How to make a styrofoam incubator

[silkiechick05]

I have this lovely styrofoam box and don't know how to turn it into an incubator.


If anyone has experience in this area, could you send me to your page to get directions??

 

[920utlaw]

Came across this thread hope it helps... https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=21866

 

[raimnel]

I made the one that Miss prissy made only I used an old cooler
click on the link that 920utlaw posted and on the top click on missPrissy. It holds good. I can't remember what wattage she used, but I use a 60w now. It holds the temp stabler. But have extra bulbs on hand

 

[silkiechick05]

Do the homemade incubators actually work?

 

[Chicky Tocks]

Absolutely they do. I'm running two of them. One as an incubator and the other is my hatcher. My first experience with it was 16 out of 20 chicks. However, for me it was a starter bator. The hot water thermostat can be tricky, but once I got it set right, there are no temp fluctuatons. I've been selling eggs and chicks and am about to take the plunge and buy a Hovabator 1588.

 

[Ariel301]

Nice! I'm about to make one of those so I've been looking for a good set of instructions. The only instructions I found were written decades ago by a 10 year old kid, and we could not understand the wiring part with the thermostat. Those instructions are quite a bit better.

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/chicken-coop-incubator.html

 

[silkiechick05]

Wow thank you rebelcowboysnb!

I knew one of those existed, I just hadn't been able to find it.

Chicky Tocks, I also have been drooling over the 1588. My mom figures by the time I spend the effort and money to make a homemade bator, I could have just bought it.

What do you think?

 

[Chicky Tocks]

It cost me about $45 to build mine. I sent my mom some omaha steaks for Christmas and asked her to save the most excellent styro box that they came in. Then I bought the lamp kit, about $15, the hot water heater thermostat, $10, the temp/hygrometer, $7, a small roll of welded wire, $8 and the pc fan and the 12 volt cell phone charger plug I scrounged.

A Hovabator 1588 - the cheapest I've found is $137..plus extra for the turning racks. LOL! But I've been selling eggs and chicks and saving, saving, saving!