#HOMEMADE INCUBATOR COOLER FULL#
#HOMEMADE INCUBATOR COOLER FREE#

One hole was for ventilation, and the other for a temperature probe. In the opposite side of the cooler, I poked two more pinky-sized holes. I cut a hole in the side of the styrofoam cooler to fit the socket and screwed a midsize 60 watt light bulb into it, making sure I could easily access the on/off switch. Next, I purchased a light bulb socket with an extension cord for about $7 on Amazon. This created a window so I didn’t have to lift the lid any more than absolutely necessary to check on the eggs. I cut out a rectangle from the lid and used duct tape to secure in place a piece of glass from a broken picture frame I had. You can also find them inexpensively at home supply stores such as Menards and Lowes.

#HOMEMADE INCUBATOR COOLER FREE#

However, I would suggest trying to locate one for cheap or free by asking a local veterinarian, clinic, etc. You can purchase these on Amazon for about $16 for 2 of them. I started with a styrofoam cooler we had leftover from a vaccine that had been shipped to the ranch.

When I realized these were essentially retrofitted styrofoam coolers, I determined I could build one myself, for cheaper. Eggs must also be turned a minimum of once in a 24-hour period (better practice is twice in 24 hours, though some people will even go so far as to do quarter-turns every six hours).įor an incubator with temperature control and an automatic turner, you can expect to spend around $140. Eggs incubate for 21 days in a temperature of 99-102 degrees. As I dug deeper into what I was actually getting for $100, I realized I could build a sufficient incubator on my own for the same, or cheaper, price.Įssentially, an incubator is a humid, insulated box with a temperature-controlled heater. This didn’t overly excite me, as you can imagine. What I found in my research of purchasing an incubator was that I could expect to spend around $100 on an incubator with decent reviews, and expect a 50% hatching rate. A couple of years ago, I wanted to up the likelihood of hatching our own chicks in order to save purchasing new outside chicks, and so I decided to use an egg incubator.

I have found this not to be very reliable, though on occasion it has worked in our favor. If you have laying hens (and a rooster, for fertilization) of your own, you can definitely hope for a hen to become broody and set on and hatch her own eggs.

#HOMEMADE INCUBATOR COOLER FULL#

Spring is in the air and with the warmer temperatures and longer days, also comes all of the fun, exciting new life! For us on the ranch, this means calving is in full swing… and also that this ranch mama is looking to add to her chicken brood! Purchasing baby chicks at the feed store adds up quickly at an average of $4.00 per chick (for the most common breeds). Ready to add some little ones to your homestead? Create your own DIY Egg Incubator and start hatching eggs with this tutorial!

Homemade incubator cooler