Sad story and a question.

[cmom]

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I agree. So sorry about your boy. Here is an incubator I made from a styrofoam cooler. Maybe it will give you some ideas.

 

[cmom]

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I agree. The fertility is best for the first couple of weeks then it decreases so save them eggs. So sorry about your boy. Here is an incubator I made from a styrofoam cooler. Maybe it will give you some ideas. I do have a turner for it but now I just use it as a hatcher.

 

[kimice]

Wow your incubator looks great! A little more than what I was thinking, but it looks amazing. That actually was my next step was to look on here and get some good input on the best way to make mine. I see that you have the light bulb underneath the eggs. Is there a specific reason for that? What is the little dohicky hanging infront of the sponge? lol. It all looks kinda high tech. I am looking to go as low cost as I can and still get a few chicks. I also had a question about the egg turning. I work 8 hours a day. I know the eggs have to be turned 3 times a day. Just wondering if it would work turning the eggs once before I leave in the morning, once in the evening, and then one more time late at night?

 

[cmom]

Here is the BYC link with many home made incubators. This will surely give you some ideas.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/chicken-coop-incubator.html

 

[kimice]

Thank you so much for the link. Can't believe I didn't realize it was on the chicken coop page!

I am about to go now and get my cooler to tray and start making my incubator. I already have a lamp base from an old lamp, and chicken wire, and an old picture frame. I am going to grab a 15 watt bulb, a temp/humd. reader, and some duct tape. Going to start there and play around with poking holes in the sides and trying to see how stable I can keep the temp and humidity levels. Will let you know how it goes!

In the meantime, I plan to collect as many eggs as my girls will lay and sit them away. I also love the idea of placing some fake eggs or golf balls in the nest to see if I can get one of the girls to go broody on me. Then sneak the eggs back under her. I personally love the idea of one of them doing all of the temperature and humidity readings and egg turning and such.

 

[runsw/scissors]

Try going to wally world for the digital hygrometer and thermometer for the 'bator. Usually you'll find good reliable ones for not too much $$.

Be sure you get the the temp where it needs to be and STABLE before you put the eggs in! I generally expect about 1/2 of the offspring to be males and only about 80% to make it to lock down. Yes other people have better numbers, but you are new to this and you should not expect such results at first...

Oh and Good Luck!! So sorry about your roo, it's heartbreaking to lose them so young.

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[curious1969]

So sorry to hear about Barney!!

I wish you the best of luck on your hatching endeavor. Hoping you get a little

Barney.