A homemade incubator can be made in several ways from scrap materials. It will work no worse than its store-bought counterpart, but it will be much more economical. The capacity is selected based on personal needs, and the tray rotation mechanism can be either manual or automatic.

At home, you can assemble an incubator from:

• Expanded polystyrene,
• thick cardboard,
• plywood sheets,
• washing machine,
• Old refrigerator.

The dimensions of the incubation machine are selected individually and depend on:

1. The required number of eggs to lay,
2. Locations heating elements.

An average incubator with dimensions: 45*30 cm contains:

• up to 70 chicken,
• up to 55 duck,
• up to 55 turkey,
• up to 40 goose,
• up to 200 quail eggs.

Regardless of material or size, each device consists of:

• Covers (with or without window),
• Housings,
• Tray and grates,
• lamps,
• Containers with water to maintain humidity,
• Thermometer.

Models with automatic or semi-automatic tray rotation are also equipped with a digital timer.

Models with manual tray rotation

For making simple incubators at home, a minimum of materials and tools are required, and they can be made in a few hours. Disadvantages: insufficient thermal insulation, fragility and manual turning of the racks with eggs.

Foam Hatching Machine

The advantages of this model: lightness and compactness, inexpensive cost and ease of manufacture.

You can make an incubator from polystyrene foam in the following way: the walls are cut out of a sheet of polystyrene foam, at least 5 cm thick. The recommended size of the sides is 50*50 cm, the end is 50*35 cm. The drawings will help you assemble the body and correctly distribute the internal space. The walls are held together with glue, or they can be glued together with wide tape. There are 3-4 ventilation holes in the bottom.

The foam incubator is equipped with a lid with a glass viewing window. The glass does not need to be firmly fixed: if there is a need to lower the temperature, it can be moved away. To make the lid fit more tightly and not loosen the structure, you can glue the sides made of wooden blocks. The thermostat and thermometer are installed next to the window.

Incubation chicken eggs in a foam incubator occurs under the influence of three incandescent lamps with a power of 25 W. In this volume, this is enough to maintain the required temperature. A water container is installed at the bottom of the chamber. The egg grill is assembled from a solid galvanized mesh with a cell size of 2.5 * 1.6 mm. Each side of the tray is lined with strong gauze: if this is not done, the chicks may be injured. To install the trays on top of each other, sides are built up around the perimeter, at least 10 cm high.

Air circulation inside the incubation chamber will be better if you attach a regular computer fan to the bottom.

The foam incubator for chicken eggs can be equipped with an additional heated indicator, which is placed under the grates.

Hatching machine out of the box

An incubator for chicken eggs made of cardboard is economical and simple, and assembling this design does not take much time. The device is made from an ordinary box from household appliances. It is not recommended to take a large one - it will be difficult to warm up the volume, and using more powerful lamps is dangerous. At a distance of 4-5 cm from the bottom, 6-7 ventilation holes are cut out, with a diameter of 3 to 7 mm.

From the inside, they are attached to the side walls at a height of 9-10 cm from the bottom. wooden slats. The bottom itself is covered with cellophane or oilcloth, and placed on top wooden beams. A bath of water is placed on the resulting tray, and a regular store-bought egg tray is placed on the slats. For admission fresh air 3-4 more holes are made in the top of the lid, about 5 mm in diameter. A thermometer is hung next to them and one additional hole is punched for the wire from the lamp.

To heat the incubator, incandescent lamps with a power of 25 W or more are used. Air humidity is regulated by opening the lid.

Plywood incubator

This model differs from the previous ones in greater strength and better heat-saving characteristics. How to make an incubator:

1. The walls are cut out of a sheet of plywood. Greater thermal insulation can be achieved by making them double,
2. The dimensions of the device are selected individually,
3. The lid is also cut out of plywood and made removable,
4. To control the process, a small window is cut into the lid,
5. Along the perimeter of the lid there are holes for ventilation, no more than a centimeter in diameter,
6. From the inside, yards for installing trays are mounted to the walls of a homemade incubator,
7. For air exchange, 4-5 holes are drilled in the floor,
8. The heating element for the incubator is usually incandescent lamps, but for large volumes you can also use a tubular electric heater (heating element),
9. The minimum distance between lamps or heating elements and eggs is 25 cm,
10. The minimum distance between trays (if there are several of them) is 15 cm,
11. A frame-type egg tray, assembled from a metal grid and lined with gauze mesh,
12. Containers of the same size for water are placed at the bottom.
13. The finished egg incubator is placed in a warm room with good ventilation. flat surface, and connect to a regular electrical network.

Automated Models

There are several ways to make an incubator with your own hands with automatic egg turning, uninterruptible power supply and good heat saving.

Incubation apparatus from the refrigerator

How to make an incubator with backup power: assemble the incubator body from a refrigerator. To do this, the interior space is cleaned and washed well with a disinfectant solution. A pair of viewing windows are cut into the door and glazed on the inside and outside.

From the inside, the chamber is divided into two parts. The lower one is an incubation one, equipped with trays. The top one is an output one; a fixed shelf is installed in it. The partition is cut out of a sheet of plywood, and several holes are punched in it for air exchange. To circulate air, a small fan is installed at the bottom of the incubation chamber, and next to it, a couple of holes about a centimeter in diameter are drilled in the side wall. To allow air to escape, similar holes are made in the upper part of the housing.

The electrical circuit looks like this:

1. Thermostat for hatching and incubation chambers,
2. Emergency thermostat,
3. Voltage stabilizer 10 V,
4. Heater for incubation compartment,
5. Heater for outlet compartment,
6. Spare heater connected to the backup power supply,
7. Backup battery for 12 V incubator,
8. Psychrometer,
9. Tray rotation mechanism,
10. Humidity level regulator inside the hatching and incubation chamber.

In automatic mode, the operation of the incubator with backup power is ensured by a control unit that controls all the main components. The set temperature in the chambers is maintained by independent thermostats and heating elements, and electronic thermometers are responsible for temperature control. You can assemble them yourself using various ready-made circuits, but if you have little experience working with microelectronics, it’s better to buy them. The heating system is assembled from 20-25 W light bulbs, or a heating cord is laid around the perimeter to save electricity.

The automatic egg turning mechanism in the incubator operates every two hours, turning the trays 45°.

A temporary electronic relay, which is assembled from a low-speed motor and gearbox, is responsible for the operation of the mechanism. The output gear shaft must make a full revolution around its axis at 4 o'clock. You can replace a homemade relay with a similar device from an old drum washing machine. The mechanism is driven by a motor from the car's windshield wiper. To lower the speed, it is supplemented with a step-type chain reducer.

The lower egg grid is installed on the main axis, to which the gearbox sprocket is attached. Two additional ones are hung above it, and the distance between them is at least 15 cm. For simultaneous rotation, all trays are connected by a rod.

The egg incubator design assumes the presence of two power sources: universal and uninterruptible. Backup power The incubator is powered by a battery or power supply. The power supply of the power supply is 120-150 W, and the battery for the incubator is from 12 V.

To maintain humidity, a container of water and a fan are placed at the bottom of the incubation chamber.

Automatic incubator

Another option is how to make your own incubator with automatic egg turning. The body can be a frame from a washing machine or an old beehive.

The incubator structure looks like this:

• Frame,
• Tray system,
• heating system,
• Fan,
• Lattice rotation mechanism.

To be supported inside set temperature air, it is necessary to insulate the walls of the incubator. For this purpose, they are lined with foam plastic. To ensure air exchange, we make holes on one side of the wall at the bottom, and on the other at the top. Diameter - no more than a centimeter. The holes can be equipped with plugs. An observation window is cut into the lid and glazed. The glass is not firmly fixed: if it is necessary to reduce the temperature inside the chamber, it is moved away.

The trays are assembled from a metal grid with a cell pitch of about 2.5 cm, and covered mosquito net so that the hatched chicks do not damage their paws. Do-it-yourself auto-rotation for an incubator is done like this: holes are cut into the lattice frame, and they themselves are mounted on an axis. All parts of the mechanism are fastened together, and gear motors with a power of up to 20 W are used as a drive. For smooth movement tray, it is recommended to take a chain with a pitch of 0.52 mm. A temporary relay is responsible for automating the process.

All that remains is to install a heating system for the entire structure. The heating element for the incubator of this model is a spiral from old irons. The spirals are secured to the walls with ties or staples so that they can be easily replaced if necessary.

The minimum distance of the heating element from the tray is 20 cm.

In a chicken incubator made with your own hands according to this scheme, you must hang a thermometer and place a container of water on the bottom. For better air circulation, you can attach a fan to the bottom grille. There must be a psychrometer in the chamber. The device measures humidity levels, and you can buy it at any pet store.

All experienced poultry farmers know well that one of the main conditions for successful incubation of eggs, in addition to correctly selected temperature and humidity, is their periodic turning.

Moreover, this must be done using strictly defined technology. All existing incubators are divided into three groups - automatic, mechanical and manual, and the last two varieties assume that the process of turning eggs will be carried out not by a machine, but by a person.

A timer can help simplify this task; if you have some time and experience, you can make it yourself. Several methods for making such a device are described below.

What is it for?

The egg turning timer in the incubator is a device that opens and closes an electrical circuit after the same period of time, that is, in simple terms, a primitive relay. Our task is to turn off and then turn on the main components of the incubator, thus automating the system as much as possible and minimizing possible errors caused by human factor.

The timer, in addition to turning the eggs, also provides the following functions:

• temperature control;
• ensuring forced air exchange;
• starting and turning off lighting.

The microcircuit on which such a device is made must meet two main conditions: low current switching with high resistance of the key element itself.

The best option in this case, CMOS electronic circuit technology has both n- and p-channel field-effect transistors, which provides more high speed switching and is also energy saving.

The easiest way at home is to use timing chips K176IE5 or KR512PS10, sold in any electronics store. Based on them, the timer will work for a long time and, most importantly, uninterruptedly.
The operating principle of the device, made on the basis of the K176IE5 microcircuit, involves the sequential execution of six actions:

1. The system starts (circuit closure).
2. Pause.
3. A pulse voltage is applied to the LED (thirty-two cycles).
4. The resistor turns off.
5. A charge is supplied to the node.
6. The system turns off (circuit open).

Important! If necessary, the response time can be extended to 48–72 hours, but this will require upgrading the circuit with higher power transistors.

Timer, made on the KR512PS10 chip, in general, is also quite simple, but there are additional functionality, due to the initial presence in the circuit of inputs with a variable division coefficient. Thus, to ensure the operation of the timer (the exact response delay time), you need to correctly select R1, C1 and set required quantity jumpers.
There are three options here:

• 0.1 seconds–1 minute;
• 1 minute–1 hour;
• 1 hour–24 hours.

If the K176IE5 chip assumes the only possible cycle of actions, then on the KR512PS10 the timer operates in two different modes: variable or constant.

In the first case, the system turns on and off automatically, at regular intervals (the mode is configured using jumper S1), in the second, the system turns on with a programmed delay once and then works until it is forced to turn off.

To implement the creative task, in addition to the timing chips themselves, we will need the following materials:

• resistors of various powers;
• several additional LEDs (3–4 pieces);
• tin and rosin.

The set of tools is quite standard:

• a sharp knife with a narrow blade (to short-circuit resistors);
• a good soldering iron for microcircuits (with a thin tip);
• stopwatch or watch with a second hand;
• pliers;
• screwdriver-tester with voltage indicator.

Homemade incubator timer with your own hands on the K176IE5 chip

Majority electronic devices, such as the incubator timer in question, have been known since Soviet times. An example of the implementation of a two-interval timer for incubating eggs with detailed instructions was published in the magazine “Radio”, popular among radio amateurs (No. 1, 1988). But, as you know, everything new is well forgotten old.

If you are lucky enough to find a ready-made radio designer based on the K176IE5 chip with already etched printed circuit board, then assembling and setting up the finished device will turn out to be a simple formality (the ability to hold a soldering iron in your hands, of course, is highly desirable).

Let's look at the stage of setting time intervals in more detail. The two-interval timer in question provides alternation of the “operation” mode (the control relay is turned on, the incubator tray rotation mechanism is working) with the “pause” mode (the control relay is turned off, the incubator tray rotation mechanism is stopped).

The “work” mode is short-term and lasts within 30–60 seconds (the time required to rotate the tray to a certain angle depends on the type of specific incubator).

Important! At the stage of assembling the device, you should strictly follow the instructions to avoid overheating in the soldering areas of electronic semiconductor components (mainly the main chip and transistors).

The “pause” mode is long and can last up to 5 or 6 hours (depending on the size of the eggs and the heating capacity of the incubator.)

For ease of setup, the circuit includes an LED, which will blink at a certain frequency while setting time intervals. The LED power is adjusted to the circuit using resistor R6.

The duration of these modes is adjusted by timing resistors R3 and R4. It should be noted that the duration of the “pause” mode depends on the value of both resistors, while the duration of the operating mode is set exclusively by resistance R3.
For fine tuning, it is recommended to use variable resistors 3–5 kOhm for R3 and 500–1500 kOhm for R4 as R3 and R4, respectively.

Important! The lower the resistance of the timing resistors, the more frequently the LED will flash and the shorter the cycle time will be.

Adjusting the “work” mode:

• short-circuit resistor R4 (reduce resistance R4 to zero);
• turn on the device;
• Use resistor R3 to adjust the blinking frequency of the LED. The duration of the “work” mode will correspond to thirty-two flashes.

Adjusting the pause mode:

• use resistor R4 (increase resistance R4 to nominal);
• turn on the device;
• Use a stopwatch to measure the time between adjacent LED flashes.

  The duration of the “pause” mode will be equal to the received time multiplied by 32.

For example, in order to set the pause mode duration to 4 hours, the time between flashes should be 7 minutes 30 seconds. After completing the setup of the modes (determining the required characteristics of the time-setting resistors), R3 and R4 can be replaced with fixed resistors of the appropriate values, and the LED can be turned off. This will increase the reliability of the timer and significantly extend its service life.

Instructions: how to make your own incubator timer using the KR512PS10 chip

The KR512PS10 microcircuit, manufactured on the basis of the CMOS technical process, is used in a wide variety of electronic timer devices with a variable time cycle division coefficient.

These devices can provide both one-time switching on (switching on the operating mode after a certain pause and holding it until forced shutdown), and cyclic switching on and off according to a given program.

Did you know? The chick in the egg breathes atmospheric air, which penetrates the shell through the smallest pores in it. By letting oxygen in, the shell simultaneously removes carbon dioxide exhaled by the chicken, as well as excess moisture, from the egg.

Creating a timer for an incubator based on one of these devices will not be difficult. Moreover, you don’t even have to pick up a soldering iron, since the range of commercially produced boards based on KR512PS10 is extremely wide, their functionality is diverse, and the ability to configure time intervals covers the range from tenths of a second to 24 hours.
Ready-made boards are equipped necessary automation, providing quick and accurate adjustment of the “work” and “pause” modes. Thus, making a timer for an incubator using the KR512PS10 microcircuit comes down to the right choice boards for specific characteristics of a certain incubator.

If you still need to change the operating time, you can do this by short-circuiting resistor R1.

For those who love and know how to solder, and also want to assemble such a device with their own hands, we present one of possible schemes with a list electronic components and PCB trace.
The described timers are applicable to control the inversion of the tray when working with household incubators with periodic switching on of the heating elements. In fact, they allow you to synchronize the movement of the tray with turning the heater on and off, repeating the entire process cyclically.

Other options

In addition to the considered options for basic microcircuits, there are many electronic components on which you can build a reliable and durable device - a timer.

Among them are:

• MC14536BCP;
• CD4536B (with modifications CD43***, CD41***);
• NE555, etc.

Some of these microcircuits have now been discontinued and replaced with modern analogues (the electronic components production industry does not stand still).

All of them differ in secondary parameters, an expanded range of supply voltages, thermal characteristics, etc., but at the same time they perform all the same tasks: turning on and off a controlled electrical circuit according to a given program.

The principle of setting the working intervals of the assembled board is the same:

• find and short-circuit the “pause” mode resistor;
• use the “operation” mode resistor to set the desired blinking frequency of the diode;
• unlock the pause mode resistor and measure the exact operating time;
• set divider parameters;
• place the board in a protective case.

When making a tray flip timer, you need to understand that it is, first of all, a timer - universal device, the scope of which is not limited solely to the task of turning the tray over in an incubator.

Subsequently, having gained some experience, you will be able to equip heating elements, lighting and ventilation systems with similar devices, and later, after some modernization, use it as the basis for automatically supplying feed and water to chickens.

Did you know? Many people believe that the yolk in an egg represents the embryo of the future chicken, and the white is the nutrient medium necessary for its development. However, in reality this is not the case. The chick begins to develop from the germinal disc, which in the fertilized egg looks like a small speck light color in the yolk. The chick feeds mainly on the yolk, while the protein is for the embryo a source of water and useful minerals necessary for normal development.

Thanks for your opinion!

Write in the comments what questions you have not received an answer to, we will definitely respond!

11 once already
helped

, current question for both amateur poultry farmers and professional farmers.

Industrial devices often have high price, and their application inappropriate in conditions little ones homestead farms.

To remove poultry V small quantities are quite suitable home. Moreover, to design it with desire can every.

Important points when making an incubator

At independent manufacturing very important moment is to create comfortable, maximum close to natural, conditions for breeding birds.

First of all it is worth taking care to constantly maintain the necessary temperatures inside the incubator and arrangement in it ventilation.

When mother hen hatches eggs independently, creating natural temperature and humidity for normal development of chicks.

IN artificial conditions, the temperature in the incubator must always be maintained at 37.5–38.6 degrees at a humidity level of 50–60% . And for uniform distribution and circulation warm air used forced ventilation.

Attention: temperature violation at any stage incubation period(overheating, underheating, excessive or insufficient humidity) can lead to a significant slowdown in the rate of development of chicks.

In particular, excessive humidity in the incubator negative influences embryo development in the egg and can lead to the death of the chick before it is born.

Insufficient humidity air in the device makes an egg shell overdried and very durable that unacceptable when hatching.

Making an incubator with your own hands

To create automatic incubator with your own hands You will need to make or purchase the following from the store: equipment:

• Frame for the incubator itself;
• Tray system;
• Heating element;
• Fan;
• Automatic turning mechanism.

Incubator body

Corps For a homemade incubator, a washing machine made from plywood can serve box and even unclaimed bee hive.

To maintain inside the incubator comfortable microclimate(heat preservation), walls the housings are sealed (most often with polystyrene foam), and for entry inside fresh air small holes are made.

Size incubator and quantity in it, egg trays are selected based on needs owner.

Tray system

As trays for eggs you can use durable metal mesh with cells size 2.5 cm. There will be trays hold on on special pins, which in turn will carry out automatic coup fixed trays.

L = (H-((N+15)*2))/15

Where L– number of trays, H- height of the refrigerator, N– distance of trays from heating elements.

For example: Height incubator 1 meter. To calculate the maximum number of trays for an incubator, subtract from it distance to the heating elements with a margin 6 cm(to avoid overheating), multiply by 2 and divide by height necessary for ventilation. We get:

L = (100-((6+15)*2))/15 = 3.86

Maximum quantity trays required to create an incubator is equal to four.

Heating element

To maintain a constant temperature in a large incubator can be used heating spirals from irons, connecting them in series.

For small designs, you can get by with several incandescent lamps average power. They can be placed both “above” and “below” the trays at a distance not less than 20 cm.

Please note: When installing lamps, be sure to place a thermometer in the incubator to accurately control the temperature and install a bath of water so that the air inside the device is moist. To control humidity, a psychrometer is used, which can be purchased without any problems at any pet store.

Fan

IN small a homemade incubator will be enough one fan, For example, from an old computer. Air circulation very important in arranging the incubator and plays key role in a brood of chicks.

In addition to uniform distribution of warm air, the fan pumps up inside necessary for eggs oxygen and removes carbon dioxide. To ensure air flow into the device, it is necessary to make several holes size 15-20 mm.

Automatic turning mechanism

Rotary pins on which the trays will be attached must be perfect aligned evenly to prevent distortion of the entire structure. A mechanism parts, connecting the trays and driving them rigidly secured among themselves.

As drive low-power ones (up to 20 watt) reduction motors And sprocket chain.

Please note: To smoothly rotate trays with eggs, you must use a chain with a minimum pitch (0.525 mm).

For complete automation process, is added to the motor power circuit relay(switch) which will on one's own turn the engine on and off.

Important to know: Before loading eggs and starting incubation, you need to check and test the created system for 3-4 days. Stabilize the temperature and humidity, experimentally find a place for the fan and start the turning mechanism, stabilize the turning speed and the angle of inclination of the trays.

So, manufacturing of automatic incubator at home no cost for modern technologies, the task is quite feasible. Main- compliance sequences the actions described above and extreme attentiveness to the work.

For design you can use improvised means: frame old refrigerator, washing machine, box made of plywood or chipboard, for wall insulation- polystyrene foam or an old blanket will do, computer fan will ensure uniform distribution warm air throughout the entire volume of the structure.

Following video talks in detail about an incubator for hatching eggs with your own hands:

Everyone who deals with poultry has at least once observed how hens (hens, ducks, geese, turkeys, and any other bird) turn eggs with their beaks in the nest.

This is done for several reasons, including:

1. When turning the eggs, they heat up more evenly, since the heat source is located on only one side.
2. Eggs “breathe” better (in the case of an incubator this is not as important as with natural hatching, but many farmers even ventilate the eggs in incubators, providing them with an influx of fresh air).
3. Turning the eggs ensures the correct development of the chick (the embryo without moving the egg can stick to the shell, the percentage of hatched eggs can be greatly reduced).

The allantois is the embryonic membrane that serves as the respiratory organ of the embryo. In birds, the allantois forms along the walls of the shell around the embryo.

The time for closure of the embryonic membrane is different in all species of birds.

You can track the process using an ovoscope. When candled, the eggs become dark from the sharp end, and an enlarged air chamber is observed at the blunt end.

The mechanism for turning eggs in the incubator - choosing the optimal method

Eggs should be turned over at least 2 times a day when laid horizontally (180° - half a turn). Although some bird breeders recommend doing this more often - every 4 hours.

The modern range of incubators includes a large number of device models with different functionality.
The most inexpensive models are not equipped with an automatic turning mechanism. And therefore, the procedure will have to be performed manually according to a predetermined schedule with a timer. In order not to get confused, a special accounting journal is started, and marks are placed on the eggs with a marker.

More functional models incubators can be equipped with automatic turning over.

Mechanical turning of eggs in an incubator Most often there are two types:

• Frame,
• Inclined.

The first type of mechanism works on the principle of rolling eggs. That is bottom part Due to friction, the egg is stopped by the supporting surface, and a special frame, moving, pushes the egg, thereby rotating it relative to its axis.

With this type of inversion, eggs are placed in the incubator only horizontally. The frame can move by pushing in one direction, or it can rotate relative to its axis.

The second type of mechanism involves a design that works on the principle of a swing. Eggs in this version are loaded only vertically.

Advantages of frame rotation

1. The device consumes little energy for turning and therefore can even use a backup current source for operation (in case of a power outage).
2. The rotation mechanism is quite easy to maintain and functional to use.
3. This incubator is small in size and does not take up much space.

Flaws

1. The shear mechanism assumes that the shell is perfectly clean; even a slight contamination can stop the egg, and it will not turn.
2. The shear pitch directly affects the turning radius of the egg. If the eggs are larger or, conversely, smaller in diameter, as specified by the device manufacturers, then the angle of rotation will be significantly changed to a smaller or larger direction (incubators with circular motion of the frames do not have this drawback; all eggs will be completely turned over).
3. Some incubator manufacturers do not take into account the dimensions of the eggs, they make low frames and therefore, when shifted, the eggs can hit each other. If the frame moves suddenly due to equipment malfunction (play, incorrect adjustment, etc.), again, the eggs may be damaged.

Advantages of inclined egg turning mechanisms

1. The eggs are guaranteed to rotate at a given degree, no matter what diameter they are. That is, incubators with an inclined turning mechanism can safely be called universal. They are suitable for eggs of any poultry.
2. This turning mechanism is the safest in comparison with frame ones, since the horizontal amplitude of movements is small, which means the eggs will hit each other less.

Flaws

1. The swing mechanism is more difficult to maintain than the frame mechanism.
2. The cost of incubators with such automatic egg turning is often high.
3. The dimensions of the end devices and power consumption are higher than their frame counterparts.

The choice of the most optimal mechanism, as when choosing any other device, depends on many factors (the final price of the device, other additional functionality, dimensions, power consumption, etc.), as well as the individual preferences of the breeder.

Egg turning tray in the incubator - nuances

The simplest and most functional variant of the mechanism for turning eggs in the incubator– movable. Most often, the choice for incubators with such equipment falls due to the low final cost.

Below we will look at what to look for when purchasing such a unit.

• The tray has a certain volume of egg loading. This indicator is the first thing you need to pay attention to. The capacity of the incubator should be selected based on the planned population of the poultry house. There is no point in taking a large supply, since an increase in the population directly affects the increase in the area of ​​the chicken coop (or premises for raising other types of birds).

• Some models of trays are made in the form of thin frames. They are the most inexpensive, however, the most unsafe (the frames bend easily, which can cause the mechanism to fail if large diameter eggs can touch each other, hanging outside the cell, which is dangerous when moving, etc.). It is best to choose trays with fully insulated cells (on all 4 sides of the egg) with high sides.

• The cell size and tray shift pitch directly affect the angle of rotation of the egg. Therefore, cell sizes should be selected based on the type of eggs. It is not recommended to place eggs with a small diameter in large cells. For example, for quail eggs the tray should have a smaller cell size, for turkey eggs – a larger one, etc.

• If you want a universal incubator with auto-rotation for various types eggs, it is best to pay attention to models with trays with removable partitions. They allow you to choose the required size. In such incubators you can place various types eggs at the same time (there should be eggs of the same diameter in one row).

How to make a homemade mechanism for turning chicken eggs in an incubator

In order to make an automatic egg turning mechanism for an incubator, you will need knowledge of mechanics and electrical engineering.

Below we will consider a simple example of creating a mechanism with horizontal displacement of the tray by electric drive.

Due to the wide variety of engines and methods of technical implementation of movement, it will not be difficult to select the necessary materials.

You can always purchase a version of an incubator with auto-rotation, so creating a mechanism with your own hands is justified only when the price of the tools and materials used does not exceed the price of the finished device.

Electrical circuit of the auto-rotate device

Frame auto-rotate for eggs made of simple materials

Basic principles from which to proceed:

• The circular motion of the engine rotor must be converted into reciprocating horizontal motion. This is done using a connecting rod mechanism, when a rod attached to one of the points of the circle transmits the cyclic circular motion being performed into the reciprocating motion of the other end.

• Due to the fact that many rotary engines have a large number revolutions per unit of time, in order to convert frequent rotations of the axis into rare ones, it is necessary to use a combination of gears with different gear ratios. The number of turns of the final gear must correspond to the time of turning the eggs (in ready-made models, the turn is carried out once every 4 hours). That is, one turn approximately every 2-4 hours.

• The reciprocating movement of the rod in one direction should be the full diameter of the egg - this is about 4 cm, or 8 cm - the total length (rotation in each direction will be carried out 180°, that is, in one full cycle last gear - 360° rotation of the egg). To put it simply, the radius of the rod attachment point on the last gear should be equal to the radius of the egg (or slightly larger).

VIDEO INSTRUCTIONS

Assembled mechanism will work like this:

1. The motor performs rotational movements at high frequency.
2. The gear system converts the high speed rotation of the motor shaft into a low speed (approximately 1 rotation every 4-8 hours).
3. The rod connecting the last gear and the tray with the eggs converts circular movements into horizontal reciprocating movements of the tray (a distance equal to the diameter of the egg).

To hatch chickens yourself, you can purchase an industrial incubation device. But it is also possible to assemble an incubator with your own hands at home. Homemade apparatus It will cost much less and you can choose its size according to the number of eggs. In such a device, you can automate temperature changes and set up regular turning of eggs in trays.

This article will tell you how to make an incubator with your own hands and what materials you will need for this.

Basic rules for creating a homemade incubator

The body is the main element of a home incubator. It retains heat inside itself and prevents sudden changes in egg temperature. Temperature changes can negatively affect the health of future chickens. The following materials are suitable as a housing for the incubator:

• foam;
• body of an old refrigerator.

To place eggs, trays made of plastic or wood with mesh or slatted bottom. Automatic trays equipped with motors can independently turn eggs at a time set by a timer. Moving the eggs to the side helps prevent uneven heating of their surface.

Using incandescent lamps, V home incubator the temperature necessary for the development of the cubs is created. The choice of lamp power is influenced by the size of the incubator body; it can vary between 25-1000 W. Tue A thermometer or an electronic thermostat with a sensor helps monitor the temperature level in the device.

The air in the incubator must constantly circulate, which is ensured by forced or natural ventilation. For small devices, holes at the base and on the surface of the lid will be sufficient. Large structures made from the body of a refrigerator require special fans located at the top and bottom. Ventilation will allow the air not to stagnate, and the heat to be evenly distributed in the device.

For a continuous incubation process it is necessary make the optimal number of trays. The gap between the trays, as well as the distance to the incandescent lamp, should be at least 15 cm. A gap of 4-5 cm should be left from the walls to the trays. The diameter of the ventilation holes can be 12-20 mm.

Before placing eggs in the incubator, it is necessary to check the operation of the fans and the uniform heating of the device. After optimal warming up, the temperature in the corners of the device should not differ by more than 0.5 degrees. The air flow from the fans should be directed towards the lamps and not towards the egg trays themselves.

DIY foam incubator

The advantages of expanded polystyrene are his affordable price, high-quality thermal insulation, light weight. Due to this, it is often used for the manufacture of incubators. To work you will need the following components:

Assembly steps

Before you make an incubator at home, you need to prepare drawings with precise measurements. Assembly includes the following steps:

1. To prepare the side walls, the foam sheet must be divided into four equal squares.
2. The surface of the second sheet is divided in half. One of the resulting parts must be cut into rectangles with parameters 50x40 cm and 50*60 cm. The smaller part will be the bottom of the incubator, and the larger part will be the lid.
3. A viewing window with parameters of 13x13 cm is cut out on the lid. It will be covered with transparent plastic or glass and provide ventilation in the device.
4. First, the frame from the side walls is assembled and glued together. After the glue has dried, the bottom is attached. To do this, you need to coat the edges of the sheet with glue and insert it into the frame.
5. To increase the rigidity of the structure, it must be covered with tape. The first strips of tape are applied to the bottom with a slight overlap to the surface of the walls. Then the walls are tightly covered.
6. Uniform distribution of heat and circulation of air masses are ensured by two bars located under the bottom of the tray. They are also made of foam plastic, with a height of 6 cm and a width of 4 cm. The bars are attached with glue along the bottom walls, with a length of 50 cm.
7. 1 cm above the bottom, on short walls, 3 holes are made for ventilation, at equal intervals and with a diameter of about 12 cm. The holes will be difficult to cut with a knife, so it is better to use a soldering iron.
8. To ensure a tight fit of the lid to the body, blocks of polystyrene foam with parameters of 2x2 cm must be attached along its edge. There should be a gap of 5 cm from the edge of the sheet to the surface of the block. This arrangement will allow the lid to fit into the inside of the incubator and fit tightly with the walls.
9. At the top of the box there is a grid with lamp sockets attached to it.
10. A thermostat is mounted on the surface of the lid, and its sensor is lowered inside the incubator, at a distance of up to 1 cm from the eggs. The hole for the sensor can be pierced with a sharp awl.
11. A tray is installed at the bottom, at a distance of 4-5 cm from the walls. This arrangement is necessary for ventilation of the device.
12. Fans are not a necessary element if the incubator is small in size. If they are installed, the air flow must be directed towards the lamps and not towards the tray with eggs.

For better heat retention, you can paste over inner surface incubator with thermal insulating foil.

DIY incubator from a refrigerator body

Operating principle of the incubator is in many ways similar to the operation of a refrigerator. Thanks to this, you can assemble a convenient and high-quality homemade device from the body of the refrigeration appliance. The material of the refrigerator walls retains heat well, holds a large number of eggs, trays with which can be conveniently placed on the shelves.

The required level of humidity will be maintained by a special system located at the bottom of the device. Before modifying the housing, it is necessary to remove the built-in equipment and the freezer.

To make your own egg incubator from an old refrigerator, you will need the following components:

• refrigerator body;
• thermostat;
• metal rod or chain with sprocket;
• light bulbs, power 220 W;
• fan;
• drive that turns eggs.

Requirements for a homemade incubator

Hatching period usually lasts about 20 days. The humidity inside the incubator at this time should remain between 40-60%. After the chickens hatch from the eggs, it should be increased to 80%. At the stage of selection of young animals, humidity is reduced to the original level.

It is also important for the proper development of eggs. temperature regime. Temperature requirements may vary for certain types of eggs. Table 1 shows the required conditions.

Table 1. Temperature conditions for different types eggs

Installation of a ventilation system

Ventilation regulates the temperature and humidity ratio in the incubator. Its speed should be on average 5 m/s. In the refrigerator body you need to drill one hole from the bottom and top, with a diameter of 30 mm. Metal or plastic tubes of the appropriate size are inserted into them. The use of tubes avoids interaction of air with glass wool located under the wall cladding. The level of ventilation is regulated by completely or partially closing the openings.

Six days after the start of incubation, the embryos require air from outside. By the third week, the egg absorbs up to 2 liters of air per day. Before leaving the egg, the chicken consumes about 8 liters of air mass.

There are two types of ventilation systems:

• constant, ensuring continuous air circulation, exchange and distribution of heat;
• periodic, activated once a day to replace the air in the incubator.

The presence of ventilation of any type does not eliminate the need to install a device for turning eggs. Using automatic turning prevents the embryo and shell from sticking together.

Constant ventilation system , is placed in the inside of the incubator and expels air through the holes. At the outlet, air flows are mixed and passed through the heaters. Then the air masses descend and are saturated with moisture from water containers. The incubator increases the air temperature, which is subsequently transmitted to the eggs. Having given off heat, the air tends to the fan.

Constant type ventilation is more complex than the variable model. But her job allows simultaneously perform ventilation, heating and humidification inside the incubator.

The periodic ventilation system works on a different principle. First the heating turns off, then the fan turns on. It renews the heated air and cools the egg trays. After 30 minutes of operation, the fan turns off and the heating device comes into operation.

The number of eggs in the incubator determines the fan power. For an average machine for 100-200 eggs, You will need a fan with the following characteristics:

• blade diameter 10-45 cm;
• powered by a 220 W network;
• with a capacity of 35-200 cubic meters. m/hour.

The fan must be equipped with a filter that will protect the blades from dust, fluff and dirt.

Installation of heating elements

To increase the temperature in the incubator you will need four incandescent lamps with a power of 25 watts (you can replace them with two lamps with a power of 40 watts). The lamps are evenly fixed over the area of ​​the refrigerator, between the bottom and the lid. There should be room at the bottom for a container of water, which will provide air humidification.

Selection of thermostat

A high-quality thermostat can provide optimal temperature conditions in the incubator. There are several types of such devices:

• a bimetallic plate that closes the circuit when the heating reaches the desired value;
• electric contactor - a mercury thermometer equipped with an electrode that turns off the heating when the required temperature is reached;
• barometric sensor that closes the circuit when the pressure exceeds the norm.

Thermostat automatic type provides ease of operation with the incubator and significantly saves time on its maintenance.

Assembling a mechanism for automatically turning eggs

The standard frequency of egg turning set for mechanisms is twice a day. According to some experts, turning should be done twice as often.

There are two types of egg turning:

• inclined;
• frame

Inclined type device periodically tilts the tray with eggs at a certain angle. As a result of this movement, the embryos in the eggs change their location in relation to the shell and heating elements.

Frame device to turn over, pushes the eggs together using a frame and ensures their rotation around its axis.

Automatic device for turning eggs is a motor that starts a rod that acts on trays with eggs. Do elementary mechanism for turning eggs in the refrigerator body, quite simple. To do this, you need to install the gearbox in the lower, inner part of the refrigerator. Trays are fixed to wooden frame, with the ability to tilt at an angle of 60 degrees towards the door and towards the wall. The fixation of the gearbox must be strong. The rod is connected at one end to the motor and at the other to the opposite side of the tray. The motor operates a rod, which causes the tray to tilt.

To synchronize chick hatching You need to select eggs of the same size and maintain a uniform heating level throughout the incubator. Making a homemade incubator requires certain skills and abilities. If it is not possible to make an incubator at home or this process seems too complicated, then you can always purchase finished model device or its components, for example, a mechanism for turning eggs, trays, ventilation system.