a question too. I am using an narrow cooler to make a still air incubator. It is one of those electric ones that truckers use. Mostly it will be for quail eggs but I am building it with the capacity to be an emergency incubator that can run on a car battery. I have found these little silicon icecube trays that will work for quail eggs. I am looking for a good tray to use regular eggs with it. Needs to be the same demensions of a standard grocery store egg tray but in plastic. I seem to only be able to find the big trays and they don't look like they would be very stable if I cut them down
.The ice cube tray with quail eggs.

 

[chicken pickin]

My cooler bator eggs go into lockdown today (day 19 one day late). I will keep you posted on the hatch. Im pretty confident they are doing well. I even put eggs that were already incubating in my hovabator into the cooler bator to finish up the incubation process.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Hey Sally. I've had my cooler, fans, & thermo for at least a month now, but hard to find time with the 2 yr old to even breathe! Lol Decided to reread the beginning and I have a question!

In the tray section it says 3-4 trays, so 4 will fit u think? I already have 5, but the ones I have only hold 30 eggs to begin with, so would love to be able to use 4!

I think it would fit if you omit the bottom shelf, but make sure you run it before adding innards to spot check all over for temps up and down, front and back. you may have to fiddle with intake hole to get temps stable

 

[Sally Sunshine]

I have a question too. I am using an narrow cooler to make a still air incubator. It is one of those electric ones that truckers use. Mostly it will be for quail eggs but I am building it with the capacity to be an emergency incubator that can run on a car battery. I have found these little silicon icecube trays that will work for quail eggs. I am looking for a good tray to use regular eggs with it. Needs to be the same demensions of a standard grocery store egg tray but in plastic. I seem to only be able to find the big trays and they don't look like they would be very stable if I cut them down
.The ice cube tray with quail eggs.

you think drilling holes would make it weak?

I would add a fan to any bator, well worth adding.

you know I seen someone folded that 1/4" square wire into a long U channel for holding quail. That would give better air flow in a still air as well. I can look for image or make one to show you, but I think you get it, seen them do V to add to turners for bigger turkey eggs and such too!

 

[Sally Sunshine]

My cooler bator eggs go into lockdown today (day 19 one day late). I will keep you posted on the hatch. Im pretty confident they are doing well. I even put eggs that were already incubating in my hovabator into the cooler bator to finish up the incubation process.

 

[Penny Hen]

you think drilling holes would make it weak?

I would add a fan to any bator, well worth adding.

you know I seen someone folded that 1/4" square wire into a long U channel for holding quail. That would give better air flow in a still air as well. I can look for image or make one to show you, but I think you get it, seen them do V to add to turners for bigger turkey eggs and such too!

Question: Exactly how did you cut through the coolers? Did you use pilot holes with a drill in the corners?

The plastic pieces that I salvaged that are going to be the shelves for the tray's of eggs. I am thinking that I need to drill from the outside in and bolt them in place using silicon to seal the bolt holes. Maybe use a washer on the inside so that the stress is distributed and doesn't crack the plastic. It is my intention to tip the entire box to achieve turning.
















The holes you saw were those that the tiny refrigerator apparatus was installed in. It included a tiny fan that I will probably reinstall. I am debating between using the heating rod and/or a tiny bulb. I want a window in the lid that I have traced out the cut lines.