thinking of makeing a incubator

[AmyLittle]

I have been researching incubators for awhile. It's something I've always wanted to try. So next month I'm going to start. Any advice wound be welcome. Also I only want to start with a few eggs since I am new to this. Should I get eggs locally or order them and have them shipped.

 

[paddock36]

I have made my own incubator and my hatch rates were always better than my store bought incubator. Local eggs have always been better for me than shipped eggs.

 

[lazy gardener]

For your first set of eggs, you should get local, and just as inexpensive as you can get. There's a definite learning curve to hatching. Hatching 101 in the learning center should be required reading before anyone is certified to plug in an incubator! You're gonna have a blast.

 

[AmyLittle]

Thanks I'm excited to try it. I think I found someone willing to give me a few eggs to try. I'm takeing the rest of this month to read everything I can find on the subject.

 

[lazy gardener]

Amy, the fact that you are taking the time to read before starting your incubation will set you ahead of the pack in terms of success. By reading first, you'll get a sense of what is and is not the correct thing to do. You'll also answer many questions that you didn't even know you had. And you'll be able to help others who come along behind you. It makes me cringe when someone says that the Hatching 101 is too much information to read, or they just plug in their incubator, and follow the information that came in the little instruction sheet/booklet... or they just use the thermometer that came with it, and don't calibrate it. IMO, those hatches, if successful, are surprising.

 

[AmyLittle]

Amy, the fact that you are taking the time to read before starting your incubation will set you ahead of the pack in terms of success.  By reading first, you'll get a sense of what is and is not the correct thing to do.  You'll also answer many questions that you didn't even know you had.  And you'll be able to help others who come along behind you.  It makes me cringe when someone says that the Hatching 101 is too much information to read, or they just plug in their incubator, and follow the information that came in the little instruction sheet/booklet... or they just use the thermometer that came with it, and don't calibrate it.  IMO, those hatches, if successful, are surprising.

I have already read through hatching 101 and I'm planning to read through it a couple more times. It has answered a lot of questions for me. I am not sure if I will be successful my first time or not but I am looking forward to the experience. I am so glad I found this sight I have already learned a lot about chickens in general.

 

[Roxannemc]

Hi all
Finally built my own incubator a week ago.A plan i wanted to do for a few years..on my "bucket list" lol
.Ive had 5 incubators In the last few years 2 were 1588s now im down to one 1588 and one used one
Anyway have heard for years coolerbators give great hatches so i built one ..wired it using the youtube videos by Rush Lane Poultry.
His are easiest to understand and he goes into wiring details Very Easy to follow. Some videos arent...and where to find the parts you need and prices which nobody does.That was a great help.I did get my fan from a computer geek store not from ebay though.It was $7.He mentions buying them on ebay for a dollar..i didnt see any that cheap.
Many things you may have at home already too.

So far in a little over a week my temp has stayed steady as a rock.My light bulbs come on and off frequently which he says is good as its keeping temps steady.
I bought the GFQ WAFER thermostat from ebay not a waterheater or digital and it has held exactly on point 99.5 for all this week.I dont usually find them very accurate as far as keeping temps steady but in this coolerbator it has been perfect so far. Fingers crossed it will do as good of a job as people say until day 21..

Building .. .Id really recommend using Wade Rushs videos to build one.I dont know about wiring at all and it was easy.
Im a grandma too so if i can anyone can.

One little piece of advice Youve read hatching 101 3 times..now Jump right in!.
New things are always sort of intimidating but there is always a first time and once your doing it youll be ok and glad you did..
By the way i did email Wade Rush once..about one part i wasnt clear on He emailed me back that night but i had already figured it out.My point he will help you too if you need it..
GOOD LUCK!.
.Oh and you can pm me for any help if you need to If you build which i highly reccomend to get an accurate bator.The cheaper obes ubder 150 seem to always drive you crazy with temp fluctuation.

 

[Torch404]

My first batch are hatching out of a coolerbator right now it worked great. I would recommend getting on ebay and buy a MH1210 digital controller it was a couple bucks more than water heater therm and cheaper than a wafer one.. It was a little funky to figure out but has worked great through my run and it made me feel far more comfortable than a wafer/water heater therm would have.

 

[Roxannemc]

My first batch are hatching out of a coolerbator right now it worked great. I would recommend getting on ebay and buy a MH1210 digital controller it was a couple bucks more than water heater therm and cheaper than a wafer one.. It was a little funky to figure out but has worked great through my run and it made me feel far more comfortable than a wafer/water heater therm would have.

2.

I agree digital better but i didnt want to get stuck half way through stumped so went with wafer so far so good.Might delve into digital next. Now that i have this pat But i cant believe how steady this keeps the temp. My styrofoam bators would fluctuate like wild.

 

[coachYania]

Hi all
Finally built my own incubator a week ago.A plan i wanted to do for a few years..on my "bucket list" lol
.Ive had 5 incubators In the last few years 2 were 1588s now im down to one 1588 and one used one
Anyway have heard for years coolerbators give great hatches so i built one ..wired it using the youtube videos by Rush Lane Poultry.
His are easiest to understand and he goes into wiring details Very Easy to follow. Some videos arent...and where to find the parts you need and prices which nobody does.That was a great help.I did get my fan from a computer geek store not from ebay though.It was $7.He mentions buying them on ebay for a dollar..i didnt see any that cheap.
Many things you may have at home already too.

So far in a little over a week my temp has stayed steady as a rock.My light bulbs come on and off frequently which he says is good as its keeping temps steady.
I bought the GFQ WAFER thermostat from ebay not a waterheater or digital and it has held exactly on point 99.5 for all this week.I dont usually find them very accurate as far as keeping temps steady but in this coolerbator it has been perfect so far. Fingers crossed it will do as good of a job as people say until day 21..

Building .. .Id really recommend using Wade Rushs videos to build one.I dont know about wiring at all and it was easy.
Im a grandma too so if i can anyone can.

One little piece of advice Youve read hatching 101 3 times..now Jump right in!.
New things are always sort of intimidating but there is always a first time and once your doing it youll be ok and glad you did..
By the way i did email Wade Rush once..about one part i wasnt clear on He emailed me back that night but i had already figured it out.My point he will help you too if you need it..
GOOD LUCK!.
.Oh and you can pm me for any help if you need to If you build which i highly reccomend to get an accurate bator.The cheaper obes ubder 150 seem to always drive you crazy with temp fluctuation.

I made my incubator following Wade instructions too, very easy to follow and he responded my emails right away. This is the one I made for under $20