You might think about hatching chicks on an incubator if you have been raising chickens for a while. It can be fun for you or your kids. If you don’t already have a flock, get some fertile eggs, or buy fertile eggs from the hatchery that has a particular breed that you are interested in. Although retail incubators are convenient and offer additional features, you can produce excellent results by creating your homemade incubator.

How Incubators Work

An incubator aims to keep the temperature at all times between 97 and 101 degrees F. You should, therefore, strive for a higher temperature of 101 degrees F (an incubator with a fan is called a compelled air incubator). In the first 18 days, your eggs need 50 to 55% humidity and for the last three 65% or more.If your incubator gets too dry maybe you will not hatch your eggs. Change the quantity of water in the baking pan to regulate the humidity. When you don’t get adequate moisture, you should try adding a sponge to the pan to make the air more humid.

Your eggs have to be turned 2 to 3 times per day for the first 18 days. Use a pencil to mark one X on one side and another O on the other to keep track of which side is which. You shouldn’t disturb your eggs during the last three days — no flipping.

Step 1: Things We Need

• 1 Disposable plastic bowl
• 1 thermo Cole box 20 liter
• 12v Digital Thermostat
• 100-watt halogen bulb
• 12v Adaptor
• 3x Zip ties
• 7 feet electrical wire
• 1Bulb holder
• 12v Fan

Step 2: Making Ventilation and Exhaust

Make holes in 7 inches 3 times upright by 1 inch separate on both sides and the lid; the holes should be half pencil size. Wire the bulb holder and plug, then use a 6 “long holder side, and cut one wire off and connect to the thermo relay switch KO and K1 with a 10” wire.

Step 3: Connect a 12v adapter to the fan and the thermostat.

Step 4: Attaching the Parts

Insert the bulb holder in the box and secure the bulb with the zip hook, and also connect the fan. The fan must face the bulb, so it blows air on it.

Place the thermostat on the outside box, make three holes for wires and connect it to the thermostat with hot glue. Attach 12v power and bulb relay wires in the thermostat.

Mount the sensor with a masking tape on the upper side of the bulb, where you will place the eggs.

Step 5: Observation Window

Cut out a hole in the lid of 3 inches in diameter and glue the plastic bowl cap over it.

Step 6: Final Steps

Inside the box, place a cotton cloth, and put the eggs on it, put water under the bulb in an electric plastic bowl to make it warm and humid.

The temperature should be set to 37.5 with a difference of 0, 5, and humidity should vary between 55% to 60%. Eggs have to be turned 2-3 times each day, and you should mark the eggs with 0 and X on both sides, so it’s easy to turn them fully next time.