Topic: wanted - Incubator

[ipt8]

Hi has anyone got an incubator for sale? We would like a Brinsea hatchmaker which I believe holds about fifty hen eggs. We prefer the non automatic turning model.
That said we will consider what you have to offer be it auto-turn or smaller.
We will make a donation to this site on purchase.
Ivor

[slyfox-mal]

why not build one i did last year and it worked a treat just a couple of  bulbs and a dimmer switch in a poly box

[littlegem]

i've just been looking at incubators, didn't realise how expensive they were  :o.
Can you tell me how u made yours nad how did you get the humidity? would like to raise birds froms eggs as it is much cheaper, and only want do do it a couple of times so i dont see the point in paying alot of money for a proffessional incubator. Any help much appreciated   :)

[ipt8]

Hi little gem
we had a new Hatchmaker years ago and it was very good. I am not keen on home made as if you get it wrong with the heat or the humidity the chicks can hatch deformed and I woul dnot risk that.
We normally would buy new but with all the fuss over bird flue we are not going to at the moment as we could get over-run with chicks in a few months.
Perhaps that brown hen of ours will soon go broody again. I expect she will be a bit surprised when her chicks go quack :)

[slyfox-mal]

the way i built mine was simple really a poly box about 18 inches square a thermostat off a imersion heater  two ceramic lamp holders and a dimmer switch
then a bit of testing with bulbs and humidity via a bowl of water filled with sponges a decent thermometer and hygrometer ( humidity meter) i know its only a simple device but it works and just today i have hatched a brood of chicks with it  11 marans
set ur  temp to aprox 37.5 -38.5 and no higher definatly no higher then 40 or u will kill the hatch in a very short time rather under heat slightly than over heat and turn eggs at least three times a day untill three days befor hand then stop turning and try to increase humidity to about 70%with i larger surface area of water but remember a chick can easly drown if it fall into water so take precausionsi cover the water tank with old tights so they cant fall in  i hope this works for anyone giving it a go i has for me and its quiet good to create life with so simle a device as a bulb and time