Which incubator? Recommendations needed!

[sagebrush82]

it’s so easy that even I was able to build one lol I currently have a huge chest cooler that I’m gonna turn into a bator.

Maybe I’ll check it out- what’s the best material to make it from to hold heat and humidity? I live in a very dry climate so humidity can be challenging!

 

[AlleysChicks]

Maybe I’ll check it out- what’s the best material to make it from to hold heat and humidity? I live in a very dry climate so humidity can be challenging!

I made mine out of a cheap little styrofoam cooler. I live in a very wet climate and have a dehumidifier running where I have the bator. The only thing I don’t like is that I don’t have a automatic turner in the one I made.

 

[sagebrush82]

I made mine out of a cheap little styrofoam cooler. I live in a very wet climate and have a dehumidifier running where I have the bator. The only thing I don’t like is that I don’t have a automatic turner in the one I made.

And what kind of hatch rates can you achieve with it?

 

[AlleysChicks]

And what kind of hatch rates can you achieve with it?

mine were the same as the incubator I bought (hovabator 1602n) I usually get in the 90’s. I ran them both at the same time. I actually bought the hovabator after I made my incubator. I kept adding eggs so needed a Hatcher.

 

[lazy gardener]

Generally we do make a lot of things ourselves like coops and brooders, but never tried making an incubator before...

If you could wire a lamp with written instructions, you can make an incubator. Forced air, with a digital thermostat.

it’s so easy that even I was able to build one lol I currently have a huge chest cooler that I’m gonna turn into a bator.

Hubby and I made 2. The first one was styrofoam with a bimetal thermostat. The second one was made from a chest cooler with digital thermostat. I still need to tweak the fan on that one.

I get 90% or better hatch rate with mine. No turner though. Some day, I may work on a manual turner. I incubate in cartons, and just tilt the cartons to turn.

 

[AlleysChicks]

If you could wire a lamp with written instructions, you can make an incubator. Forced air, with a digital thermostat.



Hubby and I made 2. The first one was styrofoam with a bimetal thermostat. The second one was made from a chest cooler with digital thermostat. I still need to tweak the fan on that one.

I get 90% or better hatch rate with mine. No turner though. Some day, I may work on a manual turner. I incubate in cartons, and just tilt the cartons to turn.

I have a big 150qt cooler, I was thinking of trying Sally’s cabinet incubator. I want to add hatching baskets to it.

 

[AllenK RGV]

I can’t believe someone stole your incubator! I’m sure the hovabator will be a vast improvement from my starter incubator I got last year- farm innovators pro series- I had to work very hard with that one to try to maintain temps and get humidity up, but never achieved more than around 50-60% hatch rates with it

I was looking at that one for 139 at TSC but never see it mentioned by anyone here. I'm thinking I might try phoning a friend and covering postage on one I can trust. As I don't plan on hatching out enough to go the Hoverbator 1588 with turner route. The least expensive combo new I found was 135 for the bator + 44 more for the turner, diffrent vendors but both were on amazon. If you want the innocuwhatever it is secondary temp/hygrometer that is another 14 there.

Course I'm thinking if I can't beg or borrow from some Texans I trust I'll start with just the bator, then add the rest when I drop the cash on my targeted eggs.

Then again if I'm dropping 200 on eggs alone I want to have a decent bator.

 

[MatthewsHomestead]

Make it for less than $20. Check out Rush Lane Poultry. He has some excellent tutorial videos about how to make an incubator. Save your money to do coop and run or garden upgrades, or buy a few fruit trees!

Is Rush Lane on YouTube? Where do I find his videos? Been thinking of building a bator myself....

 

[lazy gardener]

Here you go:

 

[MatthewsHomestead]

Awesome sauce!