Incubators Anonymous

[Tammy N]

Quote: Sorry i thought you ha eggs in there . What Type i just got a leahy I am so hyped with Mine anyway Happy Hatching an lets get them chicks going . I want welsummers I believe i had incubator issues even though the marans Did well I ha them in the middle racks an the welsummers on top an bottom so could be my error,.

 

[DMRippy]

Quote:

 

[TAMMACLEAN]

They look like mine!

Haha! That's so cute!

 

[Runawaylobster]

The closet in the master bedroom?

ROFL!!!!

 

[birdworld]

It is all territory for them free range is the best. My problem is winter. I live in northern MN. It gets very cold so penning them up to keep them warm is a must. I had the roos together at first (They all grew up together) then they started to fight. I separated them but it was only through chicken wire. I hung a tarp about two feet up the fence and they stopped. In the winter it is just to close for them to have any territory boundaries.
With animals always remember it is survival of the fittest. I am often asked "why did my stallion kill the foal when it was born yours never does". First thin I ask is "was it his foal?" They say no and I say that is why. They only want their blood line to be continued not another's. Don't ask how they know it is just that is just how it is. Good luck on keeping the harmony going. They may be fine in your case of free range all year.

 

[Arielle]

I set more eggs last night and this morning: sweet grass and Bourbon Red turkey and OE sexlinks.


Here are the sweet grass parents. Pic taken near sunset.

 

[DMRippy]

I got my HATCHER! WOW what a good job he did too! Took longer than he expected, but I also added somethings as we worked on it and I had him change the height. I wanted it a tad taller.... about 12 inches.

Ok these didn't load in the right order

This is at the top of hatcher for ventilation. I can turn it to make it what size I want.


This is the frame. The bottom will have doors and he just cut out the support so it would be open.





This is one of the drawers. We used hardware cloth on the bottom. He allowed extra room so there should be plenty of ventilation.



Not a great pic but this is the inside of a drawer. The OSB is a support to keep the drawer square and the hardware cloth in place.



Here it is complete.



The black thing in the corner is for electrical cords when I do the wiring.





When a drawer is open there is almost NO GAP to let heat and humidity escape. LOVE THAT. It fully extends too... LOVE THAT TOO

Another view of the top vent.



One drawer would not square right so it is a little off, I might have to put weather stripping on that drawer but not sure yet. Not sure if I should put weather stripping anywhere else. It all closes really well. The little bit that is around the doors and drawers might be just enough for ventilation.

I don't know if you can tell or not but the BOTTOM is HUGE. I like that i have room to keep the weaker chicks in the hatcher if I need to without taking up room in the drawers. There is storage under the bottom too.

This is HEAVY! Hubby and I were struggling with it without the drawers

I think I am going to put casters on the bottom. Just add a piece of wood to each side then add the casters.

If anyone has some suggestions please let me know what. I am going to put some backer board where the flexwatt will go. I think I will add 2 light bulb things. 1 will be for a heat emitter and the other for a florecent light so I will know it is working LOL. I will need a box with plugs controlled by the thermostat. The thermostat will go on the bottom right side UNDER the door. Now where should I put the thermostat prob? I need some lights too... suggestions would be great there. Water.... I want to use a 3 gal bucket to feed water in so I don't have to open it to add water. The computer fan and water placement are up in the air. I kinda think the water should be on the flexwatt to help evaporate it, but that may not matter much.

Going to try to get it wired up this week. I have eggs going into lock down next weekend and I would like to test it for a few days before I go all in.

I AM SOOOOO EXCITED! Can't wait to get this running. I LOVE IT and I don't even have it working yet! BTW it is 1/3 bigger than what I am using now and way better plan than just stacking them. I can easily hatch 216 eggs in the baskets (18 baskets with 12 eggs each) PLUS I have room in the bottom for another 6 + baskets in the bottom. I need to go buy more baskets.

 

[maryhysong]

I got my HATCHER! WOW what a good job he did too! Took longer than he expected, but I also added somethings as we worked on it and I had him change the height. I wanted it a tad taller.... about 12 inches.

Ok these didn't load in the right order

This is at the top of hatcher for ventilation. I can turn it to make it what size I want.


This is the frame. The bottom will have doors and he just cut out the support so it would be open.





This is one of the drawers. We used hardware cloth on the bottom. He allowed extra room so there should be plenty of ventilation.



Not a great pic but this is the inside of a drawer. The OSB is a support to keep the drawer square and the hardware cloth in place.



Here it is complete.



The black thing in the corner is for electrical cords when I do the wiring.





When a drawer is open there is almost NO GAP to let heat and humidity escape. LOVE THAT. It fully extends too... LOVE THAT TOO

Another view of the top vent.



One drawer would not square right so it is a little off, I might have to put weather stripping on that drawer but not sure yet. Not sure if I should put weather stripping anywhere else. It all closes really well. The little bit that is around the doors and drawers might be just enough for ventilation.

I don't know if you can tell or not but the BOTTOM is HUGE. I like that i have room to keep the weaker chicks in the hatcher if I need to without taking up room in the drawers. There is storage under the bottom too.

This is HEAVY! Hubby and I were struggling with it without the drawers

I think I am going to put casters on the bottom. Just add a piece of wood to each side then add the casters.

If anyone has some suggestions please let me know what. I am going to put some backer board where the flexwatt will go. I think I will add 2 light bulb things. 1 will be for a heat emitter and the other for a florecent light so I will know it is working LOL. I will need a box with plugs controlled by the thermostat. The thermostat will go on the bottom right side UNDER the door. Now where should I put the thermostat prob? I need some lights too... suggestions would be great there. Water.... I want to use a 3 gal bucket to feed water in so I don't have to open it to add water. The computer fan and water placement are up in the air. I kinda think the water should be on the flexwatt to help evaporate it, but that may not matter much.

Going to try to get it wired up this week. I have eggs going into lock down next weekend and I would like to test it for a few days before I go all in.

I AM SOOOOO EXCITED! Can't wait to get this running. I LOVE IT and I don't even have it working yet! BTW it is 1/3 bigger than what I am using now and way better plan than just stacking them. I can easily hatch 216 eggs in the baskets (18 baskets with 12 eggs each) PLUS I have room in the bottom for another 6 + baskets in the bottom. I need to go buy more baskets.

That is looking really awesome Donna! Looks like a really nice piece of furniture! I would put the water in front of the heater and fan so the air blows across the water and picks up humidity before it goes to the eggs/chicks. The only other suggestion I would have would be to add a couple more vent holes; my big bator has 3, one in the back and two in the front. Better to have extra and need to close them off than to not have enough.

 

[Arielle]

THis is incredible!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Water location and set up might need some trial and error experiementing. PErhaps separate fan systems. I can see the humidity rising quite high easily-- like the RH poults need-- 80% !!

OSB is sooo heavy. I hate the stuff, but it is very useful. Guess that makes it a love-hate relationship! lol

Hubby did a nice job---now for the wiring. . . . . you'll do a great job.

I got my HATCHER! WOW what a good job he did too! Took longer than he expected, but I also added somethings as we worked on it and I had him change the height. I wanted it a tad taller.... about 12 inches.

Ok these didn't load in the right order

This is at the top of hatcher for ventilation. I can turn it to make it what size I want.


This is the frame. The bottom will have doors and he just cut out the support so it would be open.





This is one of the drawers. We used hardware cloth on the bottom. He allowed extra room so there should be plenty of ventilation.



Not a great pic but this is the inside of a drawer. The OSB is a support to keep the drawer square and the hardware cloth in place.



Here it is complete.



The black thing in the corner is for electrical cords when I do the wiring.





When a drawer is open there is almost NO GAP to let heat and humidity escape. LOVE THAT. It fully extends too... LOVE THAT TOO

Another view of the top vent.



One drawer would not square right so it is a little off, I might have to put weather stripping on that drawer but not sure yet. Not sure if I should put weather stripping anywhere else. It all closes really well. The little bit that is around the doors and drawers might be just enough for ventilation.

I don't know if you can tell or not but the BOTTOM is HUGE. I like that i have room to keep the weaker chicks in the hatcher if I need to without taking up room in the drawers. There is storage under the bottom too.

This is HEAVY! Hubby and I were struggling with it without the drawers

I think I am going to put casters on the bottom. Just add a piece of wood to each side then add the casters.

If anyone has some suggestions please let me know what. I am going to put some backer board where the flexwatt will go. I think I will add 2 light bulb things. 1 will be for a heat emitter and the other for a florecent light so I will know it is working LOL. I will need a box with plugs controlled by the thermostat. The thermostat will go on the bottom right side UNDER the door. Now where should I put the thermostat prob? I need some lights too... suggestions would be great there. Water.... I want to use a 3 gal bucket to feed water in so I don't have to open it to add water. The computer fan and water placement are up in the air. I kinda think the water should be on the flexwatt to help evaporate it, but that may not matter much.

Going to try to get it wired up this week. I have eggs going into lock down next weekend and I would like to test it for a few days before I go all in.

I AM SOOOOO EXCITED! Can't wait to get this running. I LOVE IT and I don't even have it working yet! BTW it is 1/3 bigger than what I am using now and way better plan than just stacking them. I can easily hatch 216 eggs in the baskets (18 baskets with 12 eggs each) PLUS I have room in the bottom for another 6 + baskets in the bottom. I need to go buy more baskets.

 

[DMRippy]

THis is incredible!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Water location and set up might need some trial and error experiementing. PErhaps separate fan systems. I can see the humidity rising quite high easily-- like the RH poults need-- 80% !!

OSB is sooo heavy. I hate the stuff, but it is very useful. Guess that makes it a love-hate relationship! lol

Hubby did a nice job---now for the wiring. . . . . you'll do a great job.

My hubby didn't make

There is a local BYC'er and this is what he does for a living.... he made if for me. He read my cries for help and volunteered. It was all made out of scrap too. He is a great guy!

What do you mean a separate fan systems? Do you think I should have a fan just for the water and one for the heat? I am just going to use a computer fan this time.

Mary, I might need more ventilation, but if I don't seal it up that might create enough fresh air to come in. IDK? I might still have some holes to put in it when I start putting everything in it. I will play with it. I did caulk all the corners inside to make sure there were no extra leaks and to keep the moisture from getting to the partical board.