Three types of homemade incubators are a good alternative to purchased ones. Do-it-yourself automatic incubator for eggs: diagrams and drawings, step-by-step video instructions Do-it-yourself household incubator

It turns out that in order to hatch chicks of any poultry, you can do without not only the services of a hen hatching eggs, but also without an expensive factory-made incubator. It is quite possible for a home craftsman to independently make a device for incubating eggs, which allows him to successfully hatch chickens at a minimal cost. Read below about how this can be done.

Requirements for a homemade incubator

The main requirement that any incubator must fulfill is its ability to maintain conditions as close as possible to the natural ones created by the bird hatching its eggs.

Important! The distance between eggs loaded into the incubator must be at least 1 cm.

• the temperature within a 2-centimeter radius from each egg should be in the range from +37.3 to +38.6 ° C, in no case going beyond this range;
• eggs loaded into the incubator must only be fresh, whose shelf life has not exceeded ten days;
• the humidity in the device must be maintained within 40–60% for the entire period until the eggs are hatched, and after hatching it rises to 80% and remains at this level until the chicks are sampled, after which it decreases again;
• Of great importance for the normal incubation of eggs is their position, which should be either the blunt end up or horizontal;
• vertical arrangement involves tilting chicken eggs 45 degrees in any direction;
• horizontal arrangement requires turning the eggs 180 degrees every hour with a minimum turning three times a day;
• a couple of days before biting, the turning is completed;
• Forced ventilation is desirable in the incubator.

How to make a simple foam incubator

Polystyrene foam is perfect for this purpose. This material, while being cheap, is light both in weight and in processing, and has an excellent ability to retain heat, which is an indispensable quality when incubating eggs.

To make a small incubator for 15 chicken eggs out of polystyrene foam, you will need:

• ten-liter foam thermobox with a wall thickness of 3 cm;
• computer power supply;
• fan;
• light bulb with a power of 40 W and a voltage of 12 V;
• light bulb socket;
• metal pipe connector;
• metal mesh with cells 2x2 cm and rod cross-section 1.6 mm;
• façade mesh;
• plexiglass;
• acrylic mounting adhesive;
• temperature sensor;
• humidity sensor;
• sharp knife for cutting foam;
• drill;
• water tray;
• furniture cable plug;
• thermometer with moisture meter;
• thermostat.

Process of creation

To assemble a home incubator based on a ten-liter thermobox, you need:

1. Insert the fan into the pipe connector, first removing the ears there from the circumference of the fan housing.
   
2. Approximately in the middle of the pipe connector, attach the socket for the paw so that the light bulb is directed in the direction opposite to the fan.
   
3. Inside the thermal box, on one of its narrow sides, use four bolts, washers and nuts to secure a connector for pipes, for which four holes are drilled in the wall of the thermal box for the bolts and a fifth for bringing out the wires from the fan and light bulb. The pipe connector along with its contents is located almost at the bottom of the thermal box.
   
4. At a distance of about 15 cm from the top edge of the thermobox, strengthen the wooden corners on the inside of its walls along the perimeter using acrylic glue.
   
5. While the glue dries during the day, use a knife to cut a small rectangular hole in the middle of the thermal box lid into which to insert a piece of plexiglass, resulting in an observation window.
   
6. The mesh, cut so as to fit into the thermal box with its entire area, is installed on the glued wooden corners that have had time to strengthen.
   
7. This mesh is covered on top with a façade mesh.
   
8. Outside the thermal box, at the very edge, on the top side where the wires from the light bulb and fan come out, strengthen the thermal relay.
   
9. Opposite the fan in its center, make a small hole for air flow, which is covered with a furniture cable plug, the width of the opening in which can be adjusted.
   
10. Install a thermometer with a moisture meter on the same wall of the thermobox from the outside.
11. Install temperature and humidity sensors on the mesh inside the thermobox, and route their cables outside.
    
12. Attach a connector to the wall of the incubator to which all the necessary wires are connected, including power from the computer unit.
13. Place a small tray of water at the bottom of the incubator to maintain the required humidity.
    
14. Make two small ventilation holes in the lid on the sides of the inspection window.
    

Important!To better retain heat inside the foam incubator, it is recommended to cover the inside with thermal insulation covered with foil.

How to make a large refrigerator incubator with egg turning

The most popular way to make an incubator at home is to use the body of an old refrigerator, i.e., a unit that was once aimed at producing exclusively cold turns into its opposite, now producing the heat necessary for the incubation process.

Moreover, the incubator turns out to be so “advanced” that it even contains a device that turns the eggs automatically.

To make this device, you can use:

• the body of an old refrigerator;
• glass or plexiglass;
• a motor from a device with a gearbox (for example, from an automatic kebab maker);
• metal gratings;
• timers;
• bicycle chain sprockets;
• pin;
• thermostat;
• wooden or aluminum frame;
• four hundred-watt electric lamps;
• heat-reflecting material;
• computer coolers;
• construction tools;
• sealant.

Choosing the right housing

This DIY home incubator design requires an old refrigerator with a separate freezer.

Then you need to do the following steps:

Creating a rotary mechanism

This is the most difficult and important part of the construction of this type of incubator. The turning mechanism must reliably turn the eggs in a given mode, doing this not only in a timely manner, but also accurately.

To install it you need:

1. Install the motor on the floor of the chamber.
2. Place the sprocket from the bicycle chain drive onto the motor shaft.
3. Weld the second bicycle sprocket to the side of the lower grille.
4. In the extreme position of the grid, install limit switches that regulate the operation of the motor, turning it off in time.
5. The engine is turned on four times a day using two timers.

Video: mechanism for turning trays in an incubator from a refrigerator

When intending to make an incubator with their own hands, owners are often interested in what materials and type of design to choose for making the device and what conditions need to be created for the successful incubation of healthy chicks. Different types of incubators differ in their operational characteristics and specific handling of eggs. The article outlines these differences and describes the process of creating an incubator with your own hands at home.

Where to start creating an incubator?

Before you begin work on creating a system for hatching chicks at home, you need to:

• Select camera material. The most significant criterion is the ability to retain heat. The preferred choice is large pieces of polystyrene foam, and the worst choice is a cardboard box (the easiest way to make an incubator with your own hands). Refrigerators that are no longer in use are also used.
• Decide on the size of the structure - it depends on the number of eggs placed at a time and the type of bird.
• Select devices to maintain the required air temperature. A thermometer is used to measure indicators, and lamps are used for heating. Sometimes they buy a thermostat.
• Decide whether the design will be equipped with an automatic egg turning mechanism. It will require investment, but will save time resources. More often the mechanism is used for large systems that can accommodate two hundred eggs.

What you need to create a homemade incubator

To construct a homemade incubator with your own hands, you will need to purchase or make its elements:

• Egg trays are made of wood and plastic. The bottom is slatted or made of mesh. You can purchase an option with automated turning (the eggs turn after a time interval specified by the user). A water tray is also installed.
• A housing with good thermal insulation properties, ensuring constant temperature inside the structure without sudden changes. It is made from foam or plywood sheets.
• Incandescent lamps installed in the corners (for a small device a 25 W element is suitable, for a large device a 100 W model is used). The distance from the lamp to the tray should be at least 15 centimeters.
• Thermometer.
• Fans - will be required if the structure is made from the body of a refrigerator. Then they will need to be installed at the top and bottom. In other cases, to ensure ventilation, it is enough to make holes with a diameter of 1-2 centimeters in the lid and on the wall near the bottom.

What conditions must be maintained in a homemade incubator?

Observance of the temperature regime is of great importance for the normal formation of chickens. For the first two days, for chicken and goose eggs, you need to keep the temperature at 38-38.5 degrees Celsius, gradually lowering it to 37.5 by days 19-21. For ducks and turkeys these parameters are 37.8 at the beginning and 37 at the end. Quail eggs are kept at a temperature of 37.5 throughout the incubation period (16-18 days). Humidity is also important - at the beginning it should be in the range of 45-60%, by the last days it is increased to 75-80%.

How to make your own incubator for chicken eggs: step-by-step instructions

Methods for manufacturing the unit differ depending on the source material for the housing. Below are the most available options.

How to make an incubator from polystyrene foam with your own hands

The advantages of foam plastic as a material for a bird hatching unit are excellent thermal insulation properties, low cost and lightness. To make a foam incubator with your own hands, you will need tools and components:

• two sheets of material 5 cm thick;
• four incandescent lamps - for the small design in question, 25 W lamps are sufficient;
• scotch;
• soldering iron for cutting holes (the material crumbles easily when cutting with a knife);
• set of trays;
• thermometer;
• liquid glue;
• fan.

Sequence of work:

1. The side walls are made from the first sheet by cutting it into 4 equal parts.
2. The walls are glued together.
3. From the second sheet, make a base 40 cm wide and a lid 60 cm wide (the length of both parts is 50 cm).
4. The sides of the base are coated with glue and inserted into the wall blank.
5. Cover the resulting box with tape to make the structure more rigid (starting from the bottom).
6. Install foam plastic bars 6 cm high at the bottom, on which the trays will be placed.
7. Drill 2 holes for ventilation with a diameter of 1-1.5 cm at a centimeter height from the bottom.
8. Install lamps.
9. The thermostat is placed on the outside of the lid, and the sensor is placed on the inside, making a small hole under it.
10. Place the tray - it should be at a distance of at least 4 cm from the walls.

DIY incubator with automatic and manual turning

To make a homemade incubator with automatic egg turning, you will need to purchase a turning device. The types of egg turning mechanisms used are:

• Movable mesh – suitable for small incubators. When it moves slowly (automatically or manually), the position of the eggs changes.
• The roller mechanism is used less frequently: its independent production requires many small parts.
• An automatic mechanism that rotates the trays after a set time has elapsed is used in large units.

How to make a device for hatching chicks from a refrigerator or plywood

The refrigerator structure is prepared as follows:

1. Shelves and containers for storing food are removed from the chamber.
2. 3-4 bottom ventilation holes are drilled.
3. Fans and lamps are installed. Depending on the size of the chamber, 2-4 fans will be required, placed next to the lamps.
4. An inspection window is mounted in the lid or wall.

You can construct a model from plywood sheets. Its dimensions and arrangement differ little from those of foam plastic. The walls of the housing must consist of two layers of material, between which insulation is mounted. A viewing window with sliding glass is installed in the roof, allowing ventilation of the incubator.

How to make an incubator out of a box - the easiest way

The simplest do-it-yourself incubator is constructed from cardboard. This material has the least strength and does not retain heat well. The process differs from working with foam plastic:

• Blowing holes are made at a height of 3-4 cm from the bottom.
• The slats for the tray are attached 6-7 cm above the bottom; a store-bought egg carton is used as a tray.
• Holes are made in the roof for a lamp (in the center) and a thermometer (on the edge), as well as a viewing window.

Advantages and disadvantages of homemade incubators

Do-it-yourself manufacturing is beneficial for the following reasons:

• Cost savings compared to the factory version by 2-3 times.
• Possibility of breeding several species of birds in one incubator, provided the recommended temperature conditions are similar.
• High survival rate of chicks - up to 90%.
• Low power consumption.
• Ease of manufacture.

The downside is the need to take care of turning the eggs - do it regularly (recommended frequency is once every 8 hours) manually or purchase a special mechanism.

In our difficult times, when prices for goods are rising at an inexorable pace, you will always find an area in which you can profitably apply your practical skills and theoretical knowledge. By looking at the cost of an industrially produced incubator, you can easily calculate the benefits of making such a device yourself. Moreover, making a home incubator with your own hands is not so difficult.

This is what a forum user says about his homemade incubator with mechanical egg turning geniuscat.

geniuscat

The most important thing in manufacturing is to ensure the ability to maintain optimal humidity and temperature inside the device, as well as create conditions for timely turning of the eggs in order to heat 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 you to avoid future troubles associated with maintaining strict temperature conditions in the incubation chamber.

For the manufacture of the case, porous polymer materials, penoplex (expanded polystyrene) 20 mm thick, etc. are quite suitable. You can also use fiberboard or chipboard sheets, but you should create double walls with foam, felt or foam core.

The size of the incubator will directly depend on the number of eggs that are planned to be placed in the chamber at the same time. The height of the inner chamber of 50 cm will be quite enough. The area of ​​the inner base will be equal to the area of ​​the egg tray. But you need to add about 50 mm to it on each side. This is the gap that should be between the tray and the incubator body to ensure air circulation. Several holes with a diameter of 10 mm must be drilled in the lower base of the incubator, through which air exchange will take place between the internal space 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 lower holes should be positioned in such a way that they are not blocked by a baking tray (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 there should be a viewing window 100x100 mm, covered with glass. If there is no forced ventilation in the incubator, then the glass should be opened slightly 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 a fine mesh underneath. As a mesh, both an ordinary mosquito net, used in the design of modern double-glazed windows, and a metal (maybe different) mesh with a cell size comparable to 5x5 mm (but no more) are suitable. In order to prevent the mesh from sagging, a couple of small slats can be nailed to the bottom of the tray, which will comprehensively strengthen the structure of the tray.

To make it more convenient to turn the eggs during incubation, the tray should be equipped with an insertable wooden grid. For convenience, you can make several gratings at once, with different sizes of internal cells. So, for quail eggs, a grid with a cell size of 45x35 mm is suitable; for chicken eggs, cells measuring 67x75 mm are needed. If you want to put goose eggs in the incubator, then the cells must be of the appropriate size - 90x60 mm. The width of the grid should be 5 mm smaller than the tray itself. The length should be shorter by 50...60 mm - for quail eggs, 80...90 mm - for chicken eggs and 100...110 mm - for goose eggs. Thus, by moving the grill along the tray, you can turn the eggs 180 degrees. In order to heat the eggs evenly 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, allowing you to turn all the eggs at the same time. But in order to make the incubator design more modern, the process of turning eggs can be automated. And this will require some technical improvements.

How to make a revolution in an incubator

In order to automate the process of turning eggs in the incubator, it is necessary to introduce an electromechanical drive into its design, which is activated after a certain period of time (as we have already said, it is 2–3 hours). The accuracy of the time interval will be ensured by a special time relay. The relay can be purchased ready-made. Those who like to tinker with microcircuits can make it themselves, using electronic or even mechanical watches, which are easy to buy in Moscow and in any village, as a basis.

Here is what user FORUMHOUSE writes about this.

mednagolov

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

The tray grid should move along the guides. The walls of the tray can play the role of guides. But 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 grille. She 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 grid with eggs, we need a reciprocating mechanism consisting of an electric motor, a gearbox, a crank mechanism and a rod connecting the drive to the tray grid.

A device for turning eggs in an incubator.

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

He used the power supply from an old computer, and the time relay - a mechanism from a Chinese watch, which was written about just above.
The mechanism functions as follows: the relay closes the electrical circuit after a specified period of time. The mechanism is driven and moves the tray grid, turning the eggs. Then the limit position switches (limit switches) are activated and the grille is fixed in the opposite extreme position. After a specified time, the cycle is repeated, and the grate returns to its original position. The entire homemade process occurs without human intervention.

Heating the incubator

Proper placement of heating elements in the incubator chamber is the key to success, ensuring the hatching of healthy and strong chicks. It is customary to use ordinary incandescent light bulbs as heating elements. Ideally, they are best installed above the tray with eggs, evenly spaced around the perimeter of the incubator. The tray and the heating element must be separated by a distance of at least 25 cm. In a homemade incubator, low-power light bulbs of 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 evenly the heat is distributed in the incubation chamber.

When placing lamps on the walls of the chamber, you should also ensure that they are evenly positioned around the entire perimeter. Know 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 correspond to 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 must be strictly observed. A regular thermostat, which can be purchased in a store without any problems, will help maintain the set range. It is necessary that this device provides an accuracy of temperature values ​​corresponding to 0.2º C. An error greater than the presented value can be detrimental to developing embryos.

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

Heat accumulator

JG_ FORUMHOUSE member

To make the temperature drop more slowly, you need to use a heat accumulator. I used water as TA. It provides humidification and also increases the temperature, and when turned off, it releases it for a long time, not allowing the temperature to drop quickly. Only the container with water should be large. You can just put a metal pancake or a dumbbell inside - why not?

It remains to add that without an air humidifier in the incubator, all your efforts are doomed to failure. Therefore, a baking tray or 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 plastic water bottle will never be out of place in the interior of your incubator.

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

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, can do without forced ventilation. Air convection in it occurs naturally and this is enough to support 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 at all costs, 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 so that it takes air from the interior of the chamber. Part of the air flow will go out, and the main volume will be reflected from the lid and pass over the lower supply openings, mixing warm air with cold and enriching it with oxygen.

That's probably all. You can find out the various 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 productivity. If you want to create more at home, the design of which contains powerful components and complex ventilation circuits, then you should visit this section.

Breeding chickens is simply impossible without special equipment. Poultry farmers often purchase industrial devices because they consider this the only possible solution. But making such an incubator with your own hands is not at all difficult. In this case, the device will not only be much cheaper, but also fully meet the requirements of the breeder.

Breeding chickens is simply impossible without special equipment

To make the simplest homemade apparatus, foam is used. Making such an incubator yourself is very simple.

• Styrofoam;
• cardboard boxes;
• scotch;
• light bulbs and sockets;
• thermostat;
• a pair of fans that are used in computers;
• container for liquid;
• thermometer;
• plastic trays.

The entire manufacturing process comes down to several stages. They must be followed in the given order:

1. Preparation of drawings taking into account all dimensions.
2. In accordance with the drawing and dimensions, the necessary elements are cut out of foam plastic and attached to each other with tape.
3. Electrical wiring is done in the finished box.
4. All walls of the box, both inside and outside, are covered with cardboard.
5. Holes are cut out in the cardboard for light bulbs and fixing trays.
6. A hole is made in the upper part, which is covered with plastic. This creates a viewing window.
7. Fans are fixed.
8. Liquid containers are installed in the lower part.
9. At the final stage, the trays are fixed and the light bulbs are screwed in.

From an old refrigerator

For manufacturing, you can use a two-chamber or a regular old refrigerator. As in any other case, the work begins with preparing a drawing and drawing up a diagram according to which all the elements will be connected. All the shelves of the refrigerator itself are being pulled out.

To make such an incubator, you must follow the following instructions:

1. On the inside of the future structure, several holes are drilled in the ceiling for lamps, as well as a through hole for ventilation.
2. The walls are covered with sheets of polystyrene foam, which will help retain heat.
3. An egg tray is made from old grates.
4. The thermostat is fixed at the top on the outside, and the sensor on the inside.
5. Several holes are drilled in the bottom for ventilation.
6. A pair of fans are fixed at the bottom and top.

A small hole is cut out in the door, which is covered with plastic and coated with sealant.

With automatic egg turning

In order for the incubation process to be correct and successful, the eggs must be rotated periodically. Doing this manually is both inconvenient and undesirable, since this disrupts the temperature regime. That is why it is recommended to independently assemble a device equipped with a rotating mechanism.

To do this you will need the following materials:

• sheets of plywood and blocks of wood;
• Styrofoam;
• tray;
• net;
• 4 lamps;
• metal plates;
• containers for liquid;
• motor with worm gear.

The assembly of the autoincubator proceeds as follows:

1. Using bars and plywood, assemble the frame.
2. The structure is lined with foam plastic on the inside.
3. To turn the eggs automatically, they think through the main mechanism - install an electric motor.
4. An axis is made in the upper part of the box, on which the trays will be installed in the future. A mesh is used for this.
5. A pin is made from the plates, connected to the rotation axis and brought out.
6. A rod is screwed to the motor and connected to the tray and pin.
7. Light bulbs are installed at the bottom of the apparatus and covered with metal plates.
8. Install a thermometer and containers for liquid.
9. Small holes are made for ventilation.

Thanks to this automatic design, incubating even 1000 eggs will be easy and simple, because there is no need for constant manual turning.

Multi-tiered design

To increase productivity, devices consisting of several tiers are often used. It is much more difficult to assemble such a structure, but if you take care of preparing the drawings, the installation process will become much easier.

Assembly is carried out according to the following scheme:

1. The body is constructed from plywood.
2. A removable door is made from the plate on the back side.
3. The space inside the box is divided into three compartments. The distance from the ceiling to the side partitions should be about five centimeters.
4. Trays are installed in the side compartments.
5. To ensure that the trays turn over at the same time, attach handles to each of the trays.
6. The middle compartment is equipped with a thermostat and heating elements.
7. Each compartment has its own door.

Heating system

Regardless of the type of incubator and materials used, special attention must be paid to the heating system.

There are a number of requirements that must be met:

1. Heating elements are placed both under the trays and on the sides, top and along the perimeter.
2. The distance from the heating system to the tray must be at least 25 centimeters when using light bulbs and 10 centimeters when heating using nichrome wire.
3. Ensure the absence of drafts.
4. The error in the maintained temperature is allowed to be no more than half a degree.

The regulator can be used in several types:

• bimetallic plates;
• barometric sensors;
• electric contactors.

Particular attention is paid to safety measures, since all homemade devices are fire hazardous.

Even a novice poultry farmer can make an incubator on his own. But there are a number of points on which productivity directly depends:

1. The heat must be maintained at all times, even if there are power outages. To do this, a special battery must be provided into which hot water is poured. By covering the structure with a blanket, you can maintain the temperature for about twelve hours.
2. The heat must be distributed evenly. To avoid the need to constantly rearrange the trays, it is recommended to equip the device with two heat sources - one on top and the other on bottom.

Spring has arrived, which means it is not too late to start raising poultry. The most faithful assistant in this matter will be an incubator. With this device you can “hatch” chickens both for yourself and for sale. You only need fertilized eggs. The advantage of an incubator is that everything can be controlled here; chicks are born warm and clean.

In this instruction we will look at how to make a simple incubator with your own hands. A 60-watt light bulb will be used here as a heating element. The author made the body from such a publicly available material as polystyrene foam. For homemade products, you will need to buy one, which will turn the light bulb on and off, keeping the temperature in a given range. So, let's take a closer look at how to assemble such an incubator.

Materials and tools used

List of tools:
- drill;
- soldering iron;
- screwdriver.

Incubator manufacturing process:

Step one. Controller housing
Make a case for the controller from plastic, plexiglass or other similar material. This will protect its elements from mechanical damage, as well as from falling water and dust.

Now bring the sensor to the burning light bulb. When it reaches the set temperature, the light will go off. When it cools down, the controller will turn on the light bulb again and so on.

Install the socket with the light bulb. To do this, the author used a wire, with the help of which we attach the cartridge to the fan housing. The light bulb should face down without touching the container.

The author installed a sensor on the bottom of the incubator using a wire bracket. This will allow you to control the temperature below, where it is lowest. That's it, now you can configure your device!

That's all, now pour some water into a plastic container, it will evaporate and humidify the air. This is very important for the chicks to hatch. Place a thermometer inside the incubator to monitor whether the system is working correctly. Turn on the incubator and test it in action.