Wax paper as a liner for homemade bator?

shelleyb1969

Star Bright Farm
11 Years
Jul 24, 2008
4,460
29
261
Brown City, Michigan (Thumb)
I just finished building my homemade bator, thanks to MissPrissy's plans.
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Is there anything I can put in the bottom, underneath the wire and water dish, that will make cleanup easier? Could I put wax paper in the bottom, or maybe aluminum foil? Just trying to find something to use so that after my chicks hatch, I don't have such a mess.
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Hi Shelley!
I use cheesecloth. I actually put it on top of the ardware cloth/wire. I think I read about it in a book, but it may have been on this awesome forumn too.

I bought mine at Bed, Bath and beyond, but I am pretty sure that a larger grocery store would have it in the cooking isle (and it would be cheaper too!). It's gauzy, comes on a roll.

It's absorbed blood and poopies and of course the egg shells, leaving the styrofoan really clean. I do still disinfect, but it seems easier.

I wonder if the foil wouldn;t work as a heating element? And would they slide on the wax paper? Towels would work too. I like the cloth because it is woven and then air can still circulate and humidity too!

Good Luck!!!
 
I use that non slid stuff with the little holes in it (the stuff you put in your draws and stuff) walmart has it pretty cheap, also if you have a dollar store around I think they carry it. Good luck with your hatches !!!
 
Ya don't want to use anything that would block circulation.

Personally I use rubber shelf liner. You can get a good sized roll for $1 at the dollar store. It has good holes in it for ventiliation and also gives the chicks good footing and makes cleaning up the broken shells, etc, quick.
 
Maybe I'll put paper towels down on the styrofoam bottom, and get some of the shelf liner stuff to put on top of the wire. That way, I'm double-covered...shouldn't have any mess at all.
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Thanks for everyone's advice. I had read before about the shelf liner, but wasn't sure how much "icky" makes it through to the bottom of the bator.
 
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Thanks swtangel. I just got this bator built, so I've still gotta do a test run. I've got some blue silkie eggs coming this week, but I'm putting them in my reliable Brower bator. Maybe if this homemade one proves accurate, I'll use it as a hatcher!
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