Easy to build home made incubator.

[10 point]

I'm looking for some detailed plans to make a home made incubator that isn't going to break the bank.

TIA 10 point

 

[Arielle]

Have you looked at the resource page with MANY homemade incubators. I used some purchased items and items already hanging around the house. Worked hard at using thing I already had.

No cost items, left over from other projects and recycling:

Cooler-
ply wood top
styrofoam sheet
old picture frame w/ glass
silicone caulking
plastic coated fencing sized to fit in cooler
4 2' screws
10 mason jars
60 watt light bulb

drill and bits
duct tape
old book wrack
heavy duty multi-plugin extension cord

fan 7-8$
WHT not sure DH bought $10
bottle lamp thing $5


Lokk at the basics, then find matching items you already have; to be inexpensive requires more brainwork to plan how to use each possible item you find. GL

 

[Wyogirl]

Definitely look at the homemade incubator link, it's full of great ideas that won't break the bank
Ayda

 

[10 point]

thanks I looked at the page.

any suggestions on which wiring set up works best to control the temp in the bator.

 

[The Critter Place]

Quote:
What are the 10 Mason Jars for?

I'm wanting to try and make one too..

 

[Arielle]

What are the 10 Mason Jars for?

I'm wanting to try and make one too..

THe mason jars ( 1 qt) are filled with water and sealed with lids to do 2 jobs. 1) a very big heat sink to reduce temperature fluctuations and 2) supports the floor made of wire fencing where the eggs sit in egg cartons. I built based on the maximum number of jars I could fit. Glass spagetti jars work too.

Also if we lose power with the hurricane, the heat from the water will keep the temp up for a longer time.


Note: THe use of the mason jars was the final choice as I searched for a possible heat sink containers. I knew water is the best heat sink, though rocks work almost as well. ( We used lots of brick around our wood stove to absorb heat during the day and when the stove is turned down at night , the bricks release heat.) I kept trying different configurations. laying on sides, turning upright, even tried the rectangular salad containers from the salad aisle (figured I could use the lid with a lip to place the sponge and water for humidity.)



IT's a process to work out the layout.​

 

[Anarchy82]

Its simple, and running as we speak.

 

[10 point]

Quote:
do you have a wiring digram and materials list?

that would help out a lot

TIA 10 point

 

[Anarchy82]

I made this as simple as possible.
I connected a light to a dimmer switch, so wirring diagram would come with switch.
In this incubator I have one digital, and one standard thermometer / humidity gauge. In my other incubator the digital thermometer just has a wire running into the incubator, that the thermometer is outside the incubator.

I have a computer fan in the top corner of the incubator pointing towards the light. To wire that mine was black to black, white to red.

All in all, materials are:
Styrofoam Cooler ($2.50 at dollar general)
One thermometer / humidity
One digital thermometer
One computer fan
one light socket
25 watt light bulb
electrical tape
duck tape
one 12v dc converter (I used a old cell phone charger)
one dimmer light switch
1/2" wire mesh

 

[10 point]

Quote:
what hatch rate are you getting without a turner?