Homemade incubator vs. store bought

[momsflock]

I am very much considering hatching eggs( Well in my mind it is a done deal!LOL!) I was reading and searching, but figured is is just better to post:
1. What is better a store bought incubator or a homemade version.
2. Which do you get a better success rate?

I am about to purchase 6 eggs of a breed I REALLY love and I want to be successful.
Thank you

 

[jvls1942]

Quote:
In your case, the store bought bator.. You have never built a bator, and I'm guessing, never hatched eggs before.. You certainly do not want to test a ho-made bator with expensive boughten eggs..

either way, get the bator well in advance of buying the eggs.. run a batch of cheap mutt eggs through to get the feel of it..

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

People that know what they are doing can make much better incubators than they can buy. People that dont, it could go ether way.

 

[Lark Rise]

When I first ordered 7 eggs for our Brinsea Mini Advance, the very nice lady added 3 extras (I didn't know sellers did this), so we scrambled to put together a homemade incubator using a styrofoam ice-chest for the extra eggs. Fortunately, we had all the supplies except for the water heater thermostat which I picked up at Lowe's. In just an hour or so my husband put the incubator together. We did have to tweak it the first several days, like moving the thermostat closer to the light bulb. Finding a good hygrometer was the most difficult part. We got one from Petsmart called Fluker's and that one calibrated way off by 15% or so. After reading recommendations here, we got a PETCO humidity gauge. That one calibrated spot on. We have done 2 hatches now and surprisingly the homemade has had a slightly better hatch rate than the Brinsea. I have to give most of credit to rebelcowboys videos for our success. The homemade requires some watching.... temps/humidity can go up or down a little if the weather changes and we have to turn eggs. With the Brinsea, you just have to add water. Despite having a better hatch rate with the homemade, the Brinsea is a breeze to use, so much so that I just bought a Brinsea ECO 20 for $89 (with FB coupon) shipping was $24. Hope this helps.

 

[MMPoultryFarms]

Its not that hard to build your own bator you just need to keep a few things in mind proper ventilation, Very well insulated, and has to be capable of holding heat via controled thermostat.
Heres an easy one an old school refrigerator. Just one of the smaller ones used on college.

 

[dwdoc]

I am partial to the home made Bator. They are cheaper, you can determine the size you want, etc... Here is mine: https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=73772-bucs-bator-build

Good luck... I am not an expert but I will assist where I can...D

 

[marathonmultiplesmom]

I have 4 store bought and am running my first homemade. I second those who advise on purchasing a store bought to start.

I recommend for you the Brinsea Mini Eco
http://www.brinsea.com/prod-Mini_Eco_manual_10_egg_incubator-229.aspx

I get 100% or close to it in my Brinsea ECO octagon 20 machines. I get closer to 2/3 hatch rates in my styrofoam incubators, whether still air or fan. Brinsea is the way to go and for such a small number of eggs you can't beat the sale they have right now, marked down to $64.99. And look at the visibility!
Anyway, good luck to you!

 

[devin mctaggart]

thank you, what wonderful information

 

[cmfarm]

I think it depends how good you are at making things. There are so many pictures and instructions on here I think it shouldn't be very hard to make your own. After making my own, I now relize how overpriced some of those basic incubators are. All they are is a styrofome box with a heating element, a thermostat and a cheap computer fan. There really isn't that much too it.

 

[quintinp]

If you are wanting to buy expensive eggs, and start a flock, or add to your already existing flock I would go with the Brinsea mini Advanced, or Brinsea Mini Eco. I have never used either, but they have great reviews from everyone that uses them. (most everyone)

If you have a few fertile eggs from your flock, I would suggest doing a test hatch in the homemade incubator you are wanting to make.

By the way.

If you go ahead with the homemade incubator, PM me, and I will help you to make a successful incubator.