Hova-Bator model 1602N ?

[KingsCalls]

I dug the old incubator out of the storage building, it's a Hova-Bator 1602N. It has a hole that has been chewed in it in one of the corners that is the size of a half dollar. Also the egg turner motor is rusty looking. My question is this......do you all think it is worth trying?
My wife says to take the heating element out of it and make one out of a cooler. I have a few silkie eggs and a few bantam orpington eggs and thought I would ask "the experts"
before I tried it or not. Thanks

 

[speckledhen]

You could possibly fill in that hole with silicone caulk, if it isn't too big to do that. The motor, you'll have to oil and see if it still works. Then after all that, you'll need to bleach it out and let it dry in the sun to try to kill all the bacteria inside on the styrofoam. As long as you can fill that hole with something waterproof, I don't see why you can't revamp it. Then again, you could buy a little dorm fridge at WalMart for between $50 and $100, depending on size and take the heating element and put it in there. That would take awhile to do, but it's doable if you have the time. The cheapest way would be to revamp the Hova or do what your DW said.

 

[seminolewind]

Personally, I would buy a new one or build my own. I guess you'll have to try the heating thing out, but rust doesn't sound good.

 

[brooster]

I would clean it up and give it a try. I have hatched lots of eggs out of a super dirty and "abused" incubator. I found an old hova-bator in my friends barn, it was completly brown, had a hole in it, and there was a dead bird in it. I couldnt resist it even had a turner. I brought it home scrubed it spottless with bleach and filled the hole by glueing a piece of styrofoam over the hole.

 

[KingsCalls]

OK...I'm going to try and fix the hole. I've had the bator plugged in for about 36 hours and it will not reach the correct temp. and not sure about humidity as I need to get a hygrometer.............

 

[johnnyjack]

king i got a 1602n i use all the time.when ur trying to ajust the temp ya gota losen the wing nut first then when ya get it right lock it down.but you may already know this.just thought i try to help good luck