Fridge for an incubator? And more questions

[CayceV]

I have looked through quite a few posts and have seen some pretty neat incubators, but am wondering if anyone has used an old fridge for an incubator?? I thought it would be a good idea because on one side you can have the 1 - 18 day eggs and then in the other side you can have the 19 - hatching day eggs (that IS when you need to change the humidity right?). It would keep the hatching mess on only one side and I wouldn't have to worry about messing around with changing the humidity on either side.

If anyone has done this do you have some plans/pictures/anything that could help me get something set up?

What about a brooder for after they've hatched? I've seen people just use a wooden box with a heat lamp (and their food/water/bedding), is there anything else they need? How long do they need to be in there?

When can they be moved to an outside pen? How long before the chicks could be in with the "flock"?

Sorry for all the questions - curious minds need to know!

I want to make sure I have everything right before my new chicks arrive. I will be getting chicks first because it will probably take me more time to get the incubator set up than the pens.... I'll do eggs later

 

[MissPrissy]

Speckledhen and her husband did the fridge bator. Let me look for the post for you.

Fridge-a-Bator

I use an old play pen with the bottom coveredin shavings for a brooder in my kitchen for several weeks. There is also a thread on the different things people use as a brooder.

Brooder Thread

They need to be feathered out pretty well and the temps above 70 to be out in a pen with no heat.

 

[Tuffoldhen]

I think if I remember right...HINKJC's hubby did a refrigerator bator too.......

 

[MissPrissy]

You are right! I forgot about that one, TuffOldHen.

 

[oakmancritters]

ok here we go ...if you use the fridge will you need more than one heat source?

and what about a turner?

 

[hinkjc]

Yup, we did. Here are some pics. Hope it is helpful. We based it on the GQF Sportsman and only use this as a hatcher, but it works great.

Jody