OK!! Where is the DYI section?

[Newchickenmom&kids]

Here it is....

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=1166

 

[JudyMcKinn]

To Mr. & Mrs. Spock,
Before I say this, I want to say I admire the folks who have been able to successfully make their own incubators, and there are several on here. It is not my intent to belittle these endeavors or suggestions. And if you folks are interested in building and experimenting, you may well have good luck building your own successfull incubator. That said, since you have said that you are on a fixed income, and cost is an important factor to you, I would suggest, as someone stated above, the Little Giant Still Air incubator, which can probably be bought at your local farm store for $40 or $50. It is what I use, fairly successfully. You can double the cost by getting the fan for it, which stirrs the air around inside, but I don't have the fan, and you can triple the cost by also getting the egg turner, but you can mark an X on one side of the egg, and an O on the other side, with a pencil, and turn them 3 times a day yourself, since you are retired and probably home rather than working out. I don't have a turner, either.
Now, for building your own, by the time you buy the porclain light socket, the dimmer, and whatever other things needed, you will also have spent some money, and you will also not have anything accurate till you work and experiment with it, while the store-bought starfoam incubator will be pretty well ready to go, which would be a good thing in my opinion, since you are just starting with this hobby.
These are just my personal opinion, and not meant to step on any toes of those who have successfully built their own incubators.

 

[chickbea]

Let one of your hens hatch them!

 

[spock78]

Thanks for the help all you chicken farmers!!

Judy=Thanks for the input. I understand what you are saying. I didn't realise how cheap a incubater could be, but, I also happen to be a sort of packrat. I have just about everything to build one myself. Just have to put it all together.

Chickbea=I'd be happy tp let the hens hatch them. Only problem is none of them are broody. I have Production Reds. Actually I have only had them 4 days. LOL!! They are all between 1-2yrs old, so they are still getting used to their new home. They lay the eggs & jump right off. No going back. LOL!!

Thanks again ppl!! This site has a lot of great informative & helpful ppl. Now I think I'll boycott it. It caused me to get an addiction. Dang chickens, anyhow!!

 

[skeeter9]

Kinda funny how a few chickens can turn into an addiction!!!

I made a homemade incubator and it worked ok. I just followed the plan for the worm box incubator, but I had to use a styrofoam icechest. I just got frustrated with it because the temp was difficult to regulate due to our crazy weather. I went on Ebay and got a Hovabator with the fan for under $40, including shipping. I couldn't really afford it either, but you know how it is with an obcession. . . .

Maybe you can figure a way to put in a thermostat to regulate the temp??? Then I'll bet your homemade "bator" might work just fine!!!

Lori