home made incubator from day 1

[amberschick]

So this is my 3rd attempt the second hatch produced 2 out of 8 but I wasn't at home when they hatched, so iv learnt my lesson im going to take pics and document my steps so I don't forget what I did and when.

 

[Monkeybean415]

Interested to follow. I had a broody hatch some chicks last month but want to try an incubator later this year or next

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

Can we see your homemade 'bator?

And, perhaps if you let us know what you did on previous attempts, we could help you tweak so you might improve your hatch rates

 

[KC Rob]

I just started my 2nd hatch in my homemade incubator. I was 8 for 9 on my first attempt and just set 12 eggs this afternoon. I am confused about why some people have such low success rates. My homemade incubator is a styrofoam cooler with a light bulb for heat, a dish of water for humidity and a thermometer/hygrometer. I probably did everything wrong possible and still managed almost 90% success rate. Even the egg that didn't hatch had a fully developed chick in it, she just never pipped. Is everyone using shipped eggs, is that the reason for the low success rates? I doubled the size of my incubator and added a fan so hopefully I didn't just mess up my successful formula, but I really don't understand how so many folks post about failed hatches, what is going wrong? Maybe I am just feeling cocky because I did so well my first time, maybe it was pure luck.

 

[gpop1]

I just started my 2nd hatch in my homemade incubator. I was 8 for 9 on my first attempt and just set 12 eggs this afternoon. I am confused about why some people have such low success rates. My homemade incubator is a styrofoam cooler with a light bulb for heat, a dish of water for humidity and a thermometer/hygrometer. I probably did everything wrong possible and still managed almost 90% success rate. Even the egg that didn't hatch had a fully developed chick in it, she just never pipped. Is everyone using shipped eggs, is that the reason for the low success rates? I doubled the size of my incubator and added a fan so hopefully I didn't just mess up my successful formula, but I really don't understand how so many folks post about failed hatches, what is going wrong? Maybe I am just feeling cocky because I did so well my first time, maybe it was pure luck.

half of the success with incubation starts with the eggs. The other half depends on the type of bird, incubator, exterior conditions including where you live. I just ordered 20 eggs to be delivered Friday from a good know breeder. Well they are late so I expect them to get here Monday. If I get any hatch at all I think it will be a miracle as late in the post in florida normally means a complete wipe. I expect at least a 85% hatch rate from my own eggs. Lets hope you stay lucky and continue to have a high hatch rate of healthy chicks. my first hatch was 22 out of 24 shipped button eggs. My next run was 2 out of 24 shipped bob white quail eggs.

 

[amberschick]

I've put a pic on of my homemade "bator" its my avatar pic now I'm still trying to put the rest of my pics on here but I'm using my phone so its a little difficult, I will get there. My first attempt I did everything wrong they all died at various times, the second time I left my water bowl out and kept the room humidity untill lockdown then I put a small bowl of water with sponge in it and two hatched.i wasn't at home when the first hatched so I'm not quite sure what happened it was either a drop or rise in humidity either way only 2 out of 8 hatched, this time I waited to place them so there hatch dates should be around a Tues or Thursday in august

 

[amberschick]

For got to add some info on incubator I use a 15-20w light bulb, washrags for my levels and a nonslip griper from my cabinets so they wont roll around all crazy, I turn them multiple times a day just whenever I think about them but no less than three times a day and they also rotate levels once a day.

 

[KC Rob]

I've put a pic on of my homemade "bator" its my avatar pic now I'm still trying to put the rest of my pics on here but I'm using my phone so its a little difficult, I will get there. My first attempt I did everything wrong they all died at various times, the second time I left my water bowl out and kept the room humidity untill lockdown then I put a small bowl of water with sponge in it and two hatched.i wasn't at home when the first hatched so I'm not quite sure what happened it was either a drop or rise in humidity either way only 2 out of 8 hatched, this time I waited to place them so there hatch dates should be around a Tues or Thursday in august

Are you using shipped eggs or eggs from your own chickens? I am asking because I just built my own 'bator out of a styrofoam cooler like you and I hatched 8 out 9 and I did everything wrong. I am just trying to figure out the disparity in hatch rates. I used my own eggs that I am sure were fertilized (1 roo, 3 hens, I am sure he is servicing all three ladies) and had great success.

 

[amberschick]

Yup and I'm sure they were fertilized I opened them and they were fully developed a couple didnt absorb yolks other than that they were shrink wrapped in the shell

 

[gpop1]

shrink wrapped indicates low humidity during incubation or hatch. If the eggs were piped then hatch incubation was very low.

people tend to spit out a number for humidity but that really doesn't work as there to many factors to consider. Around 40% during incubation will give you a starting point that you can adjust at day 9-10 when you candle them and see the size of the air pocket. Depending on the humidity In the room and a load of other things like the incubator design don't be scared to increase the humidity above what people recommend if the air pocket is to large.
Ive read about people running low 20's to people running 50 plus based on the air pocket (80% of all humidity sensors can be a little off the other 20% are just way the hell off)

What everyone agrees on ........ well nearly everyone is that during lockdown the humidity needs to be high. Suggested is 70% plus I see that as a minimum but like I said it depends on a lot of things. Generally if you see condensation on the glass/plastic its to high unless you live in a cold area then even that may be ok.

most people drown there chicks during hatch due to very high humidity during incubation so don't go nuts and go super high on the humidity to start.