The 7th Annual BYC Easter Hatch-A-Long!

[chickendreams24]

I just thought of something: I was thinking I'd have to buy an incubator which was part of the reason I was thinking of waiting till next year, besides no room, and if I did I was thinking the genesis hoverbator 1588 but I've heard a lot of people having success with making their own and from what I've seen the hoverbator is just Styrofoam anyway so perhaps I could make one myself?? But I'm not really mechanical and wouldn't really know where to begin. I know there's probably a lot to it and I should get a book or something but could anyone maybe at least try to tell my how to build one or what I'd need? And maybe basics of incubating? Thinking it could be way cheaper than alnost $200 and work just as well though obviously I'd eventually want to buy one maybe. Thanks.

@Sally Sunshine
M'lady someone who could use your expertise. Please.

 

[peter98]

ill do it

 

[chattery41]

They are just so cute I had to share

I bet they have a hard time walking in that cage.

 

[cree57i]

Ok I have a broody Australorp who has been sitting on her golfballs for a week now, night and day. I also have 28 eggs in the incubator on day 8. I would like to place a few under my hen doring the last week, but need to figure out how and when to move her nest so it isn't 4 feet off the ground. I have had a lot of suggestions, but would like to hear what and when has worked best for the greatest chicken farmers in the world here at BYC.

My nest boxes are covered cat litter boxes so I just pick broody and eggs up in the box and put them where I want them. I use my chicken tractors for broody houses and the cat box slides down into it. I always do it at night and sometimes they don't even know they have been moved. If I want to change eggs she is sitting on, I take the top off the cat box, get DH to lift her straight up while I put different eggs under her. You have to hold their wings down because any eggs they have under their wings will drop out when she is lifted up. Then she goes straight down onto the nest with new eggs and moved to a new location. If you have to do the lifting and switching eggs part, about 50% break broody. If you are just moving the cat box with them in it, I would say 90% never miss a beat.

 

[ShrekDawg]

@Sally Sunshine
M'lady someone who could use your expertise. Please.

Thanks for tagging someone

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Quote:

Thank sweetie! I have made many coolerbators and three cabinet coolerbators

There is nothing to it, we have quite a few people in the process of making them on the incubation with freinds thread as we speak, and I also am in the middle of two new ones. new parts I bought post #58053 and here ~ CoolerBATOR ~ CABINET/COOLERBATOR
see the homemade bator section of the thread in this spoiler below...



Here is the thread Link, come join us!

www.backyardchickens.com/t/1046313/incubating-w-friends-come-hatch-learn-chat-meet-new-friends/0_100


INCUBATORS
CHOOSING an INCUBATOR post #1901
Hova Bator Poultry Egg Incubators HERE
Stryrofoam Incubator Tricks, adding fans, adding better Thermostats click HERE
Strombergs Incubator Sales Click below...

• Basic Poultry Incubators
• Advanced Poultry Incubators
• Cabinet Poultry Incubators
• Poultry Incubator Kits
• GQF Poultry Incubators
• Brinsea Poultry Incubators
• R-Com Poultry Incubators
• Lyon Poultry Incubators

Brinsea INCUBATORS Click below...

• Mini incubators
• Octagon Incubators
• OVA-Easy Cabinet Incubators
• Scratch & Dents
• Spare Parts

Brinsea Mini Advanced Incu w/ auto turner from Brinsea REVIEW from hatchers begins post #24923 post #25325
Brinsea Celsius to Fahrenheit & user guide post #25800 post #25184
CHEAP PLASTIC BATOR discussion begins post #25429 post #25438 post #25440 post #25451 post #25454
Wrapping a bator for steadier temps post #25454
2 LG's. I thought they were both 9300s, but they are very different. post #25524
R Com 20 MAX Egg Turning Song video of turning post #25776
Hatching in a Food Dehydrator? post #34612
Why fit a fan in an egg incubator? Click HERE
Hov-A-Bator GUIDE & which direction turns heat up and down! post #42178
THERMAL AIR FLOW MODEL HOVA-BATOR pdf http://www.poultryhelp.com/gqfhbthermal.pdf
pdf GQF Cabinet incubators MANUAL, DIAGRAMS and parts. http://www.gqfmfg.com/PDF/Cabinet Model Instructions.pdf

Incubator Accessories click HERE or item below...

• Egg Turners (16)
• Strombergs Egg Turners HERE
• Fan Kits (6)
• Egg Candlers (3)
• Egg Incubator Thermostats (11)
• Humidity Control (3)
• Thermometers & Hygrometers (9)
• Replacement Parts (35)
• DIY Incubator Parts & Kits (45)
• IncuKits (7)
• Advance Incubator Humidity Pumps
• Egg & Incubation Disinfectant
• CIRCULATED AIR FAN KIT FOR LITTLE GIANT 9200 click HERE
• Circulated Air Fan Kit for the Little Giant 9300 Incubator click HERE
• IncuKit™ XL for Cabinet Incubators All-in-one thermostat, heater, fan control unit click HERE

TIPS TRICKS for Incubators & Adding Fans and Thermostats
ADD a LEGO to your dial of cheap styro bator to make minor adjustments! GENIUS post #38133
Why fit a fan in an egg incubator? Click HERE
Ozexpat switching out thermostats in styros post #1788 & post #1505 Getting the Flock out of Here
ADDING FANS to BATORS fans are important: start at post #33174 post #33200 post #32613 post #1213 and post #1396 post #24219
FAN MOUNTING hardware post #33245 post #33279
HOW TO WIRE FAN: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/315773/computer-fans-in-the-incubator-how-to-rewire
Incubator Warehouse 3 VIDEOS on FAN install post #33206
LocalYokel sideways fan post #39089 post #39417
Hot water heater Thermostats, Must get drilled see post #24915 understand WHY HERE: CoolerBATOR

Thermostats ChickenCanoe Uses bottom of post #39984
Digital Temperature Controller Thermostat Control Switch Unit 1 Relay Output with Sensor http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015G25HNQ?pldnSite=1
Heating Elements:
Aluminum PTC Heating Element Thermostat Heater Plate http://smile.amazon.com/dp/B019O0Q26M
Docooler® Digital Temperature Controller Thermocouple with Sensor CLICK HERE
discussion post #45859
Wafer thermostat upgrade styro post #13
Wiring diagram for the STC1000 https://mostlyharmlessales.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/temp-controller-wiring-diagram.jpg
Installing STC1000 post #1
Incu Warehouse heat wont go up post #46629

Home-made DIY Incubators
BYC MEMBERS Homemade Incubators CLICK HERE
Strombergs Incubator Parts Click HERE
The Non-Alcoholic Wine Cooler Incubator https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/chrystalgails-chicken-incubator
INCUBATOR IDEAS AND HOW TO: post #657 and CABINET COOLER INCUBATOR ~ CoolerBATOR ~ post #1456 post #3123 post #1062 post #24900
RUSH LANE~ MUST SEE B4 making your own! https://www.youtube.com/user/RushLanePoultry Links to 'bator building! post #4423
Building incubator how many vent holes? BEGINS AT post #24731
Hatcher pans examples for cabinets post #27306
Silverhair Mini fridge homemade Incubator post #29128
chicknloves cooler bator build! post #29855 post #30597 post #39395 post #53853
NOT SURE ON THIS THERMOSTAT ITC-308 temperature controller see chicknloves coolerbator built also post #39423
Bennys BATOR BUILD post #29068 post #51823
canadachickens Bator Build post #30935 post #44094
fresnofarmer post #32058 post #32065 post #40845 post #42282
CliftonFarmer cooler bator build begins post #32561 post #33354
Fires cabinet post #34279
Coolerbator country lovin post #45089 post #45859
Frying pan incubator? http://www.fowlvisions.com/homemade-egg-incubator/
HOW TO SEAL a BATOR https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1075333/sealing-diy-incubators
Simple double box incubator "put together" click HERE
Creating a Sportsman type Incubator https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/da-bator
Wine cooler DIY Incubator https://seventreesfarm.wordpress.com/2013/12/16/new-incubator-more-trial-more-error-more-fun/

DIY Turners & Egg Trays & Hatching Baskets Mics
Bennys Awesome MANUAL horizonal EGG TURNER post #29955
Easy manual egg carton pvs turners click HERE and another in HERE
Taos genius microwave turner starting post #1516 post #1520 post #2150 post #35831 post #1790 post #43486 post #48591post #51403
Homemade automatic or manual HORIZONTAL egg turner CLICK HERE
Sallys manual cabinet turner with trays post #32186
Egg trays, also look at Cutler Supply and Hawkhead Hatchery Equipment
Manual PVC turner for incubator HERE
How to put a turner back together post #36330
Hatching baskets Egg Trays and sizes/depths post #64634
DIY Egg Tray Hatching Baskets out of Hardware Cloth post #64620
GFQ Turner Supplemental Maintenance Manual with detailed images http://www.gqfmfg.com/PDF/Cabinet Turner Supplemental.pdf
Rotisserie motor considered using with a timer chkncanoe CLICK HERE
http://www.ebay.com/itm/271467738979?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

HAZARD DO NOT USE!
Teflon coated LIGHT BULBS NONONO http://www.backyardpoultrymag.com/w...light_bulbs_toxic_to_chickens_the_full_story/
Teflon coated rough service give off hazardous fumes
http://www.rootsimple.com/2012/07/teflon-coated-light-bulbs-deadly-to-chickens/
http://www.motherearthnews.com/natu...ental-policy/teflon-dangers-zmgz12jfzkon.aspx

Cleaning Incubator and Equipment
FUMIGATION OF HATCHING EGGS AND EQUIPMENT post #48689
CLEAN INCUBATOR BEFORE AND AFTER USE post #48689

UPDATE:​

I have pulled extremely helpful NOTES, LINKS &​

Informational Post Links from the Incubation w/ Friends thread​

for EVERYONE'S convenience and will continue to put them HERE:​

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/incubating-w-friends-helpful-notes-links-informational-post-links​

 

[OneMountainAcres]

I just thought of something: I was thinking I'd have to buy an incubator which was part of the reason I was thinking of waiting till next year, besides no room, and if I did I was thinking the genesis hoverbator 1588 but I've heard a lot of people having success with making their own and from what I've seen the hoverbator is just Styrofoam anyway so perhaps I could make one myself?? But I'm not really mechanical and wouldn't really know where to begin. I know there's probably a lot to it and I should get a book or something but could anyone maybe at least try to tell my how to build one or what I'd need? And maybe basics of incubating? Thinking it could be way cheaper than alnost $200 and work just as well though obviously I'd eventually want to buy one maybe. Thanks.

I can't give you any advice on making one but I do have a hova bator that I absolutely love. I use it as a hatcher now that I have a GQF cabinet but it's still wonderful. Craigslist is a great place to find a second hand one to start out with.

 

[GitaBooks]

I was going to resist..... but I'm in. I didn't realize we are only a little over a week and a half till they need to be set! Yay!

ill do it

Welcome to the both of you! So glad you could join!

 

[ShrekDawg]

Wow, thank you so much for all the info @Sally Sunshine !!! I will try to read all that overwhelming amount of info!!

 

[ShrekDawg]

I can't give you any advice on making one but I do have a hova bator that I absolutely love. I use it as a hatcher now that I have a GQF cabinet but it's still wonderful. Craigslist is a great place to find a second hand one to start out with.

I hadn't even thought of looking at Craigslist! Great idea! Thanks!