My home built incubator! PICS!

[marcuscarr]

Thank you all for your help.

The thermometer will be replaced with an indoor/outdoor digital when it arrives.

 

[Krazy]

Thats a really sweet incubator ! I wish I had time to build one too

 

[chickenmama22]

That looks great! I have a question or 3: did you put a fan in? If so, where did you get it? Does the light turn on or off to regulate the temperature?

Thanks in advance,
Nancy

 

[BirdBrain]

Several folks who have made their own incubators have harvested fans off of old computers and wired them up.

 

[marcuscarr]

The fan is from an old computer and runs all the time.

The wiring for the light goes outlet to light to thermostat to outlet.

The thermostat keeps the light on when it needs to be warmed and turns it off when it gets warm enough.

I did find that a 25watt bulb was not enough to maintain the proper temp. I switched to a 40watt and it is doing much better.

We have gathered 6 eggs for incubation so far and will probably be trying for a couple dozen.

I still need to figure out an egg turner option before I set.

marcus

 

[marcuscarr]

In the second picture...

The fan is in the lower left, pointed at the light.

The light is in the upper left.

The thermostat is in the upper right.

There is a bowl of water that will be filled via a tube from outside the unit.

That is all covered with hardware cloth (wire mesh)

On the wire mesh will be thermometer, eggs, turner and water wiggler (water snake)

 

[marcuscarr]

In reality a thermostat is nothing but a little house with a gnome it. When he gets to hot he flips a switch to turn off the light. When he gets cold he turns the light back on. Gnomes can be very finicky about their temperature.

 

[chickenmama22]

Hi, Thanks for the explanation, especially the wiring order. My husband was saying that the computer fan would run on a transformer (lower voltage). How do you supply it with electricity.

I have an old mini fridge that no longer has a door. I am trying to devise a way to turn it into a larger incubator. I have a little Giant w/o fan or turner now.

Nancy

 

[Davaroo]

Heres a tidbit to do with as you please.

The heat should come from above the egg. It makes it easier to regulate temps and the embryos use it as part of their "which-way-is-up" orientation come hatch time. Just something that seems to be cropping up a lot, lately.

 

[PeiTheCelt]

Quote: