Home-made Incubators

I'm starting a new thread about home-made incubators. I'm sure a lot of backyard breeders out there would like to hatch their own eggs rather than having them hatch in a commercial hatchery.

I personally prefer to hatch my eggs in my farm. This way I am 100% assured that the chicks are from my eggs. I'm not saying that commercial hatcheries are crooks. I'm sure there are many honest hatcheries out there. It's just that I value the peace of mind that I am sure what I have and I can look straight in the eye when somebody ask me where my cocks came from.

I use a home made incubator in my farm. It is cheaper and performs better than the Hovabator that I imported a couple of years ago. I have gathered a few designs/instructions in making incubators from a number of websites that I've visited for those who are interested to venture into egg hatching. I've modified and streamlined these files from their original format for easier downloading. I'll post a design one at a time.

Incubator design is not rocket science, so an average breeder can easily make it. Some designs may require some materials which may not be available locally but one can always use his Filipino ingenuity to improvise. The important thing is to know what the material is used for and to look for something available locally that does the same thing. If you can't figure out, you can always post your question here and I'm sure there will be someone out there with an answer.

I hope this helps in improving the breeding industry in the Philippines.

wmtan

Here's another one...

I still have two more designs but the file sizes are larger than allowed here, so if anybody is interested I can e-mail them to you.

wmtan

7-30-04 MNTAN what heating element to use light bulb or heating wires. and why?.Another ? I post is how to get the true temp. of the eggs assuming they are fertile, as published in some other post the thermometer inside the incubator does not reflect the temp.inside the eggs.bien31

[John Omana]

I'm interested to your other design, can you please email them to me on john_joshian@yahoo.co.uk.

More power!

bien1931,

The choice of heating element is up to you. It depends on what is readily available, as well as the design of the box. I prefer the light bulb because it is much safer than the heating coil which is exposed and is susceptible to catch fire.

For the temperature setting, let me quote you an article written by a poultry extension specialist:

"During the warm-up period, the temperature should be adjusted to hold a constant 101°F for still air, 99°- 100°F for forced air. To obtain reliable readings, the bulb of the thermometer should be at the same height as the tops of the eggs and away from the source of heat. Using two thermometers is a good idea to ensure you are getting an accurate reading. "

"Incubator temperature should be maintained between 99° and 100°F. The acceptable range is 97° to 102°F. Mortality is seen if the temperature drops below 96°F or rises above 103°F for a number of hours. If the temperature stays at either extreme for several days, the eggs may not hatch. Overheating is more critical than underheating. Running the incubator at 105°F for 15 minutes will seriously affect the embryos, while running it at 95° for 3 or 4 hours will only slow the chick's metabolic rate. "

If you want to get a temperature that is as close as the temperature inside the egg, I suggest you use a "water weasel". Click this link to know more about what a water weasel is:
http://www.homestead.com/shilala/weasel.html.
Personally, I believe using a weasel is too much of a hassle.

Hope this answers your questions.

wmtan

JohnO,

E-mailed you the files.

wmtan

[leonarie]

sir,

Please e mail me with the other design... this is my add arriesgado.lg@cite.edu.ph

thank you in advance

Im also interested to see your other
design...
I was also not happy from the Hobavator I imported it from Alabama...

Here is my email add : Jpramos@sbcglobal.net

pls send the rest of your other design home made Incubator...

Thank you very much in advance...

I.C.F. (john)

[MOYZKI]

Sir wmtan,

Can you please send me your other designs. Im also using a home made incubator using a junk refrigirator as incubator body. I might learn something from your design and improve my existing incubator.

My address is rt3gamefowls@yahoo.com.sg

thanks
MOYZKI

Leonarie/ICF/Moyski

I've e-mailed the zipped files.

wmtan

sir could you please e mail me your designs.
ill deeply appreciate it.
here's my e mail address:
bhonnie129@yahoo.com

thanks and more power to you sir!

lemonhatch,

I've e-mailed you the files.

wmtan

wmtan,

thank you very much for posting your incubator designs.

i hope you could also post informations about the automatic egg turner mechanism with some discussions on how the mechanism works.

again, thank you very much........

[chino]

wmtan,

I'm joining the bandwagon, kindly email them to this address gcmrealty@bitsnbytes.com.ph

Thanks.

Chino

THANKS A LOT SIR.
I DEEPLY APPRECIATE IT, ITS A BIG HELP FOR ME.
MORE POWER AND GOOD HEALTH TO YOU SIR.


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ALWAYS PLAY FAIR!, OUR SPORT IS A GENTLEMAN'S GAME

wmtan,
Kindly e-mail me you other design.Here's my add: ranjee69@yahoo.com Thanks in advance.

[bquimbo]

sir wmtan,

i too would like to have a copy , bquimbo_98@yahoo.com

thanks much,

sincerely

bq

Gudam Sir,

Could you also send me your designs.

Thanks for the effort you have put into helping improve our industry here in our country. Thanks.

My email add is [rupert.concepcion@mcd.com.ph[/COLOR]

Many people DREAM of SUCCESS, others just stay around to ACCOMPLISH them!!!

wmtan,
Sir, pls send me an email of your other homemade incubator. Thanks a lot.
Norman_a_bates@yahoo.com

More power to you....

This design can also be seen in http://www.shaywood.com/raising/building.htm

With all the respect to wmtan. I just want all of us to have a more detailed design.

could anybody please explain on how the egg turner works based on the illustration of incubator with egg turner ( the one that can ccommodate 100 eggs)..i just coudn't figure out how to work with it as the drawing shows..

snamla,
good job! you saved wmtan the work of sending the files individually to our interested cockmates..

thanks and more power to all of us! mabuhay ang mga sabungero!!!!!!

M. Ciervo:

If you look closely at the "Isometric view of Egg Tray" drawing, you will see that the 2 sides of the egg turner are resting on a 1/4" X 1/4" slot carved on the sides of the egg tray 5/8" from the wire mesh (screen) bottom. The egg tray from this drawing is shown as having 3/4" X 1 1/2" and another 1/2" strip to hold the wire mesh in place. The eggs will be placed on their sides in between the rods. To turn, push or pull the handle of the turner. You'll notice that the length of the turner is shorter than width of the tray to have space for the turner to move forward and backward. It is not automatic, but it is better than turning the eggs one by one.

I hope this explanation helps.

wmtan

[leoman_52]

wmtan,

GREAT THREAD!

would you also be able to send me your designs

leoman_52@yahoo.com

Thanks

Interesting Thread ... kindly send me your
designs ... aasager68@yahoo.com ... thank you.

I use a Fridge-A-Bator, took a couple hours to make, had a 85%+ hatch ratio this season, holds 390 eggs and takes about 2 seconds to turn them all. An Auto turner can easilly be added, and in my case will be be before next season. the 1x2's are screwed together, and 1/4 x 1/4 wire stapled to the bottom, they are bolted through the walls with long 1/4" bolts, in the center so they tilt forward and backward. The trays (5 in my case) are connected to each other by a thin strip of metal on the side, so they all tilt together. I use a Heating Element for a "Sportsman" bator, they cost about $5, cheap enough to have a spare.... I also use the thermostats from GQF, originally 2 of the Wafers, but now a Elec one and a wafer backup. Any type of fan will work, but in my case I used a small "Squirrel cage" fan. It is mounted in a vertical wall I constructed of plywood.... the heating element is on the back wall of the bator, then the wall about 6 inches in front of it with the fan mounted so it blows on the element. the heated air goes into the egg area through three 2" holes drilled in the bottom of the back compartment that housed the heating element, and is returned in the front with 3 like holes. In my case I found I got more even heat distrubution by using a piece of pipe in the center hole at the back that is about 2 feet long so it forces the heated air to the bottom. I will be posting more pics on www.pitfowl.com for those interested. ~Ace~





Larger Pic

wmtan / Mga kakmate

Good day sir, konting tanong lang po sa akin I'm setting at 98 F sa ngayon pang 18 days na, lahat candled. Shall I maintain this temperature or shall I reduce and when and what temp.?


Many thanks,

AFSEC

:rbounce:

AFSEC,

Although you may be using a thermometer, you cannot really be 100% sure the actual temperature inside the egg, so, I'd say maintain the temperature until the first hatch. After the first hatch, you can raise or lower the temperature by what the hatch tells you. If they hatched early (earlier than 21-22 days) the temperature needs to be lowered. If they hatch late, the temperature needs to be raised. Of course, raise or lower it within the recommended limits.

Hope this helps.

wmtan

Ok ito wmtan,


Please E mail me: Redskins_kelso@yahoo.com , Thanks.:rbounce:

Sir,

Im also interested your other designs, actually i had already downloaded the 2 others but im still interested to see you other design so find out which suit my need..thank you

my email address is:marlbokz@yahoo.com or at marlbokz@hotmail.com

Thank you in advance:rbounce: