DIY incubator

[Junaleefarm]

We have had decent luck hatching eggs with broody chickens but we would sure like to build a cheap incubator. I am handy with the tools and I am good at scrounging materials- any tips of the trade? I have seen some designs online but would sure like some more opinions. I have seen a lot of cooler designs but I would prefer to use wood, any reason why I should go one way or the other? I thank you in advance for any insight.

Chris

 

[barkerbeau]

Large cooler. I built one from cooler and one from wood. The cooler is much easier to get stable temps due to the insulation.

 

[theblackridge16]

Large cooler works best. we set 18 last year and 15 hatched! I have pics of ours on my page if you want to get an idea of where to start! Good luck!

 

[Phantom_Rooster]

Here's my homemade cooler/bator. I followed the design of rushlanepoultry.com. He shows pics of my build on his website. I thought that the water heater thermostat would work for me. I know that it will hatch eggs. But, it just wasn't stable enough for me. I pulled a thermostat from an old 1950's Sears incubator and my temps are now 99.5° ±0.1°, consistently. The foil is there because I don't want bright light in my new chick's virgin eyes. That's just me. The syringe is to fill water bowls.

 

[Phantom_Rooster]

Here's the inside of my bator. Egg #3 from the top left is a homemade water wiggle. It's my mystery egg. PM me if you want instructions on how to make one.

 

[Junaleefarm]

Thanks everybody- I think a cooler is pretty cheap to find at a yard sale. That looks like a good design Phantom-rooster, I will check out that website tonight when I have more time.

Chris

 

[Wyogirl]

Quote:

Ayda