Do they work as well as the storebought kind? What was your hatching rate? How dependable are they? I know that a lot of factors can play into it, and these are very broad questions, but what has been your experience with homemade bators? I am particularly interested in the outcomes of the ones that are heated using a light bulb and a hot water heater thermostat. Thanks!
Those of you with homemade incubators...
- Thread starter happyhens
- Start date
Well I'll have to let you know on that one since my new homemade bator is currenty going through a rigorous testing stage but I did build a still air last year and it managed a little less than 50% hatch rate. I decided to start from scratch and build a cabinet forced air bator this year, it has two 60 watt bulbs and a water heater thermostat. As soon as I can get the temp leveled at a constant 99.5 - 100 degrees and 40 - 50 % humidity level I'm going to give it a go. I'm hoping to start a hatch in a few weeks.
I've used both and have had far better experience with my homemade incubator. I have the ability to adjust temp/humid easily when needed. I started off with the small styrofoam incubator and then up'd it to a large cooler. My next project will be converting an end table/night stand into an incubator. I've seen the instructions on here and cant wait to try it out.
Everytime I used my bator I had crazy temp spikes that killed the eggs. Used it 2 times and borrowed a friends and had the same thing happen. Everytime all eggs were lost. Now I understand why my friend never used it.
Good luck with your choice.
Everytime I used my bator I had crazy temp spikes that killed the eggs. Used it 2 times and borrowed a friends and had the same thing happen. Everytime all eggs were lost. Now I understand why my friend never used it.
Good luck with your choice.
I thru a homemade incubator together about a month ago. So far I have hatched 16 out of 17 eggs set. I am really testing it at the moment. I have set 41 eggs with a couple days inbetween sets. I have them in diferrant areas since this incubator can hold 108 eggs.
I used two 100 watt bulbs and a hotwater heater thermostat.
Once it is proven I am going to build one with the same ideas but more attractive looking. I am thinking about an Oak Plank cabinet.
I used two 100 watt bulbs and a hotwater heater thermostat.
Once it is proven I am going to build one with the same ideas but more attractive looking. I am thinking about an Oak Plank cabinet.
Quote:
It seems to me that I remember a while back when the Home-made Incubator contest was running that someone said they were able to get much more accurate control of temperatures with a hot water heater thermostat if they drilled holes in the casing. It made a lot of sense, but I have never since found that post. Would love to re-read it. What did you use for a cabinet B-Rocker?
It seems to me that I remember a while back when the Home-made Incubator contest was running that someone said they were able to get much more accurate control of temperatures with a hot water heater thermostat if they drilled holes in the casing. It made a lot of sense, but I have never since found that post. Would love to re-read it. What did you use for a cabinet B-Rocker?
Quote:
do you have a photo of the inside bottom where the bulbs and water are?
do you have a photo of the inside bottom where the bulbs and water are?
I am in the process of building one now but I am using a coffe warmer heating element ( 75 w) for my heat source, that and the water heater seemed to have a rather large temp differentional I splurged on a johnson controls t-stat so far testing it I am not getting hardly any temp swing at all I was thinking of using a blow dryer for a heat source I am probally gonna try a few off the wall ideas before I am through LOL I built mine maybe half the size of jc's I have the wood to play with just laying around I found a couple of coolers around here as well might try one of them too . I hav'nt quite finished the door yet I will try to get a few piccys up the next day or so .
Quote:
do you have a photo of the inside bottom where the bulbs and water are?
Here is one pic.
do you have a photo of the inside bottom where the bulbs and water are?
Here is one pic.
Quote:
It seems to me that I remember a while back when the Home-made Incubator contest was running that someone said they were able to get much more accurate control of temperatures with a hot water heater thermostat if they drilled holes in the casing. It made a lot of sense, but I have never since found that post. Would love to re-read it. What did you use for a cabinet B-Rocker?
You need to look up just1jack's page. I actually have a hyperlink to him from my homemade incubator page. i llove my cooler/bator. It works great, holds a steady temp, and all thanks to jack's page about the hole drilling thing.
editited to add just1jack's link
https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=26580-thermostat-modification
It seems to me that I remember a while back when the Home-made Incubator contest was running that someone said they were able to get much more accurate control of temperatures with a hot water heater thermostat if they drilled holes in the casing. It made a lot of sense, but I have never since found that post. Would love to re-read it. What did you use for a cabinet B-Rocker?
You need to look up just1jack's page. I actually have a hyperlink to him from my homemade incubator page. i llove my cooler/bator. It works great, holds a steady temp, and all thanks to jack's page about the hole drilling thing.
editited to add just1jack's link
https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=26580-thermostat-modification
Last edited:
Thanks!
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