I have been considering buying an incubator for a while now, after looking at many different models and sizes I decided to make one. The heat comes from two 40watt bulbs adjusted by a dimmer switch. I have also included two pc processor fans these are also adjustable. For the time being I have put my greenhouse thermometer in to get a rough idea of temperature, I have ordered a decent thermometer/hygrometer. Once this arrives and I get the temperature and humidity right I will be putting the eggs in. Eventualy I intend to install a thermostat and I am going to make an auto turner. Any comments or suggestions greatly appreciated
Well, I don't know much about incubators, but it looks the business Al. I will look forward to hearing how you get on with hatching. An incubator is on my wish list, if yours in sucessful then I may be able to persuade my OH to make me one, cos he isn't convinced about forking out big bucks for one
Hi Diane, Most of the materials I had lying around but I reckon if you tell your other half you could buy everything new for around £30 then he may just be convinced. Next on the list of jobs for me is to make a candler, should be easy enough afterall its just a box with a hole in the top and a bulb inside. I will be keeping you all posted on progress. Can't wait to get the eggs in
That looks fab, if you hadn't told me it's home made I would never of known. It will be lovely watching them hatch in through that big window, well done.
Keeper (slave) and feeder to 3 small humans, 1 Jack Russell, 1 elderly cat, 2 goldfish, 5 fat hens and 6 little chicks.
Thanks for the kind words. I am like a kid waiting for christmas, I can't wait to get the eggs in. I have made the candler this morning so five days or so after the eggs have gone in I will be checking if Henry has been doing his stuff. My daughter is almost as excited as me, every half hour or so she is asking if we can put some eggs in I have been reading anything I can find about incubation and raising of chicks but I am sure I will have plenty of questions for some of you experienced hatchers along the way.
WOw no hanging around with you, what type of eggs are you putting in ? Have you got a mixed flock ? Where in the NE are you ? I used to live in LowFell just 5 mins from the Angel and used to love coming home and seeing it.
Keeper (slave) and feeder to 3 small humans, 1 Jack Russell, 1 elderly cat, 2 goldfish, 5 fat hens and 6 little chicks.
Hi Plopcar, I am just outside durham city in a semi rural village. I have fifteen ex-batts and three rhode island reds (these were Molindas but I have given them a new home) Henry is a fine looking gent that we think is RIR crossed with something else. so hopefully we should have some nice looking heinze 57's If I have any success with the first batch I would like to get some fertile Dorkin eggs or similar.
Hi Smunch, we have a passage way in the centre of our house (bungalow) with no external walls or windows, it has the most constant/even temperature of any room in the house. When I put the incubator in there I plugged it in and adjusted the fans and bulbs untill I got 37.5 degrees. Its not clear on the pics but there are two air vents on each side, I think these along with the fans help to keep the temp even. There has only been half a degree difference in the temp since yesterday tea time
Thanks Helen, Suprising what can be done with mdf, fablon and a bit of imagination isnt it. Well finaly today is the day The eggs are in, the temperature and humidity are stable so apart from turning and monitoring temp etc its all down to mother nature now.
Hopefully we will have some offspring from Henry and some of his ex-batt girls
And here are Henries new girlfeinds Mavis, Aggy and Dorris.
