Cheap DIY Projects: How to Make a Homemade Egg Incubator

Raising chickens in your backyard has become famous recently because more people want to grow them and obtain their eggs.

Hatching chickens are also an exciting project your entire family can fulfill. But, the cost of purchasing egg incubators can be quite high.

So, what you need to do is to build a DIY project of an egg hatchery. Here are some ways to follow to make your homemade egg incubator.

Before revealing the steps in creating a DIY egg incubator, here are some perks you can reap in making one:

• Building your egg incubator will save you loads of money. However, some people claim that hatching rates are quite low in DIY egg incubators. But, it all still depends on how well you know how to create one and how efficient you made the nursery.
• You can make it from scratch. And by that, what we mean is that you can just obtain the materials on recycled items that you can find all around your house. So, it can cost you less than buying one.
• You can be satisfied because you know how the process of building the incubator and what items you have used to make one.

How to Create a Homemade Egg Incubator

Here are some of the steps to follow to make a DIY egg incubator:

Cut an Opening at a Tip of a Cooler

The gap will create the socket and the light bulb in place. What you need to do is to put the hollow from the lamp. Then, insert the bulb, which is 25 watt. Secure the outlet and the socket with a duct tape from the interior and exterior cooler.

It is a crucial step to make sure that you prevent the danger of catching fire. Also, you can utilize a little box. But, a cooler may also work as efficiently as the box.

Separate the Cooler into Two Parts

For this step, you need to obtain a chicken mesh. You need to divide each side of the cooler that the bulb attaches itself. It is vital to do so to avoid burning the chicks.

Moreover, you can also make a wrong bottom by placing the mesh quite more on top of the cooler’s floor.

Put a Humidity Gauge and Digital Thermometer

You have to put it on the area where you placed the eggs. The primary function of the incubator is to regulate the humidity and temperature of the interior at an optimum level. So, make sure that your gauge or thermometer is accurate.

Place Water

The water will be the source of humidity. Then, you can also add the sponge. That way, you can regulate the level of water quickly.

Have a Viewing Hole in the Cooler Lid

All you have to do is to use a glass from a picture frame. Then, know how big the opening should be. But, ensure that it should be smaller than the measures of the glass. Moreover, use a duct tape to secure the glass to the opening.

Check the Incubator

Before you put the eggs inside, you have to turn on the light. Then, assess the humidity and temperature for a day or more. You have to make adjustments to the humidity and heat until they are on the standard levels.

You must keep the temperature at 99.5 degrees all throughout the incubation period. But, for the moisture, it may vary. It should be between 40 to 50% of the initial 18 days. Then, 65 to 75% during the last four days.

To decrease the temperature, you have to put holes in the cooler’s sides. If it drops after you do so, you can cover the holes with duct tape. For the humidity, you need to put more water to reduce the moisture. Then, pour out the water to raise it up.

Add the Chicken Eggs in the Incubator

It is just right to put fertilized eggs in because commercial eggs will not work for this process.

If you do not have hens, an ideal way to look for fertilized eggs is by heading to local farmers. Then, all you have to do is to group the eggs close to one another. It will help to regulate the temperature consistently.

You have to understand that the process will still depend on the quality and health of the chickens where you have gathered the eggs.

So, before buying them from a farm, you have to inspect the chickens. You also need to understand that free-range chickens are healthier compared to caged hens.

How to Incubate the Eggs

What you need to do first is to keep track of the vital statistics and the time. Eggs usually take about 21 days to hatch. Thus, it is just right to determine the exact day to place them in the incubator.

Moreover, you also need to adjust the humidity and temperature. Then, you have to rotate the eggs one-quarter to half a rotation at least three times a day for 18 days. You have to turn them so that a side won’t face down or up.

You need to put a label on the one hand of every egg with an “X.” On the contrary, put the other side a mark “O” to know which side is facing up and which one is down.

Furthermore, you have to candle the eggs to detect any sick and infertile eggs. What you have to do is to grab the egg against a bright light. You have to be in a dark room to observe the eggs.

But, you can also buy a candling equipment. However, for some occasions, you can use a bright, small flashlight to follow the method. If you discover an infertile or wrong egg, you have to get rid of it out of the egg incubator.

If you want to make a DIY candler, all you have to do is to place a desk lamp in the cardboard box. Then cut the top to have a small, round hole. Then, add the egg in the hole to proceed with the candling technique.

Moreover, you should also listen to the sound of your chicks beginning to hatch. The little chickens will start to peel off their shells on the 21st day. That way, they can breathe after popping their air sack.

You have to observe them after doing so carefully. It makes take up to at least twelve hours after cracking the shell for the chick to come out of its shell completely.

If they are struggling with this process, you can just proceed with removing the top part of the eggshell and get them out.

Conclusion

Depending on the quality and model of the egg incubator, it can be quite an expensive luxury for many chicken raisers.

But, you can always make your homemade egg incubator, which is affordable and can still provide enough heat and humidity for a successful hatch.What you have to do is to follow the instructions provided above. We assure you that you can make your DIY incubator in no time.