Question about egg-turners?

[_Randall_]

I've about got my strategy for building a homemade incubator, and I'm wanting to add in an automatic egg turner.....specifically one of these: http://www.amazon.com/1610-Automatic-Turner-Universal-Quail/dp/B001IDW3WG Anybody ever done this, and if so, my main question is.....Are these made where they are "hooked up to a drive mechanism" in the store-bought bator that it's made for, or am I right in seeing a motorized unit made on the turner that only needs 120v applied, and it does it's thing without being in the intended "store bought" bator?

 

[Sir Birdaholic]

They turn on their own about every half hour. Just plug in the cord & the motor & timer take over. I have these in my homemade unit.

 

[Matt A NC]

The turner is a seperate unit. The cord goes directly from the 110 plug in to the drive motor. The bators are made with a groove in the foam for the cord to come out of.

Matt

 

[_Randall_]

Y'all are terrific. I love this site because of the wealth of knowledge

Main reason I'm asking...........This is what I'm asking the wife to get me for Christmas. Was gonna ask for a store-bought bator with fan kit and turner. But, I've learned enough to be confident in building my own. Thank y'all very much!!

 

[canter6]

Well, Merry Christmas!

My automatic egg turner is my right hand.

I use it once or twice a day when I'm hatching.

The biggest problem with any "Automatic turner" integration with home built incubators is...the deminsions don't fit. You can't build a fine incubator out of a cooler, small refrigerator, but can't put the (IMHO WORTHLESS) thing in there.
The $45-$60 price tag is another downside.

I would ask the for the whole store bought overpriced desktop bator with the turbo fan and auto turner. You really should include the $15-$20 quail cups/racks. Then forget about the home made bator.

That's just me.

 

[_Randall_]

I'm building the incubator after I get the turner. That way, I know it will fit. The inner liner of the bator will be built out of aluminum sheet metal, and then insulated tightly around the outside with 1" foil-backed styrofoam sheet (that's used to insulate houses). I have access to material, a sheet metal shear, and sheet metal brakes to build it. Pop rivets will put the inner housing together. It will be similar to these plans: http://cgi.ebay.com/2-Tray-Hatching-Egg-Incubator-Hatcher-D-I-Y-Plans_W0QQitemZ270487233608QQcategoryZ46292QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp4340.m263QQ_trkparmsZalgo%3DSIC%26its%3DI%252BC%26itu%3DUCI%252BIA%252BUA%252BFICS%252BUFI%252BDDSIC%26otn%3D10%26ps%3D63
The main reason I want a turner is because there will be times I'm not here to turn the eggs (2-3 times a day), and I don't want to depend on anybody else doing it.

 

[deerman]

Make sure to add a fan, then that plan will work with those turners, myself I would check for used GQF Sportsman. Have found some for the price of the new cheap table top incubator with the turner and fans.

 

[_Randall_]

Quote:
Yeah, I'm gonna go all the way.........with fan, turner, and all. This is just a hobby for me, and don't plan to get "commercial" with it any time soon. I figure if I can get 120 quail eggs inside this incubator, that will be a milestone that far exceeds where I am now

The way I see it, I'll only have a fraction of what a new setup costs in the homemade unit, plus the pride of having built it myself.

 

[canter6]

Quote:
If you are going to get the turner and build the bator around it, then you should be fine.
I tend to refit coolers and such, but if you are going to build a bator around something, then best of luck.

I must have been a broody hen in a previous life, because there is something very rewarding to me about breaking open the bator and stirring the eggs up.
That's just me.

Auto egg turners rarely enter my mind.