I *just* made this incubator...

[Ruby Rogue]

Hey! I just made this incubator!

It's a food shipping box, covered in foam, with a glass picture frame viewing window. Access is through a removable panel in the back. The fan is facing the light, which is right now using a 40 watt bulb. I'm monitoring the temperature with 4 calibrated thermometers.

I'm excited to see how well it works. I'm planning on covering the whole thing in tape before a final test.

Anyone have tips?

 

[Pork Pie]

Nice job. Keep us updated when it comes to hatching

 

[ArchieT]

I like it I have always wanted to build my own incubator. Just make sure to do the research on the type of eggs you are incubating and I would recommend getting an automatic egg turner in there. As it makes the process so much easier. What eggs are you incubating?

 

[mdees88]

Very cool. What did you use for a thermostat?

 

[Ruby Rogue]

I switched out the 40 watt for a 25 watt... it's been a pretty consistent 99ish for the last few hours. Hopefully wrapping it up in tape will bring it up a bit.

Last time, I hatched in a brooder under a 250 watt heat lamp and I had a poor hatch, due to different factors. Temperature fluctuations being one of them!

Wrapping in tape did help. The fan is now drawing warm air from in front of the lamp, and I moved the water bowls which are now acting as heat sinks as well. Temp is 37.5 Celsius, humidity with the bowls filled is @ 65%. Temp is actually uniform throughout, I can't believe it.

 

[Ruby Rogue]

Thanks!!

I haven't planned a hatch yet but it will be just barnyard mix chicken eggs, as I did before. Local and easy to acquire, not expensive. I have 7 calibrated thermometers all reading 37-38 Celsius: )

An automatic turner would be a dream!

I'll keep my eye on it over a few days before I make any rash incubating decisions!

 

[ArchieT]

Nice. Please keep us updated.​

 

[Tre3hugger]

Looks nice!

 

[mdees88]

I guess no thermostat then? Just changing bulb sizes to regulate temp?

You can use a dimmer switch if you want to fine tune the light/heat output, that's what i do in my brooders so I don't have to raise the lights or use lower wattage bulbs.

You can definitely hatch chicks that way but any variations in ambient/room temoerature will likely affect the temo inside the incubator. I would put it in a room that stays a very steady temp and I would make sure there are no windows where sunlight can hit the incubator. You'd be suprised how much a little sunlight can raise the internal temp.

Of course you could always let a thermostat regulate the temo for you. That's definitely what I recommend too, you can get some for pretty cheap.

You can pick up an STC-1000 for around $15 (you can find them a little cheaper) and they work great....

Either way keep us posted on how your hatch goes....

https://www.amazon.com/Inkbird-All-...9Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

 

[Ruby Rogue]

I guess no thermostat then? Just changing bulb sizes to regulate temp?

You can use a dimmer switch if you want to fine tune the light/heat output, that's what i do in my brooders so I don't have to raise the lights or use lower wattage bulbs.

You can definitely hatch chicks that way but any variations in ambient/room temoerature will likely affect the temo inside the incubator. I would put it in a room that stays a very steady temp and I would make sure there are no windows where sunlight can hit the incubator. You'd be suprised how much a little sunlight can raise the internal temp.

Of course you could always let a thermostat regulate the temo for you. That's definitely what I recommend too, you can get some for pretty cheap.

You can pick up an STC-1000 for around $15 (you can find them a little cheaper) and they work great....

Either way keep us posted on how your hatch goes....

https://www.amazon.com/Inkbird-All-...9Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

Thanks for this input. I'm hoping I don't have to switch out bulbs and I was *hoping* the incubator would do the work...it's looking like I'm going to have to try something else, move it to a room with a more consistent temperature is my first step. I was home for a month and hatched in just a brooder under the heat lamp and it was constant finicking and monitoring in order to maintain consistant temperatures, we will see how I make out with this. I'll look into a dimmer and thermostat! Thanks : )