Do-it-yourself automatic egg incubator: diagrams and drawings, step-by-step video instructions. Do-it-yourself incubator: types and design features Do-it-yourself cardboard box incubator tips

For those who work on poultry farms or are engaged in breeding birds on a large scale, it is known that such a miracle of technology as an incubator is indispensable. Many people know or have heard that it is this apparatus that guarantees that all eggs will become chicks as a result. However, some dream of doing poultry farming at home or in the country, and are not ready to invest a lot of money in this business. For such self-taught amateurs today, there are many ways to make an incubator with your own hands with minimal effort and money.

Is it worth it to make an incubator on your own or is it a risky undertaking?

Many novice poultry farmers are deeply mistaken in thinking that a home-made incubator is a rather complicated design, and only a person with special knowledge and skills can make it. This is absolutely not true. In order to make an incubator, you will not need unusual tools or materials, and even more so special knowledge. In addition, you yourself can choose the size of the device, as well as its functionality. Plus, you will save very well, and you will be proud of your creation.

Do-it-yourself incubator - as easy as shelling pears

What is needed to ensure that all the chicks are born, and not a single egg is wasted? There are three main conditions: heat, humidity and regular egg turning. Accordingly, all this should be clearly calculated and taken into account before proceeding with the implementation of the plan. Underheating or overheating in the device is absolutely not allowed at any stage of the incubation period. There should be no excess or lack of humidity, as well as deviations from the norms of the temperature regime, otherwise it threatens with high mortality of embryos and chicks.

A box, foam sheets, a glass jar, a beehive, plywood and even an old refrigerator can be taken as the basis for the design, that is, a home incubator can be made from anything. Consider the most popular ways to make such a device with your own hands.

cardboard box incubator

The easiest way to make an incubator with your own hands is to use a large cardboard box as a basis. Let's start assembling:

• Cut a small ventilation hole in the side or top of the box, and fix 4 fireproof lamp sockets on the lid.
• Install 25 W lamps (lamps should be 15 cm away from the tray).
• Make the front wall removable or install a door there that will fit well with the structure.
• In the middle of the box (15-18 cm from the top and 15-18 cm from the bottom) an egg tray is installed (put a thermometer next to it to measure the temperature in the incubator).
• Under the tray it is necessary to install a container with water (humidity in the incubator is measured with a hygrometer).
• Open the lid of the box only to turn the eggs, which should be done regularly.

This method of raising chickens is quite suitable for home use, such an incubator will be quite enough. can be made from wooden planks. Up to 60 eggs will fit in such a homemade tray.
It is very important to put the entire structure not on the floor, but on a stand made of bars, for example. Also, do not forget about the need for constant air circulation, not only inside, but also outside the box. After each use, the incubator must be cleaned and disinfected without fail.

Incubator from an old fridge

A very good option is the ability to make an incubator from an old refrigerator, so if you have one in your home, do not rush to throw it away. Due to its design, the refrigerator is ideal for the role of an incubator. In this case, there are also several options for the device, consider the easiest way to make an incubator with your own hands from the refrigerator:

• We dismantle the entire internal filling of the refrigerator, including the freezer.
• From above we install cartridges for 4 lamps, as well as a temperature controller and a contactor-relay.
• Cut out a small viewing window on the front door.
• We equip gratings for installing trays.
• We fix the thermometer so that it is clearly visible through the window.

There is also a more advanced version of an automatic incubator made from a refrigerator. This design is of course very convenient, since the eggs in it turn over automatically, which significantly reduces possible losses. This incubator is able to completely replace the industrial one, however, in order to make it, you will have to spend more time and effort. The main control units in this device will be: automatic, tray turner and humidity controller.

In order to make it clearer how to assemble an incubator with your own hands video

Incubators for birds: convenient and profitable

Why make an incubator yourself, isn’t it easier to buy ready-made chicks? We discussed how to make an incubator above, and now let's see what its advantage is, and whether it is worth the effort and time spent.

Firstly, buying chicks in the market during the season is a costly business, since the cost of them is growing every year. Therefore, even taking into account the constant costs of electricity, the chicks will be cheaper.

Secondly, no one gives you a guarantee that all purchased chicks will survive. Unfortunately, due to not following the right conditions during the incubation period, many chicks die. If you yourself are engaged in the incubation of eggs, this process can be controlled.

Thirdly, with the presence of our own incubator, it is possible to get chicks earlier than the generally accepted season.

In addition, a good incubator can be a source of income.

A do-it-yourself incubator can be used not only for chicken eggs, you can lay duck, goose, quail and any other eggs there. The main thing that the poultry farmer should know is that each type of egg requires its own specific incubation period. You should not forget about such subtleties, otherwise it may not work out.

Chicken egg incubator

Different types of poultry are bred in incubators, but the laying of chicken eggs has been and remains the most popular. Breeding chicken chickens at home is not at all difficult.

The hatchability of chicks, subject to all necessary conditions, can sometimes reach 100%. used industrial or do-it-yourself. The latter are very often used, because it is quite simple to make them.

An important condition for the successful incubation of chicken eggs, as well as for any other, is a perfectly matched material. The shelf life of eggs intended for incubation should not be more than 7 days, and even better if these eggs have lain for no more than two days before they are laid in the incubator. The total incubation period for chicken eggs is 21 days. If you adhere to all the necessary conditions (temperature, humidity, turning eggs and their quality), then after three weeks you can get a healthy and strong brood of chickens.

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If you keep poultry, you know how difficult it is to get offspring from it. Geese, ducks or hens are creatures with a delicate nervous system, they can refuse to hatch for a long time or quit laying for various reasons. For a guaranteed offspring on the farm, an incubator is needed. It is not difficult to make such a device with your own hands at home. Today, in this review, the editors of the site will tell you the basic principles of the incubator, design features, and also give recommendations for assembling home-made devices from improvised material.

Home hatchery mini-station will provide farming with chickens, geese and ducks

In order for a chicken to hatch from a chicken egg, special conditions must be created:

• temperature - 37.5°С;
• humidity - in the range of 60-65%;
• regular change in the position of the eggs;
• quality ventilation.

The incubator may have one or two chambers. Single-chamber structures can "hatch" a lot of eggs, but it is more difficult to maintain the correct temperature in them. In two-chamber devices, water and a heating device are located separately from the egg tray. Humidified and heated air is blown by a fan. Factory models have temperature and humidity control sensors, a system for automatic egg turning. The electronic setting system allows you to select a different mode for breeding chickens, geese, ducks, turkeys or quails.

How to make an incubator at home: we study important nuances

Prefabricated models, without a doubt, are convenient and practical devices, but not everyone can afford such an expensive pleasure. Making a simple incubator for quails or chickens with your own hands is not so difficult. Its main components are: body, heating and ventilation system, flipping device. Consider the basic requirements for them.

Requirements for the body of the incubation device

Most importantly, the body of the structure must maintain the temperature regime necessary for breeding chicks. The second significant point is ease of use. From time to time you need to open the device, check the operation of the heating elements, ventilate the masonry.

And the last requirement for the case is suitable dimensions. Eggs should not lie tightly, the distance between them should be at least a centimeter. This arrangement of masonry provides good ventilation and uniform heating.

How to heat masonry and control the temperature

Only the optimum temperature guarantees the emergence of chicks. Even small deviations can ruin everything, which is why it is so important to choose the right heating element for the incubation structure.

What heating elements can be used for an incubator:

Heater type	Features of use	Average price (as of July 2018), RUB
Lamp	The lamp is easy to replace and install, such devices are always in the household. A significant drawback of this element is uneven heating. Constant light is an unusual condition for hatching chickens.	Incandescent lamps - 45. Ceramic lamps - 650.
heating element	The built-in heating element evenly distributes heat in the cavity of the incubation device. The disadvantage of this heater is that it is difficult to replace and the need to specially keep a spare on hand in case of a breakdown.	400
Infrared	This is the most economical type of heater. The IR film distributes heat evenly across the tray. Changing such heaters is not easy and it is better to invite a professional for this task.	900 per sq. m.

How to equip ventilation in an incubator

Good ventilation ensures even distribution of heat throughout the incubator. In stagnant air, the eggs overheat, and the embryos die from lack of oxygen.

For your information! On the sixth day of development, the chick embryo begins to breathe in the egg. Oxygen enters through the microscopic pores of the shell. Already on the fifteenth day, the chicken needs at least 2500 ml of air, and on the nineteenth - 8 liters.

Ventilation in the incubation device may be continuous or intermittent. In the first variant, heat is evenly distributed throughout the tray.

Advice! Before the fan you need to install a filter mesh. It will protect the blades from fluff.

Egg Turning Mechanisms

The bird in the nest periodically turns the eggs. This must also be done in the incubator to ensure uniform full development of the embryos. According to the rules, the eggs should be turned every 3 hours. In a small incubator for a hundred eggs, this can be done manually, and in devices for 200 or more eggs, you need to install an automatic turning mechanism for the incubator.

Automation for this purpose is frame or inclined. For medium-sized incubators, the frame system is preferred: it is easy to operate and economical. But it should be remembered: with sudden movements of the frame, the eggs can be beaten.

But such devices consume more energy and require complex maintenance. They are installed in large incubation stations.

The optimal size of a home egg incubator

The dimensions of the incubation structure directly depend on the tasks that you are going to set for it. For a small farm, it is optimal to stop at a structure with 100-120 cells. You can use all of them or just some of them, depending on your needs.

Related article:

How to build a chicken coop with your own hands for 10 chickens. We will talk about this in the article, and consider not only the schemes and materials, construction stages, but also the needs of the bird and the optimal conditions for its maintenance.

Do-it-yourself incubator at home: temperature conditions for birds of different breeds

The incubation temperature for different breeds of poultry is slightly, but different.

Breed	Image	Days/degrees
chickens		1-2/39
ducks		1-12/37,7 25-28/37,2
Indians		1-30/37,5
geese		1-28/37,5
Turkeys		1-25/37,5 25-28/37,2
quail		1-17/37,5

How to make a refrigerator incubator with your own hands: simple instructions

An old refrigerator is an excellent basis for making an incubation unit. It is large enough to provide a small farm with a bird offspring. In addition, the refrigerator is a hermetically sealed design, which ideally maintains the temperature and the necessary microclimate. So, how to make an incubator from an old refrigerator.

Materials and tools for work

In addition to the refrigerator itself, you will need egg trays, a thermostat of suitable size, a fan, 100-watt incandescent lamps, and a metal grill. Of the necessary tools - a drill, a screwdriver and a construction knife.

How to properly prepare the body of the refrigerator

Remove all internal shelves and drawers from the refrigerator. All parts of the refrigeration unit can be removed to facilitate the construction. Afterwards, the body of the device should be thoroughly washed with a disinfectant solution. Bacteria that thrives on the walls of an old refrigerator can lead to pestilence among chicks.

Installation of the ventilation system

To move air inside the incubation device, you need to install a fan in one of the walls of the refrigerator. The fan motor is fixed outside. Fresh air will enter through the holes in the door and be drawn out by the ventilation device. If you do not know how to make ventilation in a homemade incubator, let's turn to the diagram.

Heating and humidity control system

You can make your own thermostat. How you can make a simple device for an incubator, we will tell you in detail using the example of different types of thermostats.

Type of thermostat	Manufacturing principle
Electric contactor	It is based on a simple mercury thermometer with an electrode soldered into the tube. Mercury, moving along the scale tube, closes the circuit when it reaches the electrode. This signal disables the heating system.
Bimetal sensor	Cheap, but not the most reliable option. The plate, when heated to a certain temperature, changes its shape and closes the circuit.
barometric system	For this sensor, a sealed soft metal cylinder with ether should be used. When heated, the walls of the cylinder bend and close the electrode, located a millimeter from the bottom.

All these systems can be done with your own hands, but it is better to purchase a ready-made device that guarantees strict control over the temperature regime in the chamber.

But if you fundamentally decide to do everything yourself, take two ordinary thermometers. Wrap the nose of one of them with gauze, and release the other end into a jar of distilled water. The second device is a control one, it is fixed nearby.

How to make an automatic incubator with your own hands

Automatic egg flipping is a complex system, you will have to tinker with it. You will need to prepare a gearmotor, a metal profile and a corner, plastic vegetable boxes, bearings, a chain, an asterisk and clamps.

Illustration	Action Description
	Weld the bed from a steel corner. The dimensions of the frame must match the dimensions of the refrigerator body.
	To rotate cells, you need two axes, top and bottom. The rest of the trays will turn on the rods. Use a piece of angle as a guide to fix the bearings.
	The frame for the trays will be held on by small fasteners from that metal corner.
	Frames for trays are best made from a lightweight aluminum corner or a galvanized drywall profile. The dimensions of the frames should match the vegetable boxes. But keep in mind, boxes are not the best option. Still, it is better to make trays from galvanized mesh, they are better blown.
	The frames are mounted on a rotating axle and secured with screws.
	To securely fix the bearings, they are additionally clamped with a metal clamp, as shown in the photo.
	Attach the top and bottom frame. Additionally, prepare a mount for the gearmotor.
	Install the rest of the tray frames and connect them to the upper and lower rods, which are made from a 1 cm wide metal strip. Use bolts and lock nuts for fastening.
	Install the gearmotor and chain drive with sprocket. It is better to make it with your own hands, make it for 7 teeth. This design will provide an optimal, not too high turning speed.
	To prevent the trays from turning, end caps made of plastic or wood should be fixed at the bottom.
	Install the trays and the entire structure in the incubator body, connect the system to electricity.
	Scheme of connecting the rotary mechanism to a temporary relay. SA1 - switch without latching, SB1 - with latching.
	This is how the design of a homemade incubator with an automatic flip for eggs in motion looks like.

In addition, a video instruction on how to make an incubator from the refrigerator with your own hands.

Article

In our difficult time, when commodity prices are rising at an inexorable pace, you will always find the area in which you can profitably apply your practical skills and theoretical knowledge. Looking at the cost of an incubator produced in an industrial environment, you can easily calculate the benefits of self-manufacturing such a device. Moreover, making a homemade incubator with your own hands is not so difficult.

Here is what a forum user says about his homemade incubator with a mechanical egg flip genius cat.

genius cat

In short: an incubator for 60-70 chicken eggs, a mechanical coup using a special grate, I don’t do automatic in principle. Heating with light bulbs, two chains. Temperature control with an electrocontact thermometer. I don't trust electronics. The temperature runoff at the corners is 0.5 degrees. Cheap and cheerful. In the presence of components, it is possible to make an incubator in 3 - 4 hours.

The most important thing in manufacturing is to ensure the ability to maintain optimal indicators of humidity and temperature inside the device, as well as create conditions for the timely turning of eggs in order to warm them evenly.

Incubator body

In most cases, the basis of everything is the body. And the incubator in this case is no exception.

When manufacturing the case, special attention should be paid to ensuring good thermal insulation for the future device. This will allow in the future to avoid the troubles associated with maintaining a strict temperature regime in the incubation chamber.

For the manufacture of the body, porous polymeric materials, foam (polystyrene foam) 20 mm thick, etc. are quite suitable. You can also use fiberboard or chipboard sheets, but you should create double walls filled with foam rubber, felt or foam.

The dimensions of the incubator will directly depend on the number of eggs that are planned to be simultaneously placed in the chamber. According to the height of the inner chamber, 50 cm will be enough. The area of ​​​​the inner base will be equal to the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe egg tray. But it is necessary to add about 50 mm to it on each side. It is this gap that should be between the tray and the body of the incubator to ensure the circulation of air flows. In the lower base of the incubator, be sure to drill several holes with a diameter of 10 mm, through which air will be exchanged between the interior of the chamber and the external environment (the incubator must be constantly enriched with oxygen). For an incubator designed for 50 eggs, 6 holes are enough.

Attention! The bottom openings should be located in such a way that they are not blocked by a baking sheet (plate) with water, which will be installed in the chamber to maintain a sufficient level of humidity.

To ensure unhindered air movement between the bottom of the device and the surface on which it will be installed, there must be a gap of 30 ... 50 mm. In its top cover, a viewing window 100x100 mm, closed with glass, should be made. If there is no forced ventilation in the incubator, then the glass should be slightly opened during operation, leaving a gap of 10 ... 15 mm.

And one more nuance: one of the side surfaces of the incubator must have a door for changing water and other actions related to servicing the chamber.

Incubator Tray

In order for the eggs to be carefully placed in the interior of the incubator, we need to make a special tray. In our case, it can be made on the basis of a wooden frame, which is covered with fine mesh from below. As a mesh, both an ordinary mosquito, used in the design of modern window glass units, and a metal (maybe different) mesh with a cell size comparable to 5x5 mm (but no more) are suitable. In order to prevent sagging of the mesh, a couple of small rails can be nailed to the bottom of the tray, which will comprehensively strengthen the design of the tray.

In order to make it more convenient to turn the eggs during the incubation process, the tray should be equipped with an inserted wooden grate. For convenience, several gratings can be made at once, having different sizes of internal cells. So, for quail eggs, a grid with a cell size of 45x35 mm is suitable, for a chicken egg, cells with a size of 67x75 mm are needed. If you want to lay goose eggs in the incubator, then the cells must be of the appropriate size - 90x60 mm. The width of the grate should be 5 mm less than the tray itself. In length, it should be shorter by 50 ... 60 mm - for quail eggs, by 80 ... 90 mm - for chicken eggs and by 100 ... 110 mm - for goose eggs. Thus, by moving the grate along the tray, you can turn the eggs 180 degrees. In order to evenly warm the eggs over time, a similar procedure should be performed approximately once every 2 to 3 hours.

Egg Turning Tray

The height of the sides of the tray itself should be 70–80 mm. The tray should be installed on legs 100 mm high.

This is the simplest tray design that allows you to turn all the eggs at the same time. But in order for the design of the incubator to be more modern, the process of turning eggs can be automated. And this will require some technical improvements.

How to make a coup in an incubator

In order to automate the process of turning eggs in an incubator, it is necessary to introduce an electromechanical drive into its design that operates after a certain period of time (as we have already said, it is 2-3 hours). The accuracy of the time interval will be provided by a special time relay. The relay can be purchased ready-made. Those who like to “dig deeper” into microcircuits can make it on their own, taking electronic or even mechanical watches as a basis, which are easy to buy both in Moscow and in any village.

Here is what a FORUMHOUSE user writes about this.

mednagolov

Now on sale it is easy to purchase Chinese electromechanical relays with a 24-hour cycle. In fact, this is an elementary watch with a plug that is plugged into a socket, and on the case of this watch there is a socket into which a consumer is stuck, inside the watch a tiny electric motor turns. There is no need to start them, in the circle of the dial, lined for 24 hours, there are “pressers” with which you set the time intervals.

The electric motor must necessarily transmit torque through the gearbox. This will help make the grate move smoothly and keep the eggs intact.

The grid of the tray should move along the guides. The walls of the tray can play the role of guides. But in order to avoid accidental jamming, this mechanism can be improved. To do this, a metal axis protruding from both ends should be attached along the central axis of the lattice. It will play the role of a reliable guide. The axis will be inserted into special grooves made on the sides of the tray. This design is reliable, it can be easily assembled and, if necessary, quickly disassembled.

In order to drive the egg grill, we need a reciprocating mechanism consisting of an electric motor, a gearbox, a crank mechanism and a rod connecting the drive to the tray grill.

Device for flipping eggs in an incubator.

As an electric motor, you can use special "motors" for microwaves, which are commercially available. Also, some craftsmen create an electromechanical drive based on the mechanism that is part of car wipers. Or here is a way out of the situation that the forum member mednagolov came up with: the drive of the egg-turning mechanism from el. remote control ball valve motor d=3/4 220v (has an extremely powerful and durable gearbox, as well as end position microswitches).

He used the power supply from an old computer, and the time relay was a mechanism from a Chinese clock, which was described a little higher.
The mechanism functions as follows: the relay closes the electrical circuit after a specified period of time. The mechanism is set in motion and moves the tray grate, turning the eggs. Then the end position signaling devices (limit switches) are triggered, and the grille is fixed in the opposite extreme position. After a predetermined time, the cycle is repeated, and the grate returns to its original position. The whole process in a homemade product takes place without human intervention.

Incubator heating

The correct placement of the heating elements in the incubator chamber is the key to success, ensuring the hatching of healthy and strong chicks. As heating elements, it is customary to use ordinary incandescent bulbs. Ideally, they are best placed above the egg tray, evenly spaced around the perimeter of the incubator. The tray and the heating element should be separated by a distance of at least 25 cm. In a homemade incubator, low power bulbs, 25 watts, etc. should be used. The total power of the heating elements used in such an incubator should be 80 watts - for a device designed for the simultaneous hatching of 50 chicks.

The lower the power of the heating elements, the more uniform the distribution of heat in the incubation chamber.

When placing lamps on the walls of the chamber, one should also monitor their uniform arrangement around the entire perimeter. Be aware that by using a series electrical connection of heating elements, you can significantly extend their service life. But the power of each consumer in this case will be halved. This should be taken into account when calculating the number of heating elements, because with the appropriate connection method, the number of consumers will have to double.

Temperature control

As we already know, the temperature in the incubator chamber must exactly match the specified parameters. Otherwise, such a device is worthless. The optimal temperature for hatching chickens in artificial conditions is from 37.5 to 38.3º C. But it should be strictly observed. A regular thermostat, which can be purchased at the store without any problems, will help maintain the set range. It is necessary that this instrument provide an accuracy of temperature values ​​corresponding to 0.2 ° C. An error greater than the value presented can be detrimental to developing embryos.

Connecting the thermostat to the heating elements to a person who decided to make an incubator with his own hands, we think, will not be difficult. The main thing is to ensure that the temperature sensors are near the egg tray. For more accurate readings, the sensors can even be mounted on the tray. As an additional means of control, a conventional thermometer should be used. It is better if it is electronic, capable of showing tenths of a degree. But in extreme cases, an ordinary alcohol thermometer is also suitable. It should be fixed in the chamber in such a way that it is located immediately above the tray. In this case, his readings can be taken, looking through the viewing glass.

heat accumulator

JG_ FORUMHOUSE member

In order for the temperature to drop more slowly, it is necessary to use a thermal accumulator. I used water as TA. It gives moisture and still gains temperature, and when turned off, it gives it away for a long time, preventing the temperature from dropping quickly. Only the water container should be large. You can just put a metal pancake or a dumbbell inside - why not TA?

It remains to add that without a humidifier in the incubator, all your efforts are doomed to failure. Therefore, a baking sheet or an open plate filled with water can be considered one of the essential elements involved in the incubation process. As for the heat accumulator, a heating pad or a plastic water bottle will never be superfluous in the interior of your incubator.

Humidity can be monitored using a psychrometer, which can be purchased at a home improvement store. The optimal humidity in the incubator should be 50-55% (it can be increased to 65-70% immediately before hatching).

Incubator ventilation

Many owners of homemade incubators believe that the fan is an integral part of such a device. But practice shows that a small incubator, the number of eggs in which does not exceed 50 pieces, can do without forced ventilation. Air convection in it occurs naturally and this is sufficient to maintain the vital activity of the embryos.

If the chamber of your incubator is designed for a larger number of eggs, or if you want to create an ideal microclimate inside the device by all means, then for these purposes you can use special fans with a diameter of 80 to 200 mm (depending on the volume of the chamber).

The fan can be mounted in the top cover of the incubator in such a way that it draws air from the interior of the chamber. Part of the air flow will go outside, and its main volume will be reflected from the cover and pass over the lower air inlets, mixing warm air with cold air and enriching it with oxygen.

That, perhaps, is all. You can find out the different opinions of our users regarding the design, as well as get acquainted with their practical developments in this topic. We also have information for those interested in performance. If you want to create more at home, in the design of which there are powerful components and complex ventilation schemes, then you should visit this section.

For a small farm, compact devices are needed to hatch young animals. At home, it is easy to make an incubator with your own hands using improvised materials.

The main attention is paid to the case, which should provide a stable temperature regime. For this purpose, an old refrigerator or a box assembled from foam is suitable. Trays are inserted inside in which eggs are laid. Work on their coup and maintaining the required temperature can be automated.

Show all

Advantages

A homemade device has several advantages:

1. 1. A do-it-yourself device is cheaper.
2. 2. You can make a product according to your needs for the right number of eggs.
3. 3. A device made from improvised means is cheaper to maintain.
4. 4. It is possible to install an additional power supply. It will be needed in the event of a power outage.

Requirements

The beginning of work consists in the preparation of design drawings and the development of a diagram of the electrical part. At this stage, the necessary requirements for the device are laid down:

1. 1. Extra space is provided in the body of the incubator to be able to increase the amount of rearing of young animals.
2. 2. The focus is on the method of heating and thermal insulation.
3. 3. Availability of ventilation. To do this, holes are drilled on the side and in the bottom. In the manufacture of a refrigerator, fans are installed inside.
4. 4. The device must have a reliable power supply system that would not fail.

The incubator is located in a warm and dry room with a temperature of at least 20 degrees and a humidity level of no more than 20%.



simple incubator

The easiest way to make an incubator is a wooden version. The property of wood to heat up slowly and give off heat at the same rate makes it a convenient material.

Manufacturing description:

• The box can be taken ready-made or put together yourself.
• Inside, the space is sheathed with plywood to cover the gaps.
• Holes with a diameter of 10 mm are drilled from above and covered with glass. These will be viewing windows.
• For the installation of foam trays, supports are made.
• In the lower part, wiring and cartridges are being installed.



This kind of incubator, made from a box, refers to a simple design that you can make yourself.



For quail

For quails, a box is taken in which humidity control is provided. It is supported by ventilation holes and water containers located in the incubator.

The nets on which the quail eggs are located must be able to rotate at an angle of 45 degrees. This is achieved by a lever brought out of the body.

From the fridge

To make an incubator out of the refrigerator, the freezer and all the shelves are removed from it.

After drawing up the drawing and the connection diagram, the following steps are carried out:

• Holes are drilled at the top. One for ventilation purposes, and the rest for incandescent lamps.
• In order to preserve heat, the walls of the refrigerator are sheathed with polystyrene foam.
• Trays are installed. If possible, the shelves of the refrigerator are redone under them.
• In the upper part, outside, the thermostat is being installed. The sensor is located on the inside.
• At the bottom, 3 holes are cut with a size of 1.5 x 1.5 cm for ventilation.
• Fans are located near the lamps and below. They provide air circulation.

The advantages of such an incubator are its dimensions, which can accommodate up to 500 eggs.



Fridge incubator

Styrofoam

Such material is optimal. It has low weight, low price, it has thermal insulation qualities.

The materials used are:

• 2 sheets of foam 50 mm thick and dimensions 100 x 100 cm.
• Glue or tape.
• 4 incandescent lamps with 25W cartridges.
• Fan.
• Temperature controller.
• Trays.

Step-by-step instructions for making an incubator for chicken eggs:

1. 1. The first sheet of foam is cut into 4 equal parts. They will become the side walls of the incubator.
2. 2. The second is first divided in half, and then one of the halves is cut into sheets of 50 x 60 and 50 x 40. The first will become the lid, and the second will be the bottom.
3. 3. A groove measuring 13 x 13 cm is made in the lid. It is both an inspection and a ventilation hole at the same time. The top is covered with plastic.
4. 4. Cut into 4 parts, the first sheet is glued into a frame. The bottom is glued on.
5. 5. The whole body with the bottom is pulled together with adhesive tape.
6. 6. Styrofoam supports are attached along the walls and trays are installed on them.
7. 7. At a distance of 1 cm from the bottom, 3 ventilation holes with a diameter of 12 mm are burned with a soldering iron.
8. 8. For rigidity of the cover, bars are attached to it from all sides. They are also made from foam. They are located with an indent from the edge of 5 cm and go inside the case. Tightly adhering to the side walls, the lid is securely fixed.
9. 9. A hole is pierced in the lid with an awl. Outside there is a thermostat, and inside the sensor.
10. 10. Incandescent lamps are attached.
11. 11. Trays located inside should retreat from the walls at a distance of 5 cm so that the ventilation process is not disturbed.

To keep the heat in the incubator made of foam longer, you need to additionally insulate the walls and ceiling. For this, foil insulation is suitable.

From the microwave

An incubator is made from a microwave oven according to the same principle. The disadvantage is its small size. Therefore, it can be used to display quails.

Manufacturing features:

• The body of the microwave oven is sheathed with foam for better heat retention.
• To ensure the flow of fresh air, a ventilation hole is made at the top. The door is not insulated.
• A tray with eggs is inserted inside. Immediately below it is a container with water for humidification.



Wiring diagram for a homemade incubator

Automatic egg flip

In order to successfully carry out the incubation process, the eggs must be rotated 180 degrees. If you do it manually, it takes a lot of time. For this purpose, automatic rotation is used.

Types of mechanisms with automatic overturn:

1. 1. Mobile grid. Typically used in small structures. The principle is that the eggs lie in the cells, and a grid is laid under them, which slowly moves. During its movement, the eggs begin to rotate. The disadvantage is that they may not turn over, and the grid will go idling.
2. 2. Roller system. Finds less use in the manufacture of their own hands. The system consists of rollers with bushings on which the mesh is stretched. At home, this is difficult to make.
3. 3. Tilt the tray at an angle of 45 degrees. The eggs located in cells do not roll down. But as the meshes move, they begin to rotate.

The latter method has found application in large incubators made from a refrigerator.

Having a household, it is beneficial to have a small device for hatching young animals. It makes no sense to buy an industrial version, which is expensive. A do-it-yourself device will fully comply with the necessary requirements and size of the farm. Repair costs are minimal.

Since the foam is a poor heat transfer, it can be used to make a home incubator. Styrofoam can be purchased at any hardware store, the case is small. It is necessary to calculate the number of eggs for laying, temperature, humidity and proceed to the manufacture of the incubator. We have already done all the calculations for you, so we propose to do it step by step according to the scheme, which is described below.

How to make an incubator with your own hands from foam: step by step

To build a foam plastic incubator with your own hands, you need to use 2 sheets of foam (or rather, one and a half, but they won’t sell half a sheet) (5 cm thick), four bulbs that include electric cartridges (I took a mini-cartridge and 25 W lamps), 2 scraps of welded galvanized mesh, glue - for fixing sheets and foam bars (I processed it with universal polymer glue), adhesive tape (50 mm wide), and a thermostat - industrial or home-made.

To build a tray for an egg, a variant with a welded galvanized mesh or a finished plastic tray for vegetables or other products can be used.

We work with a standard foam sheet - 100 x 100 cm.

One sheet must be cut into 4 equal parts, with sides of 50 cm. These parts will serve to glue the incubator body - they will be its side walls.

After that, you need to take the second sheet, cut off half - 50 cm, and divide into two pieces of a rectangular shape, their sides are 50 x 40 and 50 x 60 cm.

During gluing, the case is conveniently fastened with adhesive tape.

From the first rectangle we make the bottom of the incubator, from the second - the lid. The lid should be with a hole - it needs to be cut, it is approximately 12 x 12 cm, and then closed with a piece of glass. So it will be convenient to view and control the temperature. During the first 5-6 days, the hole is completely covered with glass, which then gradually needs to be moved back by 1-2 cm. When removing half of the hole or more, you need to open it.

Taking the squares of the first sheet, you need to glue the case, focusing on the diagram - shown from the top point. As a result, we get the walls of the box, with external dimensions of 50 x 60 cm, and with internal ones - 50 x 40 cm.

About an hour later, when the case dries out, we proceed to gluing the bottom (40 x 50 cm).

Then we use tape for additional fixation. First we paste over the bottom, with fly fishing on the sides - about 20 cm, then the sides over the entire area. Thus, the body will become stiffer, and as a result - durable.

After that, a foam block 5 x 3 or 6 x 4 cm should be glued to the long inner side of the case (50 cm), where the bottom and wall meet. We will install the tray on it. Inside, on sides of 40 cm, retreating 1 cm from the bottom, you need to make 3 ventilation holes on each side (diameter about 10–12 mm), with a uniform distance between them and from the edge of the case. After drilling, you need to insert something like tubes into these holes, otherwise the foam dust will block them. Therefore, it is better to burn them with a soldering iron. Now the body is ready.

We present the scheme of the incubator with our own hands at home (section):
1. Bath;
2. Hole for viewing and ventilation;
3. Tray;
4. Temperature controller;
5. Thermal sensor;
6. Distance from lamp to egg.

Let's take the cover again. On its side inside, stepping back 5 cm from the edge, it is necessary to glue a foam block measuring about 2 x 2 or 3 x 3 cm. With it, the lid will be fixed. Then, on the inside of the lid, you need to fix all the electric cartridges (4 pcs.) And light bulbs - for this I used a base of two strips of welded galvanized mesh.

A thermostat must be mounted on the cover. For the temperature sensor in the lid, you need to take an awl and make a hole, pass the sensor with the wire and place it above the egg at a distance of 1 cm.

For the tray, I used a 16 x 24 cm welded galvanized mesh, inside it is covered with a plastic fly net. The walls should be 8–10 cm high and higher so that young quails do not jump over them. To make the bottom of the tray, it is better to navigate along the bottom that the incubator has. The design requires a retreat of 5 cm from the side walls - for normal air circulation. Such a tray holds about 160–170 quail eggs.

Any bath with walls of 3-4 cm can serve as a water container - for example, cut out of a plastic canister.

So my incubator worked for 2 years. After that, I covered it with foil on foam rubber (a popular building material for underfloor heating, etc.), and in this way improved the heat capacity.

This is how a simple do-it-yourself incubator has a height of 55 cm. We take this parameter into account, since the light bulbs should be installed at a distance of 25 cm from the egg. Let's install it closer - and excess energy will harm the development of the bird.

Conclusion

As a result, making a foam incubator with your own hands is not difficult and does not take much effort. Naturally, such incubators can be made different in size, egg capacity and degree of equipment with various equipment. To do this, we propose to plan the project well before assembling the incubator, think through all the details, set realistic tasks in order to correctly calculate everything and then bring it to life.