Check out my dishwasher incubator total cost under 100 dollars added two egg turners (used price) without turners the only cost was the thermostat. This saved the dishwasher going to the land fill.
Incubator ideas???
- Thread starter Littleturkey123
- Start date
Quote:
ok my opinion only, but aquariums aren't very insulated so don't hold temps well (but i love visibility). styrofoam (what i currently have) holds heat well and is inexpensive, but difficult to sanitize. coolers (not mentioned on your options but i'll throw it out there) are easier to clean and well insulated, but personally i want to be able to see the eggs and temps inside. i don't trust remote sensor thermometers.
cabinets IMO are the best option. wood is a fairly good insulator, plus add a layer of insulating material and it's even better. it's inexpensive, easy to work with, and when sealed properly, easy to keep clean. i prefer real wood or plywood over pressboard/mdf/composite board because they are less prone to water/humidity damage.
I plan on making a cabinet 'bator, once i find the right one for what i'm picturing in my head. it will have foam board insulation, and lined with plexiglass, for ease of cleaning. i already have about 20 sq ft of plexi picked up from freecycle, so it just makes sense to me... I plan to put glass doors for visibility as well, possibly double layered to minimize heat loss thru the glass (the plexi is frosted, so not good for windows).
as for size, I want to do a 2-fer system, side by side, so one side can be used for incubating, the other for hatching. and the base at least as large as a standard egg turner, tall enough for at least 2 rows of eggs.
i'm trying to figure a way to incorporate this and a brooder system together, but haven't worked out any details on that, until i find the right cabinet to use.
ok my opinion only, but aquariums aren't very insulated so don't hold temps well (but i love visibility). styrofoam (what i currently have) holds heat well and is inexpensive, but difficult to sanitize. coolers (not mentioned on your options but i'll throw it out there) are easier to clean and well insulated, but personally i want to be able to see the eggs and temps inside. i don't trust remote sensor thermometers.
cabinets IMO are the best option. wood is a fairly good insulator, plus add a layer of insulating material and it's even better. it's inexpensive, easy to work with, and when sealed properly, easy to keep clean. i prefer real wood or plywood over pressboard/mdf/composite board because they are less prone to water/humidity damage.
I plan on making a cabinet 'bator, once i find the right one for what i'm picturing in my head. it will have foam board insulation, and lined with plexiglass, for ease of cleaning. i already have about 20 sq ft of plexi picked up from freecycle, so it just makes sense to me... I plan to put glass doors for visibility as well, possibly double layered to minimize heat loss thru the glass (the plexi is frosted, so not good for windows).
as for size, I want to do a 2-fer system, side by side, so one side can be used for incubating, the other for hatching. and the base at least as large as a standard egg turner, tall enough for at least 2 rows of eggs.
i'm trying to figure a way to incorporate this and a brooder system together, but haven't worked out any details on that, until i find the right cabinet to use.
Quote:
Hard plastic can be difficult to cut. I used a hard plastic cooler. YOu need to be able to use drills or have an adult help you.
Eggs. Number of eggs--try for a dozen. Some won't hatch, some will be girls, some will be boys. Have you thought of using fertilized eggs from the special grocery stores? No shipping costs. Like Trader JOes, WHole FOods, --read the lableling. It will say fertilized eggs. Also look for brown eggs as your first choice.
Hard plastic can be difficult to cut. I used a hard plastic cooler. YOu need to be able to use drills or have an adult help you.
Eggs. Number of eggs--try for a dozen. Some won't hatch, some will be girls, some will be boys. Have you thought of using fertilized eggs from the special grocery stores? No shipping costs. Like Trader JOes, WHole FOods, --read the lableling. It will say fertilized eggs. Also look for brown eggs as your first choice.
agree with the other posts. Do a lot of research first. Check out this thread and I'm sure it will give you a lot of good ideas. https://www.backyardchickens.com/chicken-coop-incubator.html
Here is a homemade incubator I made. I have added a fan to it and the temperature stays more steady on both ends. I use a 15 watt light bulb which works great. Now I use it as a hatchers as I have another incubator.
Here is a homemade incubator I made. I have added a fan to it and the temperature stays more steady on both ends. I use a 15 watt light bulb which works great. Now I use it as a hatchers as I have another incubator.
CMOM--would like to know where you bought the digital thermometers. My eyes like larger readouts than the glass thermometers.
Nice bators!!!
Nice bators!!!
- Jan 2, 2011
- 1,363
- 11
- 151
Quote:
x2
x2
Lowe's sells them.;-)
If you are not planning to do a ton of eggs I would make your own incubator.
All you need is a styrofoam box that you can usually find at a fish store pretty much for free, a heat source, a thermostat, and a thermometer/hydrometer. Making your own will be cheaper and far more accurate then one of the cheap incubators like an LG.
Here is a link for a decent thermostat. http://www.amazon.com/R-Zilla-11939-Temperature-Controller-1000-Watt/dp/B002CZ0J3E/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1318612904&sr=8-5
Other that that everyting should be really cheap. You should be able to get a incubator made that will hold really steady temps for under $50 even with spending around 30 on the Tstat.
This is what I use for heat on my reptile and chicken incubators. I use between 2-3 ft of it.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/FlexWatt-he...667?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4cedb64413
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Flex-Watt-h...137?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4cf24b8961
All you need is a styrofoam box that you can usually find at a fish store pretty much for free, a heat source, a thermostat, and a thermometer/hydrometer. Making your own will be cheaper and far more accurate then one of the cheap incubators like an LG.
Here is a link for a decent thermostat. http://www.amazon.com/R-Zilla-11939-Temperature-Controller-1000-Watt/dp/B002CZ0J3E/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1318612904&sr=8-5
Other that that everyting should be really cheap. You should be able to get a incubator made that will hold really steady temps for under $50 even with spending around 30 on the Tstat.
This is what I use for heat on my reptile and chicken incubators. I use between 2-3 ft of it.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/FlexWatt-he...667?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4cedb64413
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Flex-Watt-h...137?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4cf24b8961
Quote:
I was looking at that myself... how large is your incubator, how much did you use of the flex tape, and what temps can you maintain with it?
thanks
I was looking at that myself... how large is your incubator, how much did you use of the flex tape, and what temps can you maintain with it?
thanks
Quote:
Thank you!
Thank you!
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