incubator ideas! post your ideas for home made incubators, whether they work or not~

[mayberrygirl]

Well, due to a few other issues, humidity and temps going wild after a power outage (uhg, don't ask, it was my own fault, but all is fixed now), I have the digital thermostat installed. I need the incubator where it is due to space, and that this is a homeschool project. No harm done, they are still kick'n in the eggs

 

[sunflowerenvy]

Here is my first coolerbator!!!

I worked well, but after the first hatch, I made some modifications....I have eggs in it right no again, so in-depth pics are out for now.

The water for humidity is a pie pan with a fill hose. I have Colorado rocks in the bottom everywhere! This keeps the heat more constant.
The fan was relocated to blow slowly on the sight glass due to condensation at the higher humidity. I use a 12vdc computer fan but I run the fan at a lower speed with a 9vdc adapter (sorry, I am an electrician).
Instead of using a single lamp, I use a 25watt for constant heat, then the thermostat controlling a 15 watt lamp. I too drilled the thermostat. I keep a 99-100 deg temp....always!
My turner is through the sides so the eggs can be turned from the outside. (the turner/tray in this pic holds 16 eggs, the new design holds 24) When lock down time comes, I remove the wire ties and lay the turner down on the framework. Last time we removed the eggs and placed them flat on the framework, not sure if we will do this again. I also have another 15 watts lamp installed for viewing and excess heat when we candle and allow heat to escape. With the humidity/thermometer and thermostat I have about 15$ invested. All other parts were from reclaimed junk.

Joe

please explain how your eggsdonot fall out when it turner your eggs {if this your eggs turner}

 

[live2shine]

Me too! I've been letting a hen brood on some eggs that will likely hatch soon. I'd rather incubate my own and keep my hens a layin'.

 

[sunflowerenvy]

Does anyone make a incubator for 12 chickens eggs with a turner if so can u post it and how u made on too for that size? thank u

 

[peepblessed]

Here is the awesome incubator my husband built me for Christmas. I imagine it's a bit over-whelming to most people but it is fantastic and the thing I love the most about it besides the great visability is the small reach in doors that I use all the time to pull out a chick or egg or empty shells during lock-down and hatch. I think most people could come up with a way to do that. I have successfully been doing staggered hatches. Here is my last hatch and a link to the bator details.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/619988/the-incubator-that-macgyver-built-homemade-bator-success



You can see the chicks and two eggs zipping! All the shells have been removed.

 

[nanncee]

I am on my phone so the pictures will have to wait, but I am using a 30l cooler from a seecond hand store, a 60w light bulb a 90mm computer fan, and a PID temperature controller. I spent about 30 dollars on the temperature controller and it holds within .5 degrees. I have had an 80% hatch rate or above from the very first hatch and would recommend this setup to anyone who wants a consistant temperature.
P.S. I am also using these same PID controllers for "brooders" or "electric hens" and they work great. But that's for another thread.

 

[Ladybug's peeps]

I saw someone once who built a wooden cabinet, then put in the working part of a dehydrator to run it. Not the cheap ones with just an on and off switch, but the more expensive ones that are about $69-79 that have temperature settings. You still have to use the thermometer/hydrometer but for those who (like me) can't read an electric schemztic this is the bomb - all the working parts you need are in one nice little unit - heating source, fan, and thermostat. Build the cabinet so that the eggs turners (for the styrofoam incys) will set nicely inside and you have it made. I am going to try this soon, looks like it will work well.

 

[astabley]

Hi I have a chicken thats hatching out 6 duck eggs. Once the first 4 hatched she neglected the other 2 so i made my own incubator with a shoe box, small light, a pie pan, and a thermometer. Its been a couple days and still no babies but i'm patient.

 

[cerberus1]

This was made 100% Free from Craigslist Throw aways! I only have 4 hens and one rooster, so he was our first baby! We had to do some experimenting with the temperature but he is happy and healthy! My husband is going to install a permanent light and a computer fan that we also found for free on craigslist. That was my challenge I wanted to see if it was possible to create a "furniture grade" incubator for zero dollars! With my husbands brains we succeeded!

 

[mohillbilly]

I saw someone once who built a wooden cabinet, then put in the working part of a dehydrator to run it. Not the cheap ones with just an on and off switch, but the more expensive ones that are about $69-79 that have temperature settings. You still have to use the thermometer/hydrometer but for those who (like me) can't read an electric schemztic this is the bomb - all the working parts you need are in one nice little unit - heating source, fan, and thermostat. Build the cabinet so that the eggs turners (for the styrofoam incys) will set nicely inside and you have it made. I am going to try this soon, looks like it will work well.

you dont need to be able to read a schematic i can tell you how to hook everything up without one