My husband and I built 2 different incubators. Both of them worked but I had very low hatch rates. So just for fun, I bought a harvest gold, square, GE electric skillet, with a lid at the Goodwill for 6.00.
1. It had a thermostat control and a vent on top. I put 1/4 inch of playground sand in the bottom. This was my heat sink.
2. I added an 8 x 8 glass pyrex brownie pan on top of the sand. I put a small piece of bubble wrap in the pyrex dish and added a washcloth on to that. (For cushioning and absorbency).
3. I also added a digital meat thermometer, that I already had. I stuck the probe end through one of the vent holes.
4. I then cut a sea sponge in half and wet it thoroughly and squeezed out all of the excess water. ( you don't want water to condense on the lid and drip onto the eggs.
5. I adjusted my thermostat to keep a temperature of 99-101.F.
6. I set 21 eggs and 15 hatched this week! 10 Birchen Cochins and 5 Mille Fleurs!
Tips:
I used my own eggs, from my hens. It is possible that the ones I had trouble with could have been due to mishandling in the mail.
I think that a fan in a small incubator drys out the eggs too much. (I don't think a hen has a fan on her butt)
I turned my eggs 3-5 times each day and kept the sponges moist, but not wet.
I candled the eggs on day 10 and got rid of the one unfertile egg that I had. I had 2 quitters, and 2 that did not hatch.
The last three days I upped the moisture slightly.
I am thrilled with my 6.00 incubator.
I plan to set a new hatch this week! Get those GE Hens plugged in! Anyone with me?
