What do you use for an incubator and egg turner?

[Fowler Hencock]

I built an incubator (the bottom one) out of a salvaged kitchen cabinet and used an old window for the door. The two slide out drawers are made of 1x3's and hardware cloth mesh for the bottoms. It's heated by an upper and lower 100 watt bulb, has two small Walmart metal fans for circulation, water trays in the bottom, and uses a water heater thermostat for temperature control. I don't use the egg trays anymore, I lay the eggs on their sides and turn them by hand. The upper incubator (old commercial unit), we still use the trays, because of the tilting feature. In my experience, the hatch rates from both units are pretty equal, and very good.






On the 26th day, the eggs go into this hatcher, and are no longer turned. It's made from an old fish tank. The back glass has been replaced with a piece of plywood, which holds the heating bulbs and a water heater thermostat. Under the wire mesh are two fans providing air and heat circulation, and some water trays for humidity. We also add commercial sponges soaked with water on the sides, for maximum humidity. It works really well for observing pips and monitoring to see if the chicks need assistance.

 

[Yoda]

OK, looked at the pictures on Craig Hopkins website. There is an added tray of water in the GQF incubator in the pictures. Do you folks use more water to create humidity?

Thanks Yoda for the pictures. Smart the way you've created your own baskets to lay the eggs on their side. Tell me about the water in glasses? Do you also have water in the center reservoir in the bottom of the bator or are you using the glasses of water instead? I couldn't figure out how in the world you made room for them but finally realized you'd removed a row of the egg trays. Or I think that's what you've done. I just started up another of my hova bators...hens aren't choosing to set on their eggs in the Green Pen. My GQF cabinet was supposed to be shipped today but haven't received confirmation. Sure hope I'm not on a back order situation. Thanks everyone for your help. This is a fun hobby for me......I love these gorgeous birds.

I do not fill the bottom of the incubator with water. That is why I use the juice glasses so I can moniter the water level in them easier. I removed 1 tray because the auto egg turner was breaking the "pegs" of the right end egg rack as the peafowl eggs are very heavy and the end always broke off. The max of 4 eggs per tray works better but I had 5 per tray. This year I will be selling more of the eggs so I can buy me some Peach peas and Cameo peas. I would try greens but not sure about the cold up here. I know the inside of the shed will be warm enough with all the birds in it at night but not sure about then being outside in the cold during the day

 

[bdfive]

Fowler Hencock, Impressive. I'm amazed at how many people can build their own incubators. I wouldn't know how to gage heat, air flow (fan) and humidity. You amaze me and it's really nice looking. How is your peafowl hatch rate? Great pictures.......thanks for sharing. What do you use to read the temperature and humidity? Seems these gages I purchase at walmart, etc; all read different. It's frustrating.

Yoda, I fill the center reservoir with water but add 4 pill containers with water and set at the side. I've found that keeps the humidity pretty much at 60.

I'd love to have Peach Peafowl. Maybe in the future. I have to quit raising chicks, falling head over heals for them and not wanting to send them away!!!! I'm past my limit with pet peafowl, LOL!!!! I enjoy my Green but prefer the 75% Green I produced from a full Green cock and 50% Green/IB hens. They are gorgeous and free range well. I'm afraid to turn the 100% loose but now I'm keeping the 75% penned too. They fly so darn well that once in the air before I know it they're 3 five acre tracks away. I have to go fetch them leading them home with treats through gates. They are definitely more for ranches and not rural subdivisions. I saw a full Java on a farm take flight and good grief.......he flew out of sight. The owner said he'll be back. That was with a full train. What a sight to behold. How I would love to live in the center of a hundred acres. I have someone with 700 acres coming later this morning to purchase 3 of the Emerald Spalding. I visited their ranch and am more then convinced the birds are going to have an excellent home.