I use a thermometer/hydrometer combo that makes things so much easier. Once the incubator is fully dry place it in an area that is draft-free and where temperatures will stay constant.įill up the water reservoir in the incubator and add the thermometer and hydrometer and then turn it on.Īdjust the temperature settings until it stays between 99 and 102 F (37.2 and 38.3 C).ĭon’t let the temperature drop below 99 F (37.2 C) and don’t let temperatures over 102 F (38.3 c) last for more than a few hours or it could kill the chicks.Īdjust the amount of water in the incubator to keep the humidity between 50-55 percent during the first 17 days of incubation. ![]() This will make sure you are starting with a nice clean environment for the eggs. Wash it well with a 10% bleach solution, with a second washing of hot soapy water before rinsing well. This gives you time to make sure that the temperatures are staying stable. Set up your incubator a week before you plant to start incubating the eggs. How To Set Up Your Incubator For Chicken Eggs Do not ever store eggs for hatching in the refrigerator it’s just too cold. Keep them in a cool area that stays between 55 to 60 F (12.7 to 15.5 C). Caring For EggsĮggs for hatching can be stored up to 7 days before placing them into your incubator. Otherwise, you can order fertilized eggs from hatcheries or from local chicken farmers to get started. If you keep a flock of chickens already the easiest way is to collect your own eggs for hatching. Those come from large egg farms where hens are housed and have not been in contact with a rooster. To hatch the eggs must be fertile, this means they need to be collected from hens that have been housed with a rooster for breeding.Įggs you find sold in grocery stores are not fertilized. I hope you’ve now known how to build your own homemade incubator.Before you start setting up your incubator you will want to make sure that you have access to eggs for hatching. Consider getting a hydrometer, and if the humidity is too low adding a small cup of water which will naturally evaporate increasing the humidity. You need some way for air to enter and escape, but make sure they aren’t too big so that you maintain the hot, humid atmosphere. Make sure you have a few small openings for air to flow into and out the incubator. Clean your incubator before starting a new round of incubation. Any egg not hatched after a month should be gotten rid of. Once a chick has hatched and is peeping, place it into a brooder.Your eggs should end in the position they started in. Turn your eggs 4 times a day, 90 degrees each time.Check the temperature regularly, to make sure it’s within the 95-100 oF range.Return the top of your cooler, and turn on the electric light.Place your eggs into one of your egg cartons, with the large rounded end upright, and place them inside of your cooler.If it’s too hot use a lower wattage bulb, if it’s too cool use a higher wattage. You want the temperature of your incubator to be between 95 oF and 100 oF, if it isn’t you’ll need to change your light bulb. After an hour, check the temperature on the thermometer. Place the thermometer at the bottom of your egg carton.Screw the 75-watt light bulb into your electrical light.You now have 2 half-trays you can now use with your incubator. You should have your foil (SHINY side out) applied to all the inner surface of your cooler, as well as its top (minus the hole for the light). Apply your foil to the inside of your cooler like you would with wallpaper – tight and smooth.Take your paintbrush and apply your glue mixture to the DULL side of your aluminum foil. Combine your glue with water to create a 50/50 mixture.Your light should fit deeply enough so that your light shines directly into the inside of your cooler. ![]() It should be a size that your electrical light will fit into snugly, so it stays in place. Use your scissors to cut a hole into the center. A clip-on electrical light (the kind with a wide, saucer-shaped base).A large Styrofoam cooler (large enough to easily fit a dozen-egg carton on the inside of it). ![]() This is the type of Styrofoam cooler you will need.
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