How to Make a Small Chicken Incubator

Chicken eggs need constant warmth and attention to hatch into healthy chicks.

Manually hatching eggs is an age-old hobby for farmers and amateurs alike. Chicken eggs need lots of consistent heat and turning to survive and hatch healthy. Instead of waiting for mother hen, you can build your own small incubator at home with a few items from your local dollar store.

Things You'll Need

• Styrofoam cooler
• Light socket with cord
• Light bulb
• Thermometer
• Small fan
• Dish
• Hay or grass
• Small tray
• Picture frame glass
• Screwdriver
• Carpenter's glue
• Sharp knife

Instructions

1. Unscrew the light bulb from the light socket and press the rim of the socket onto the center of the Styrofoam lid. This will make a circular mark on the lid where the light socket will fit. Use a sharp knife to cut the Styrofoam hole out and slip the socket into the hole. Turn the lid over and run a line of carpenter glue around the hole to hold the socket in place.

2. Trace the fan on the lid next to the light bulb and cut a hole for secure placement. If the fan has a grate, you can cut the hole smaller and just lay the fan face down on the lid. If the fan has a base, you can cut a 6-inch by 2-inch rectangular slit on the side of the Styrofoam cooler and set the fan next to the slot. There are several different options, but the basic idea is to promote air flow throughout the cooler, create a steady temperature and avoid hot spots created by the lamp.

3. Choose a piece of glass that will fit along one wall of the Styrofoam cooler. This will be a viewing pane so that you can keep an eye on the eggs inside. You can use a 5-inch by 7-inch or 8-inch by 11-inch piece of glass, whatever fits your cooler wall best. Lay the piece of glass against the wall of the cooler and trace around the pane with a pencil or pen. Use a sharp knife to cut the rectangle out of the cooler wall. Place the glass into the hole and use carpenter glue around the sides to hold the window in place within the cut hole.

4. Poke five to eight holes in the sides of the Styrofoam cooler with a screwdriver to provide better air circulation. Place a small dish of water in the bottom of the cooler to provide humidity. Place the small tray in the bottom of the cooler and lay down a small bed of hay for the eggs. Lean the thermometer against the back wall of the incubator so that you can see it through the glass screen. This will prevent drastically changing the temperature of the incubator by opening the lid to check it.

5. Twist a light bulb into the socket and place the lid onto the incubator. Turn the fan on and allow the environment to rise to the proper temperature before placing the eggs inside. Once the eggs are inside, be sure to turn the fan off before removing the lid to turn the eggs. Leaving the fan on without the light will drastically cool the eggs and put them in danger.

Tips & Warnings

• You can add a dimmer switch to the light bulb to control the heat of the incubator better.

References

• Cyber Quail: Tony's Styro Cooler Incubator

Resources

• Mother Earth News: Build Your Own Incubator