The author of the YouTube channel “Bird House” shares his experience in brooding chickens in an incubator of his own production.
Using this incubator, the author has a brood of about 100 chickens per week. Thus, during the summer season for 2-2.5 months the brood is about 1000 - 1500 chickens. What you agree is not a bad increase in retirement.
This incubator is very simple to manufacture. All you need is a cardboard box from under the TV or any other electronics.
The internal dimensions of the incubator:
length 550 mm
width 500 mm
height 470 mm
Instruments:
- a hacksaw;
- stationery knife;
- soldering iron;
- glue;
- drill;
- feather 20 mm;
Materials:
- corrugated cardboard;
- expanded polystyrene;
- light bulbs - 4 pcs.;
- bulb holder - 4 pcs.;
- homemade thermostat;
- bath for water - 2 pcs.;
- electric motor;
- rail 40x10 mm;
- steel wire with a diameter of 3 mm;
- mosquito net;
The cover of this incubator is made of polystyrene foam, which is included in the package of the same TV. It vented holes for ventilation in the amount of 5 pieces and a diameter of 20 mm.
At the bottom of the incubator there is a small stand, the same of polystyrene with holes for drawing in fresh air.
The incubator itself has a square shape. Outside, it is also glued with a thin layer of polystyrene foam for insulation. 10 mm thick.
This incubator is heated with “Ilyich’s bulbs”, with a capacity of 40 W, in an amount of 4 pieces. The bulbs have a parallel connection.
Also in the incubator is a fan for convection. Not for drawing heat, but for circulating (mixing) warm air.
Fan blades made of tin can. So that there is no great traction, the blades have a straight shape, like a shovel. The engine itself is from instrumentation. The engine can be any, but it should have no more than 1000 rpm. , less is better.
To maintain humidity in the incubator, there are two baths with water.
To control humidity, author homemade uses a household psychrometer / hygrometer, which is located directly inside the incubator.
Above the electrical part of the incubator is a tray in which the eggs are laid. This tray is covered with a net so that the hatched chickens do not fall down.
The tray is installed inward on vertical slats, which are located at the corners of the incubator. There is a window on one side. It serves to service the incubator.
A grid is placed on top of the tray - a separator for turning eggs. It is soldered from a wire with a diameter of 3 mm. The cell measures 45x70 mm, the size of an egg.
This grill is made shorter than the tray by 70 mm along one of the edges. This is necessary so that when pulling the lattice towards yourself, the eggs rotate 180 degrees.
The tray has a hole in which a wire is inserted, which serves as a traction for the grate (it is not shown in the photo). The rod is soldered to the net directly in the tray. Thus, it becomes possible to turn eggs over at any time without opening the incubator. They need to be turned 5-6 times a day.
For quail eggs, this lattice is not suitable, so the master covers the tray with an ordinary mosquito net. Eggs are simply laid on top in any quantity.
Temperature depends on the volume of eggs.
To rotate, the eggs are fenced with slats and, if necessary, are rotated simply with their hands in its borders.
The scheme of the temperature controller by the author was found on the Internet.
12V power supply purchased separately. It is necessary to supply power to the control chip.
The power part of the regulator is powered separately from 220 V.
The controller has a remote temperature sensor that lowers through the hole in the lid, as close as possible
to the eggs.
Also, lamps are connected to the controller. In this case, the author simply twists the wires together.
When you set the required temperature, the bulbs turn off.
To control the temperature in the incubator, the author additionally lays out medical thermometers.
The author is satisfied with his incubator and has been using it for 10 years. The hatchability of the chicks is very high, about 90%.
Below you can watch a video about this incubator:
[media = https: //www.youtube.com/watch? v = T5CQCdCDAXg]