My DIY incubator

[dragasn]

Lol Madison it was frame less I hadn't got that far when I drew it lol. My trays was suppose to have been here today but didn't make it. so I don't know what they are. I got mine thermometers from home depot ones digital for $9 (Walmart has same one for $9) & a mercury them/hydro for $3. They seem to work pretty good so far.

 

[dragasn]

 

[dragasn]

Here's mine & the thermometers from depot. I didn't have chance to put a in, eggs came quicker than I thought so slammed it together in hour lol. I'm going to use it for lock down area when I finish the cabinet

 

[alan anderson]

Here's 1 I made.It don't work for some reason.I've set 100's of eggs in it the last 2 years and hatched about a dozen chicks.I've tried it with holes unplugged,plugged,1/2 plugged no change in performance.Temp holds good,humidity holds good,has 1 full time fan,1 that cuts own when the heater does.I have a cable design that I use to turn the eggs from outside,it goes through all 3 trays then out the top.It holds 6 36 egg trays,made from rough cut 1' pine,weighs about 100 pounds.

 

[WalnutHill]

Here's 1 I made.It don't work for some reason.I've set 100's of eggs in it ...

What temp and humidity do you set it for? What is your heat source? Wher in the cabinet is the heat source located? And what is the failure mode of the eggs? Clears? Blood rings/early death? Late death? If late, do they make it to lockdown alive? What do you use the spray bottle for? Do you leave the sponge in all the time?

 

[Madison1]

That looks like a good design Alan. It would drive me crazy trying to figure out what is wrong. I'm not expecting a great hatch rate this time. I had had a temp over run due to operator error. It was only for a short time though. In addition to that I collected about half the eggs in bitter cold weather. I'm going to try and install new controls today and candle some and see how they're doing.

 

[WalnutHill]

The tilt design is very clever and practical. I like that, for a manual "turner"!

 

[alan anderson]

Walnuthill,that's to many ?'s.lol Never was much good at ?'s,but here goes.Temp= 99.5-100.5 humidity would run 45-55% I've had different heat sources in it.In the pics is a small heater with fan,next was a medium heater from Dollar General it also has a fan.Now it has a glass covered element from another heater.Heat is in the top.Eggs are clear start to finish.Minus the 2 maybe 3 that hatch each go around.Spray bottle had bleach water for an egg that exploded.Sponge stayed all the time but is no longer used just the water pan now.The turner system is now on a cable going through the top with a U type clamp,only have to open the door to add water.It has 4 5/16 inch holes below the door on front and 4 on the top back side.


Eggs set on by hens in the yard for a week to 10 days hatch just fine.

 

[WalnutHill]

The initial humidity sound maybe a little high but that wouldn't stop eggs from developing at all. Temp seems right if taken at the eggs. Your incubator is very much like mine in overall design but my heat design is a little different.

If there are no blood rings, and no signs of growth, that can mean: infertile eggs, something happened to the eggs before incubation started (like freezing or deep chilling), or that something drastic happened in the incubator in the first three days, like a major heat spike. That's too soon for infection to kill them, unless the eggs were washed. If you candle at 7 days and crack the clears, there is no sign of development?

I wouldn't use the sponge except maybe for lockdown. They harbor bacteria. The water in that tray looks a little off color.

Are you saying that if you take eggs that were started by a broody, you can finish the incubation successfully inside?

Sorry about all the questions, but questions lead to answers, which it seems you are looking for.

 

[alan anderson]

Eggs are good,hatching 95% or better under hens from the same brood pens.Eggs are gathered very often,most before they even cool.Gamefowl are bad to eat their eggs.Sponge is not used now,water was clean just a stained bowl.It's not used now either.Sometimes eggs are washed,most are not.Again same eggs,same deal washed or unwashed 95% under hens.And Yes,eggs started under setting hens hatch just fine.Game hens are also bad about killing their own chicks that's the reason for relocating to the inc.Hadn't bothered to crack any to check development,just get mad and feed them to my hogs.