DIY Homemade Incubator

Wanted to show you the incubator that I built for under $30.

[@TheKristenGibson]

This is really the best homemade incubator yet. It's really nicely built, and has all the extras. Good job! Well thought out!

[@marcmar94]

I've now got 7 fully grown quails. Thank you so much for this tutorial it was very helpful :)

[@katiesettke2622]

Wait really?!

[@HoolieWho]

This is very creative and I'm going to build it as soon as my cooler arrives! Thanks for sharing!

[@jillshomesteadexperience6706]

What a brilliant idea. Thank you for sharing

[@truthbtold9794]

Great video. You are a very resourceful person. I liked and subscribed. My wife and I are venturing into homesteading.

[@mistressphoenix9314]

Oh I love it, I love the way you did the window too. When I was younger and we had backyard birds (in the middle of a small town on a quarter of an acre much to the mayor who lived across the streets dismay but there were no prior rules and nothing he could do about it). I use to take my mom's lamps apart (curious little thing I was lol) and make incubators for the birds. I never made one this nice and there was always issues with the balance of heat and humidity. This is so awesome. All neat and tidy and a perfect view thank you so much for this video.

[@MyHomesteadingProjectChannel]

+Mistress Phoenix You are very welcome. Sounds like you and my oldest son are kindred spirits. He was always taking things apart too! :)

[@mistressphoenix9314]

+MyHomesteadingProject Mom would start putting lamps and music boxes where I couldnt find them. I cant get iver your window view. I think when I get on land and can have birds this is going to be a must do project with my daughter.

[@mrva99]

Just found your videos I like them very much and have subscribed and given thumbs up! Keep up the good work.

[@hlegler]

Um, this is genius. I love your design! :) I love all the helpful comments below, too. We're going to try making this soon. (Our quail babies are about 2 weeks old, so we have some time before we'll need this.)

[@PeabodysParadise]

For anyone that is building an incubator, save yourself some stress and spend the money on a thermostat! It's not expensive, $8-10 or so, a little more if you want a digital one. I had a horrible time trying to regulate the temperature on my DIY incubator (nuked several eggs) until I installed a thermostat, now it's super easy and works fantastic! My biggest issue was that the temperature in the house changes significantly from night to day, so keeping the temperature at a steady ~100f was impossible without a thermostat turning the light off and on.

[@bobjones1131]

Cheap Chinese thermostat under $4. Power supply at thrift store.

[@Growing_Green]

This is great! Thanks for the walk through

[@deborahpettiemason8560]

Gonna try to do this for my soon to be puppies... might not be able to considering its the middle of winter. Her mom always lost like almost half the pups. They are so small when born, about 1 lb some a little over. Thanks for the video.

[@davescopes249]

Hi. Thanks for sharing your interesting video. I've made 2 or 3 incubators using similar polystyrene containers. First one using a dimmer switch to help control the temperature. A few hatched but temperature would go up and down. Then I used a thermostat from a fish tank heater. It was much better. Now I've used a unit that plugs into the mains and it's a thermostat that goes inside the incubator and then the light bulb plugs into it and you just set the temperature to whatever you want it. It's brilliant. BUT I would say that when making an incubator ALWAYS use more than just one light bulb. Use one that brings it up to about 3 quarters of the temperature you need. It needs to run constantly and independently. Then the second bulb plugs or is connected to the thermostat. Just to bring it up to the correct temperature. The reason for this is because if one of the bulbs blows and goes off then the other one will keep the eggs almost at the correct temperature for longer. It gives you time to replace the broken lamp and the eggs won't die. If you only use one bulb and it blows and the eggs go cold. Dead eggs. I'm not criticising. It's just a useful tip. PS. The plug in thermostats are about £10. I got mine second hand for £3. And in my opinion they work so much better with a thermostat. 👍

[@pcmurda]

What was the name of this thermostat plug?

[@JoshuaSmithHomesteader]

Awesome job! Looking forward to seeing it in action. Cheers!

[@MyHomesteadingProjectChannel]

+Joshua Smith-Homesteader Me too! :)

[@aaroncole7736]

Good job there! The Beastie Boys song popped in my head "She's Crafty" LOL

[@MyHomesteadingProjectChannel]

LOL!!!

[@danniemikeey579]

This is going to be excellent for the emu egg I am planning on getting!! Thank you!!! 🥰💖

[@scootermom1791]

Did this setup work for you?

[@dragonkukulcan]

Great idea, practicable, now I need to build one only bigger!

[@heavenboundhomestead126]

I just got my eggs, put them in the incubator for one day. My electricity goes off all day. So I filled up Glad bags with hot water and tried my best to stay at a hundred. I have prayed over them. So I'm hoping that they will hatch. Great incubator

[@danniemikeey579]

I would've warmed them up with a heating pad

[@danniemikeey579]

My dumbass forgets we have a generator

[@pennyhochhalter3065]

Did they ever hatch?

[@TerrilianReya]

Ingenious! Excellent job!

[@MyHomesteadingProjectChannel]

+TerrilianReya Thank you. We'll see how well it works. :)

[@HilltopFarmHomestead]

That's fantastic! Well done.

[@MyHomesteadingProjectChannel]

+Hilltop Farm Thank you.

[@davescopes249]

I've tried this same set up with a dimmer switch but it's still difficult to keep it at a constant correct temperature. Especially if the room you keep it in temperature drops or rises it will affect the inside of the incubator. Trust me I've tried it. BUT if you fit a thermostat to the light bulb it's spot on. The cheapest thermostat is one like I used from a cheap fish tank heater. Just pull it apart and connect the lamp to the heater eliments went. And take the eliments off. It's so much better. But your set up is good.

[@anastashawallace7710]

This is an amazing video.

[@chingkheitokpam6252]

Thank you very much .very simple look nice .

[@paulpelletier6892]

I'm gonna use your system to teach my wife 5th graders. Thank you so much

[@dingbat4596]

I have watched and listened to all the info on a home built incubator. Some is good and some not good (based on my experience)... Here is what I have found out. I started with a styrofoam ice chest, a 40 watt clear bulb and socket along with a cheap dimmer( first mistake). After many sleepless nights constantly adjusting the temp (because of night time temp changes) I realized the large plate glass I had installed was cooling the incubator, loosing heat through it. I covered it with another piece of styofoam except a One inch square peep hole to view the tempature. Outside temps change the inside temp from 1 to 5 degrees depending on the rise in temp outside the box. The cheap dimmer after 14 days started fluttering the bulb, finally, I happened to walk in and the incubator was dark inside. ON

[@hlegler]

Super detailed and helpful. Thanks for sharing!!! :)

[@WORMGITTER]

I believe it will work real good! Can't wait to see!

[@MyHomesteadingProjectChannel]

+WORM GITTER Me too!

[@marwan5618]

this is really cool ! good job

[@lifeinthailand]

Looks really good, I would love a thermometer like that, Something to add to the wish list.

[@MyHomesteadingProjectChannel]

+lifeinthailand Thank you.

[@rubitz7134]

lifeinthailand

[@liboriopsych]

That is exactly how I hatch out my eggs. If you know any body who buys Omaha Steaks, ask them to save the cooler and box that they come in. They are really thick, big and very well insulated. Also, consider getting a small computer fan and a USB charger adapter (110v. to USB)... Plug it in and put the fan in the incubator. What you have there is a still-air incubator, but the circulator incubators are much more reliable and consistent. I doubled my hatch rate once I added a fan... Good Luck, +Blessings

[@lilbitatatime3763]

+liboriopsych I agree with installing a computer fan. An old phone charger works good for converting the fan. We added a neon blue fan (got off ebay for cheap) to our Little Giant Incubator and no more hot spots.

[@MyHomesteadingProjectChannel]

+liboriopsych Thanks. I considered a fan but thought for my first attempt I'd keep it simple. I have a larger cooler that I will upgrade to after I see how this one works.

[@MyHomesteadingProjectChannel]

+LilBit AtATime Thanks for the tip!

[@liboriopsych]

+MyHomesteadingProject That's the best way to learn... Incidentally, after years of my DIY incubator, this year I used a "real" incubator, for the first time, and it had a higher fail rate. Just saying 😎 Sometimes homemade is better. Good Luck, +Blessings

[@milesreynolds2831]

Fan helps improve air temp consistency. Temp is hotter nearer light than at sensor otherwise

[@LadyJennivieve]

Wow! It's very dry there! Our humidity here on the east coast of New South Wales, Australia, sits between 60% and 70% year round.

[@MyHomesteadingProjectChannel]

+LadyJennivieve It is very dry here! That is why water is like gold! The only reason the humidity started as high as it did was because it rained yesterday.

[@tresfingeros]

Great idea👍 ...1st item is a " porcelain light fixer" and the other item is called a " butterfly nut" 👍

[@alexusbarnes-mcnutt7915]

Thanks this will help so much with my project

[@MicrobeMomma]

Can someone demonstrate wiring the light & dimmer switch?

[@gray1137]

As the diy nerd I am this is so cool I’m going to try this myself

[@PrattFamilyHomestead]

Looks great! Should work great!

[@MyHomesteadingProjectChannel]

+Pratt Family Homestead Eggs come on Thursday so I sure hope so.

[@Sammie_Jo_1982_Homestead]

Great job! I see lot's of baby's in your future......good luck Tina !!

[@MyHomesteadingProjectChannel]

+Sammie jo Thanks. I sure hope so!

[@tweety1430657]

I would have loved a video of chicks hatching in this incubator. I'm really thinking of going for it

[@johntraynor8777]

Nice video lady well done.

[@twistedoakhomesteadtwisted404]

I May have to give it a go.

[@normawingo5116]

Great job

[@julieannestark7078]

Really impressive!

[@MyHomesteadingProjectChannel]

+JulieAnne Stark Thank you

[@anyaclasen3731]

This is very clever, but I wish you would have shown the parts before they were assembled and also the actual assembling of the lid electric parts. Perhaps you could insert a simple wiring diagram into the video. Good job!

[@kcmarie3657]

I was wondering if you could do a time lapse of one of you eggs from day one to when it hatches and it’s health and abilities and stuff.

[@winstonclarke9221]

That was good, am having problems with my humidity staying at 60 and under, i, got water inside my home made incubator, but some how it plays around 70 to 80 what ideas can you give to get this humidity down, Thanks.

[@shawnwears7830]

She has the right idea here. Got one coming up too temp right now. DO NOT substitute superglue to hold the front window on. Superglue reacts too the stirophome and puts off toxic chemicals and you will ruin your cooler. You need to use the idea she has with the pins. Gl all on hatching

[@shawnwears7830]

I hope this helps someone

[@sohaumghosh387]

should we keep the bulb switched on constantly as the temp. should be at 99.5 F

[@amandahersey7017]

You did a great job! Good luck with your eggs, please keep us updated!

[@MyHomesteadingProjectChannel]

+Amanda Hersey Thanks. I will.

[@ChiChiGlamShop]

I'll be making this one. My husbands cousin let us use is $700 cabinet incubator but only a few eggs have signs of life. Itd never got enough, he didnt even tell us out to use it. It was a nightmare. 300 eggs or so gone to waste. So yeah I will try to hatch my own in my homemade incubator that I'm gonna try to make.

[@MyHomesteadingProjectChannel]

I started with this for budget reasons but later bought a commonly used model. I went back to this though as it works better!

[@fernandoalvarez3891]

I have a dimmer lamp would that work so I can skip the cutting wires to attach a dimmer

[@RedPillDosage]

I love your incubator. I do have one suggestion though. You should try using a halogen blacklight bulb. So you don't have so much of an annoying light coming from the incubator.

[@MyHomesteadingProjectChannel]

The light isn't really that bright since it is turned sown pretty low. The kids and I enjoy watching the eggs as well so it doesn't bother us.

[@ladyphenix6407]

Many blessings

[@wigidy12]

Thanks! Putting our eggs in today!

[@jacksjournal9464]

You video was very nice and informative. Do you think fan is not needed?. Because I have seen incubator with fan to circulate heat.

[@abbotsfordfamilypharmacy]

so clever !!

[@justahomesteadingdream2059]

Love this! I think I could even do this 😊

[@MyHomesteadingProjectChannel]

+Just A Homesteading Dream You definitely could!

[@fredfigglehorn6600]

Can I use this for a box turtle that lives on land

[@jessierodriguez4361]

hey saw you video and was wondering how to increase the humidity in the incubator? this is the only thing that needs to be done. have the right temp. but not the humidity . what can i do

[@jashimuddin7716]

Thank you very helpful

[@MyHomesteadingProjectChannel]

I’m glad. Thanks for watching.

[@IMDARKFIRE007]

Great video for torts too...I would however add a couple ventilation holes, generally under the bulb and directly across from the bulb at the same height so the heat pulls air in and out the other side. My only thing with these is they strike me as a severe fire hazard...a hot bulb and styrofoam? Not sure I would want to sleep with that going.

[@shawnwears7830]

I made one like this and was thinking the same thing. Only thing i think would be wise too do would to be fill in the top of it with some kind of flame retardant where your electricals hook onto the porcelan fixture. and to put some kind on the whole top of the lid on the inside. I am yet too find what would substitute. Please send me a message if you find. But she has for sure got me in the right direction. Also DO NOT use Superglue on the Stirophome!!! Use the things she used here in the picture then use duct tape you actually use for heat ducts over it. Eats it and gives off toxic fumes.

[@IMDARKFIRE007]

@@shawnwears7830 I solved my worries of a fire hazard by using a Sylvania 40 watt "twist" bulb. They don't get very hot, and take a while to get you to desired temperature, but once there they maintain it easily with limited risk. I used a thermostat that plugs in and has a probe, fed the probe in through a drilled hole. Working great...my female just needs to have her first clutch now haha.

[@shawnwears7830]

@@IMDARKFIRE007 I have 25 B.B Red Old English bantam eggs all clean in the coop that my other two hens refuse too sit on rn because of the heat. I have one sitting on 9 but i hate too waste those. Beautiful female line. Gotta try something. Also i cant seem to get Humitity over 41. Thats not good. Not sure what i am doing wrong. Temp is holding if i want at 99, 100, or 101 and had it at 102 at highest.

[@IMDARKFIRE007]

@@shawnwears7830 I have no CLUE about those eggs, I'm a tortoise guy...but the humidity, that should be easy if you can maintain a hundred degrees. Just adjust the amount of water you have in the incubator.

[@mrglasecki]

Nice 👍 might consider a computer fan to circulate air

[@canalechiuso1879]

Good job

[@maliviamarley555]

god is great, godbless you sister

[@Josey168]

Do you have a video of how you actually wired it together?

[@christinarubio9962]

did you ever try this and did it work?

[@FlipNFriends]

Do you gave a list of everything you used?

[@ozreve]

so im guessing controlling the temp is with the dim controller ? also what about ventilation ?

[@Ginabakedgoods]

Do you have a video of hatching eggs using this

[@ronankeane7104]

How do you make sure the lightbulb doesn’t start a fire?

[@gugliehmtellaldigar1331]

hi ma'am good day your diy incubator is very interesting...did you try it to hatch eggs?hope to watch your videos again while hatching eggs in your homemade incubator. thanks god bless

[@apache2013]

How many watts is the bulb?

[@worldofciv3319]

do you have have a video of making an incubator from scratch

[@notyourboo2645]

What is the wattage on the light bulb?

[@Lorna.Bowman]

What wattage bulb please?

[@steadontherock]

Curious what the hatch rate was with this

[@jandyprins]

How many watts is your lightbulb?

[@TheRainHarvester]

Thanks! What was the hatch rate?

[@abbyclassic8281]

The bulb u are using is of how many watts?

[@aurorarays9341]

How do you adjust the temperature?

[@joycelyndennis8246]

so cool

[@AustinFlowers]

is that a normal light bulb or a specific dimming light bulb?

[@NICKELGHANDI]

That is a great idea! I have so many of these fixtures lying around from replacing mine. How did you terminate the wires? You really don't want to play with fire and foam indoors. Toxic fumes and high flammability. If you're worried at all about the biodegradability of that cooler when it can no longer be used as an incubator, you can burn it at really high temperature without much pollution or melt it with acetone and potentially cast it into a tool.

[@exercisemyrights]

no vent holes for air either

[@kennethbales9626]

What would be a good watt bulb to get? I do not want to buy too strong of a bulb and over cook the eggs

[@MyHomesteadingProjectChannel]

I found a 20 watt. That is also why I used the dimmer switch. Maintains the temperature well.

[@MJ-wz6jo]

How did this setup do for hatching eggs.

[@bunderlandrabbitry1816]

I’m just now seeing this how did your hatch go. I am looking into building one

[@chucktaber2386]

????

[@nicholasjohnparry]

Looks better than the ghetto rig I just made lol

[@jackdonais4273]

What watt light bulb.

[@glenncollins294]

How are you going to turn your eggs. 3x/day by removing your cover and dropping your temperature and humidity? Thanks Glenn

[@redflamelgm4942]

does it work???

[@tomokoth4841]

I tried it with a 40 watt bulb but it had way too much heat. How do you keep the heat down?

[@MyHomesteadingProjectChannel]

That is why I use a dimmer. That way you can adjust the temp

[@stevesoutdoorworld4340]

What watt light bulb?

[@tejanaidu5671]

I have done a similar one with just 12volt power....

[@AdelardRen]

How do you hold the humidity steady?

[@PkmHax]

How do you control the temperature without a thermostat? What light bulb do you use?

[@MyHomesteadingProjectChannel]

I use a dimmer switch and a 20 watt light bulb.

[@DuneDemon8]

Can you tell me please what happens when you open up the incubator to turn eggs and it cools down. I made a home made incubator but when ever I open it temp decreases and it stays low (36 celsius instead of needed 37.5) for some time 20 min or more. Will this influence the eggs?

[@MyHomesteadingProjectChannel]

It only takes a minute to turn the eggs. It drops a little in temp but heats back up pretty quickly. It doesn't seem to affect the hatch rate.

[@natet.5738]

Do you think the temperature directly under the bulb is dramatically different from the sides and do you notice more eggs hatching in some areas more than others?

[@minakabiri292]

this is the role of the fan you have just to take it from a useless computer

[@lindaliao687]

Where did you get the dimmer switch?

[@OhMiaMyy]

Are you supposed to puncture ventilation holes into the container? I can't seem to find this answer anywhere in these "how to" videos.

[@scootermom1791]

What about turning the eggs? Did you just open it up to turn them every couple of hours? Also, were you successful at hatching the eggs with this incubator?

[@6400az]

Watts light bulb ??

[@jamiebowers3961]

I Apologize if this is a dumb question. With the extension cord wired like that is it safe? I have a really terrible fear of house fires but I would love to make this

[@MyHomesteadingProjectChannel]

Absolutely! As long as you don’t have any exposed wire where you connect them you’ll be good. I like this incubator better than the one I later bought. Easier to keep a consistent heat and humidity.

[@AiviloM]

did it work