If you plan to raise chickens at home or in the country, you can build an incubator with your own hands. This way you can save a lot of money and create exactly the device that best suits your purposes. In our article you will find a description of several interesting designs that you can do yourself.

Myth or reality?

Many novice farmers believe that a homemade incubator is a very complex device that requires expensive materials and tools. But in fact, you can make it at home with your own hands and with minimal costs. At the same time, you can make either a simple incubator or a complex device with automatic egg turning and temperature control.

A homemade incubator will allow you to choose the desired dimensions of the device, as well as the presence of various additional functions. In addition, this design will allow you to save a lot, because it will contain almost no expensive materials. But at the same time, during assembly you need to do everything very accurately, because the slightest violation of temperature or humidity can lead to damage to the eggs.

Manufacturing of the device

There are several options for creating an incubator with your own hands at home. As a base you can use old refrigerator or a box. This device can also be assembled using foam plastic. Below are diagrams of the most popular designs that you can make yourself.

Incubator out of the box

This type of device will be the most profitable from an economic point of view. Making it yourself will not require expensive materials and will take place as quickly as possible.

1. First, you need to cut a small hole in the side of the box for ventilation, and secure the light bulb sockets in the box lid.
2. For 60 chicken eggs You will need to insert 3 light bulbs with a power of 25 W. They should be located at a distance of 15 cm from the tray.
3. For reliability, it is recommended to cover all edges of the box with plywood or chipboard sheets.
4. Below the eggs you need to place a container of water. The area of ​​the evaporated surface depends on the volume of the housing and is selected experimentally using a hygrometer.
5. The egg tray is installed in the middle of the box.
6. It is recommended to choose a gyroscope and thermometer, the data of which can be viewed without opening the box. It is recommended to tear off the lid of the box only to turn the eggs.

Simple incubator out of the box

From foam plastic

Polystyrene foam has excellent thermal insulation properties, and most farmers can find this material at home. This is why do-it-yourself incubators are often made from polystyrene foam. The principle of its manufacture is in many ways similar to creating a structure from a cardboard box. But you can choose the body size yourself based on the desired number of eggs.

1. First you need to make a box from foam sheets. You can easily do this yourself using adhesive tape. Just cut out the edges the right size and fasten them in a box in a way convenient for you.
2. Such a design will provide high thermal insulation and will allow you to use light bulbs with a power of about 20 W for heating. Of course, you can include special heaters in the design, but the option with light bulbs is the most budget-friendly and they cope with their functions perfectly.
3. As in the previous design, it is recommended to insert the light bulbs into the top cover at a distance of about 15 cm from the eggs.
4. Can be used as a tray finished design, or make it from wooden planks. It is best to place the tray in the middle of a homemade box, so that the distance to containers with water and heating elements were approximately the same.
5. When making such an incubator with your own hands, do not forget to leave space between the tray and the walls, because air circulation is very important when hatching chickens at home.

With automatic revolution

The most difficult thing to do at home is to make an incubator with automatic egg turning. But this design will help to hatch chickens at home as conditionally as possible, because regular egg turning is the most important factor. Such a mechanism will be indispensable for people who are often absent and cannot pay enough attention to hatching chickens from eggs. In addition, this design will minimize the number of times the lid is opened, which is also a very important factor.

The most in a simple way The implementation of automatic turning is the purchase of ready-made trays with a special mechanism. Such a device will cost several times less than a ready-made incubator, but you will need to create a suitable housing, as well as purchase a thermometer and a gyroscope. The body of an old refrigerator is perfect for assembling a house. It has good thermal insulation and a convenient door. You will need to perform the following sequence of actions:

1. Remove unnecessary parts, including the freezer.
2. Cut a window in the door and glaze it.
3. Attach automatic turning trays where shelves were previously.
4. Install 4 light bulbs at the bottom of the refrigerator and 2 at the top.
5. Place a reservoir of water at the bottom.
6. Attach the thermometer and gyroscope so that they can be seen through the window.

You can also try to assemble an automatic turning device at home with your own hands, but its manufacture will require special tools, materials and skills. On the forums of craftsmen you can find a variety of diagrams, drawings and videos that will help you realize this idea. But in most cases it is easier and more profitable to install a ready-made tray with automatic turning.

Photo gallery

The photographs and drawings below will help you make a device for hatching chicks at home. You can find even more information in the video.

Video “Example of a finished incubator from a refrigerator”

In the next video you can look at a working device that was assembled with your own hands at home from scrap materials.

, 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 an 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 it can serve, washing machine made from plywood 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 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:

Electrical diagram of the egg turning system in the incubator.

The components of the proposed electrical circuit are assembled from the simplest parts and mechanisms.

Automatic egg turning system consists of a mechanical part connected by hinged joints to the cart on which trays with eggs are located, or directly to the trays themselves, and an electrical part, including limit switches (fixed position sensors) and an actuator unit.

Mode switch for the electrical circuit for turning eggs in the incubator.

We used a small quartz alarm clock made in China. IN technological equipment industrial incubators used a system mechanical watch with limit switches triggered by pressing adjusting bolts installed on the time scale of a disk rotating instead of arrows.

A similar system was taken as a basis.

On the dial quartz watch every 90° (15, 30, 45, 60 minutes) contacts are fixed through which voltage is supplied to the control relay windings. And the contacts are closed by the minute hand, on which a small springy electrical contact is attached to the bottom side.

The dial can be processed in any way: glue slip rings, fuse wire with a hot soldering iron, place foil getinax with contact markings, use photocells, reed switches - everything is at the discretion of the designer and everything depends on the available materials.

The spring contact installed on the minute hand is made of tinned copper wire, it is softer than steel.

The arrow is plastic and it is easy to fuse it with a hot soldering iron or glue a ready-made contact.

The electrical circuit of the incubator rotary system is assembled to a minimum and is easy to assemble.

The operating principle of the electrical system for turning eggs in an incubator.

The control contacts (SAC1) close every 15 minutes. The clock works as usual.

Electric drive unit for the egg turning system in the incubator.

Any drive mechanism can be used: children's electric toys, an electric drill unit, an old mechanical alarm clock, an electric drive mechanism for a car wiper, a rotary mechanism from a household fan heater or fan, an electromagnetic traction relay with a vacuum regulator, use a ready-made one from automatic control washing machine or make your own screw with minimal details (by the way, very simple and convenient). Depends on the design and size of the incubator itself.

If you use a gearbox with a crank mechanism, then the main shaft must have a diameter greater than the stroke length of the rotary frame (with the frame in a horizontal position on the tray). With a screw mechanism, the length of the working threaded part corresponds to the stroke distance of the egg turning system.

Electric drive of the egg turning system in the incubator The screw mechanism is controlled by an electric motor with reversible activation, that is, the engine is turned on alternately in the left and right direction of rotation.

Description of the operation of the electrical circuit of the incubator rotary system.

Powered by a battery, the quartz alarm clock operates in normal mode. At regular intervals, namely: every fifteen minutes of the current time, the minute hand, passing over the contacts fixed on the dial, brings a spring contact to them and closes an electrical circuit through them. Thus, a control signal is generated for the control relay (K2 or K3).

WITH reverse side relay (K2 or K3) the electrical signal is sent to the limit switch (SQ1 or SQ2).

There is a rod on the movable mechanism of the rotary system, which, moving together with the movable part of the system, presses on the limit switch key, being in one of the extreme positions and thereby breaking the chain: mode switch - control relay - limit switch.

Simply put, it turns out like this: from the mode switch (modified alarm clock), with its contacts closed, voltage is supplied to the control relay and then to the limit switch. If the limit switch is in the closed state, the control relay will turn on and close the drive relay control circuit with its contacts, which will supply power to the electric drive of the turning system.

The system will start and move the mechanism to one of two positions, carried out when turning the eggs in the incubator. The extreme position will be fixed by turning off the limit switch by pressing the rod moved with the frame onto the switch key.

The circuit with a reversible connection of an electric motor is slightly different in that it adds a second drive relay with two controlled (switched) contacts.

Electronics enthusiasts can use a digital timer with self-starting after a cycle or a time relay, once used by amateur photographers. There are many options. You can buy a ready-made electronic unit. Everything depends on possibilities.

List of some details.

1. SAC1 - mode switch.
2. K3 and K4 - control relays of type RES-9(10.15) or similar.
3. K1 and K2 are drive relays with switching current, respectively, according to the load current.
4. HV - light indicators.
5. SQ1 and SQ2 are limit switches. You can use microswitches (MS) from old cassette recorders.

A do-it-yourself incubator at home will help solve the budget issue when reproducing poultry. You can buy the installation, but it is expensive. It is difficult to find ready-made equipment that will optimally fit into your home environment. You can solve the problem of how to make an incubator at home yourself. It is necessary to decide what materials the structure will be made of, how the eggs will be heated, and how many chickens you would like to get.

Installation details

A do-it-yourself egg incubator is a container in which conditions are created for the development of embryos and the appearance of chicks. The installation maintains constant parameters close to those that arise when a hen hatches chicks in a natural environment.

The main requirement for the regime provided in the incubator is long-term maintenance of temperature and humidity. In a hen coop, the hen cannot sit on eggs all the time, so short-term changes in the incubator regime are allowed (for example, during an unexpected power outage), but such extreme circumstances must be kept under control. Ideal conditions— maintaining constant parameters without drops and jumps.

Another important factor is the uniformity of the impact on the egg. In nature, this problem is solved simply: the chicken periodically turns the eggs. IN good incubator this circumstance must be taken into account. Modern devices are produced with automatic egg turning. This must also be done in homemade device.

When the design was successful...

At home, an incubator can be constructed from various materials. Improvised materials help to significantly reduce production costs. With ingenuity and imagination, you can build required device from an old refrigerator, a beehive, various containers with good thermal insulation.

What conditions need to be maintained?

Conditions close to natural must be maintained inside the incubator. Basic requirements: temperature within +37.2…+38.7 ºС in the immediate vicinity of the egg (at a distance of 10-25 mm) with humidity within 45-62%. From the moment of pipping until the chicks hatch, the humidity increases to 75-82%. The uniformity of the distribution of parameters throughout the chamber is improved when fans are used in the incubator. The desired condition is the presence of a forced ventilated flow at a speed of about 4.5-5.5 m/s.

The mode of turning the eggs is determined by their location in the tray (vertically, blunt end down). In this position, it is enough to tilt the chicken eggs in different directions at an angle of 44-50ºС. It is advisable to turn duck and goose eggs by 85-90°. It is also possible to place the bookmarks horizontally, but in this case they will have to be rolled at an angle of 165-185º. It is recommended to turn over every hour. The most minimal mode is 1 time every 8 hours. Before pecking the chickens (40-60 hours before), you can stop the turning process.

Violation of incubation conditions leads to the death of embryos or the appearance of chicks with birth defects. Prolonged underheating leads to slower development, and chickens often have a bloated abdomen and a non-healing umbilical cord. Overheating during incubation is also unacceptable. If the temperature is excessive during the first 45-50 hours, a chicken head defect, beak deformity, and eye problems may develop. Overheating before pipping (4-5 days before) contributes to heart, digestive system and liver defects. Possible development of ectopia. Too strong, even short-term overheating can lead to bonding of the embryo to the shell and various internal hemorrhages.

Humidity also significantly affects the quality of the brood. Excessive moisture leads to deterioration in fetal development due to insufficient protein utilization and causes increased mortality in the middle of the incubation period.

Different breeds require different lengths of incubation period. When breeding meat chickens average term complete incubation is 512 hours, and the first peck should begin 470 hours after laying. Mass hatching of chicks occurs after 490-500 hours.

Design principles

Any incubator has a body with sufficient capacity and reliable thermal insulation. Its internal cavity forms the working chamber, where the incubation process takes place. The eggs are placed in plastic or wooden trays, the bottom of which is made in the form of a mesh or a series of slats so that the position of each egg is recorded. Filled trays are installed inside the housing in several tiers with sufficient distance between rows to turn the trays over.

The most important element structures - a source of heating. IN homemade devices Most often, incandescent lamps with a power of 60-200 W are used for this, depending on the capacity of the working chamber. Another option is a spiral from an iron. It must be placed in ceramic insulation, and the placement area must be covered with an asbestos sheet. Temperature control is carried out in manual mode using a conventional thermometer or in automatic mode using a thermostat with appropriate relays and sensors.

Required condition security is considered forced ventilation in the working chamber. If its volume is small, several holes are drilled in the upper and lower zones for these purposes. The diameter of the holes is selected within the range of 14-18 mm. For larger incubators, a fan must be installed.

When using an incubator, there is a natural desire to lay the maximum number of eggs. However, the number of trays is determined by certain standards when placing them in the chamber:

• there should be a distance of at least 14-16 cm from the heat source (lamps) to the tray;
• a gap of at least 15 cm is maintained between the trays;
• There should be a distance of at least 35-45 mm between the wall of the housing and the nearest eggs.

Necessary tool

Depending on the type of incubator you choose, you will need the following tools:

• Bulgarian;
• electric drill;
• screwdriver;
• electric jigsaw;
• hacksaw;
• hammer;
• mallet;
• furniture stapler;
• paint brush;
• scissors;
• pliers;
• wire cutters;
• metal ruler;
• roulette.

Foam incubator

Do-it-yourself foam incubators are very popular among home craftsmen. Styrofoam or polystyrene foam is fine thermal insulation material, the body made of it is able to retain heat while being lightweight.

The production of a foam incubator is carried out in the following order:

1. Preparing body parts. A foam sheet (1x1 m in size) is cut into 4 slabs of the same size. A similar sheet is cut into 2 parts, and then one of the halves is cut into 2 unequal parts so that one has a width of 60 cm and the other 40 cm. The first element is intended for making the bottom, and the second - the roof of the incubator body.
2. In the element intended for the roof, a viewing window measuring 14x14 cm is cut out. It is then covered with glass or plastic.
3. The walls of the housing are assembled from four identical elements. The connection is made using adhesive composition. The bottom is tightly inserted into the glued body, and the ends of the lower element are coated with glue.
4. To increase the strength of the body, the walls and bottom are tightened with tape.
5. The tray with eggs is mounted on foam blocks measuring 4x6 cm, installed at the bottom of the housing.
6. At a distance of 10-12 mm from the bottom, 3 holes for ventilation with a diameter of 13-14 mm are drilled in the walls.
7. The sockets for incandescent lamps are fixed inside the housing, and a thermostat is mounted on the lid.

Other manufacturing methods

A homemade incubator from a refrigerator is quite real way using a broken small device. Its transformation is carried out in the following order:

1. Freeing the internal chamber of the refrigerator from all parts, incl. freezer.
2. WITH inner surface In the upper part, sockets for incandescent lamp sockets and several through ventilation holes with a diameter of 15-20 mm are drilled.
3. Rear wall after removal refrigeration system additionally covered with foam to provide thermal insulation.
4. Old refrigerator grilles are repurposed into egg trays.
5. Temperature sensors are installed inside the chamber, and the thermostat is located on the side wall outside.
6. A viewing window is cut into the door and covered with transparent plastic.

A fairly simple and common method of making an incubator is based on the use of plywood or chipboard. A rectangular frame is made from 40x40 mm timber. Sheets of plywood or chipboard are insulated mineral wool or polystyrene foam. The cotton wool can be fastened with a furniture stapler, and the foam is glued. The body is sheathed with sheets of insulated plywood or chipboard. An observation window is made on the lid, similar to a foam incubator.

How to make a turning mechanism

At home use In an incubator, egg turning is most often done manually. However, this event requires quite a lot of time. The process can be mechanized by installing simple devices. There are several options for such devices.

In small incubators, the moving grid principle can be used. The eggs in the tray are secured using a mesh, from the ends of which cords extend out in both directions. By pulling one end, you can ensure that the eggs tilt in one direction, and by pulling on the other side, the tilt will change to the opposite. This manual method allows you to turn the eggs all at the same time, which makes the task easier.

Automation of the process involves the use of rotary mechanisms. With the help of gearboxes, slow rotation of the shaft is ensured, which is transformed into translational motion of the mesh. To ensure timely activation of the mechanism, daily time relays are installed. They also help control the temperature in the working chamber.

You can make an incubator for hatching chickens with your own hands. The design of the installation itself is very simple. It is important to ensure that in the working chamber optimal conditions and maintain them continuously.

In homestead farms, the use of large incubators industrial production may not be practical due to their large capacity. To raise a small number of poultry, you need compact devices, which you can make with your own hands, using available tools and materials.

We will present several methods for making incubators. However, even a homemade device must meet certain requirements, which you will learn about in this article.

How to make your own chicken egg incubator

Breeding poultry is a fairly profitable activity, but in order to uninterruptedly produce productive young animals, you need to buy or make your own device in which the young animals will be raised.

You will learn how to make an incubator for chicken eggs or quails with your own hands, using available materials, from the sections below.

What to pay attention to

To fully breed young poultry, you should adhere to certain recommendations and requirements regarding the use of the apparatus and its manufacture:

• The temperature at a distance of two centimeters from the eggs should not exceed 38.6 degrees, and the minimum temperature is 37.3 degrees;
• Only fresh eggs are suitable for incubation and should not be stored for more than ten days;
• It is necessary to maintain an optimal level of humidity in the chamber. Before biting it is 40-60%, and after the start of biting it is 80%. Humidity levels must be reduced before chicks are collected.

The hatching of young poultry also depends on the location of the eggs. They must be placed vertically (sharp end down) or horizontally. If they are located vertically, they should be tilted to the right or left by 45 degrees (when laying goose or duck eggs, the tilt degree is up to 90 degrees).

If the eggs are placed horizontally, they must be turned at least three times a day by 180 degrees. However, it is best to carry out the revolution every hour. A few days before biting, turns are stopped.

Rules

If you are interested in how to make a homemade incubator, you should know that this device is made according to certain rules.

To make it you will need:

1. Body material, which retains heat well (wood or foam). This is necessary so that the temperature inside the device does not change during the hatching process. You can use an old refrigerator, microwave, or even a TV as a housing.
2. For heating they use ordinary lamps (from 25 to 100 W depending on the size of the chamber), and to control the temperature, a regular thermometer is placed inside the device.
3. So that it constantly comes in fresh air , you need to arrange ventilation. For small devices, it is enough to drill holes in the side walls and bottom, and for large incubators (for example, made from a refrigerator), install several fans (under and above the grille).

Figure 1. Common types of incubators: 1 - with automatic rotation, 2 - mini-incubator, 3 - industrial model

Trays or grates can be purchased or made from metal mesh. It is important that there is space between the trays for free air circulation.

Peculiarities

It is necessary to establish high-quality ventilation in the incubator. Preference should be given to forced ventilation, since constant air movement will ensure that the required temperature and humidity inside are maintained.

Figure 1 shows the main types of incubators that can be used for breeding young poultry on a backyard farm.

How to auto-rotate eggs in an incubator

Models without manual turning are not very convenient, since a person needs to constantly monitor the process of hatching chicks and manually turn all the eggs. It is much easier to immediately make a homemade incubator with auto-rotation (Figure 2).

Instructions

There are several options for arranging auto-rotation. For small devices, you can simply equip a movable grid, which is driven by a small roller. As a result, the eggs move slowly and gradually turn over.

Note: Flaw this method The point is that you will still have to control the revolution, since the eggs can simply move from their place, but not turn over.

Roller rotation is considered more modern, for the arrangement of which special rotating rollers are installed under the grille. To prevent damage to the shell, all rollers are covered with a mosquito net. However, this method also has a significant drawback: to manufacture an auto-rotation system, you will have to take up free space in the camera by installing rollers.

Figure 2. Diagram of automatic egg turning

The best way is considered to be the inversion method, in which the entire tray is tilted 45 degrees at once. The rotation is driven by a special mechanism located outside, and all eggs are guaranteed to warm up.

How to properly lay eggs in an incubator

Poultry incubation should be carried out taking into account certain characteristics and an optimal breeding regime should be maintained. The table in Figure 3 shows the basic requirements for breeding chickens, ducks and geese.

First of all, the correct temperature should be maintained (minimum 37.5 - maximum 37.8 degrees). It is also necessary to regularly check the humidity, determining it by the difference in temperature on the “wet” and “dry” bulbs. If the “wet” bulb shows a temperature of up to 29 degrees, then the humidity is about 60 percent.

Figure 3. Optimal incubation conditions

The breeding regime for young animals must also meet the following requirements:

• Rotation must be done at least 8 times a day;
• When hatching young geese and ducks, the eggs must be periodically cooled using a combined method: the first half of incubation is cooled with air for half an hour, and then irrigated with a weak solution of potassium permanganate;
• During breeding of young animals, the air temperature on the “dry” thermometer should not exceed 34 degrees, and humidity - within 78-90 degrees.

It is important that insufficient warming, regardless of the stage, can slow down the growth and development of embryos, since the chicks absorb and use protein less well. As a result of insufficient warming, most chicks die before hatching, and the surviving chicks hatch later, their umbilical cord does not heal and their abdomen enlarges.

Depending on the stage, underheating can cause some disturbances. In the first stage they include:

• The intestines fill with fluid and blood;
• The kidneys become enlarged and the liver becomes unevenly colored;
• Swelling appears on the neck.

During the second stage, underheating can provoke:

• Swelling of the umbilical ring;
• The intestines fill with bile;
• Enlargement of the heart due to underheating in the last few days of incubation.

Overheating can cause external deformities (eyes, jaws and head), and chicks begin hatching prematurely. If the temperature has been elevated in the last few days, the chicks' internal organs (heart, liver and stomach) may be deformed and the walls of the abdominal cavity may not heal.

Severe and short-term overheating can lead to the fact that the embryo dries to the inside of the shell, the chick will develop swelling and hemorrhages on the skin, and the embryo itself is located with its head in the yolk, which is not normal.

Figure 4. Normal development of the embryo (left) and possible defects if the humidity regime is violated (right)

Long term exposure high temperatures in the second half of incubation leads to early movement of the embryo in air chamber, and under the shell you can see unused protein. In addition, in the brood there are many chicks that pecked the shell, but died without retracting the yolk.

Violations of the humidity regime can also cause serious problems(Figure 4):

• High humidity causes slow development of embryos, embryos do not use protein well and often die in the middle and end of incubation;
• If the humidity was increased during pecking, the chicks' beaks may begin to stick to the shell, a goiter may develop, and excess fluid may be observed in the intestines and stomach. Swelling and hemorrhages may develop in the neck;
• Increased humidity often causes late hatching and the hatching of lethargic young with a swollen belly and too light down;
• If the humidity was low, the peck begins in the middle part, and the shell membranes are dry and too strong;
• When humidity is low, small and dry young hatch.

It is especially important to support optimal humidity(80-82%) during the hatching period. It is worth noting that during all hatching periods one should strive to maintain the temperature and humidity conditions that exist during natural incubation.

Figure 5. Possible defects when examined with an ovoscope

The duration of incubation depends on the type of poultry. For example, for meat breed chickens it is 21 days and 8 hours. If the normal regime was maintained, the beginning of pipping begins on the 19th day and 12 hours after laying, the chicks begin to hatch already on the 20th day, and after another 12 hours most of the young appear. During incubation, it is necessary to periodically check with an ovoscope in order to detect damage in time (Figure 5).

What is needed for this

To properly lay eggs, you need to warm up the device in advance and prepare the eggs.

For breeding young animals of any poultry, only eggs that have been stored for no longer than a week in dark room with good ventilation at room temperature. Before laying, they must be examined with an ovoscope and specimens without damage, cracks or growths on the shell are selected.

Peculiarities

Only eggs can be placed in the incubator correct form and with a characteristic shell color for a certain type of bird.

In addition, you need to choose the right grill to match the size of the eggs. For example, quail requires a smaller grille, and turkey requires a larger one. It is also necessary to familiarize yourself in advance with the temperature and humidity conditions of incubation for each type of bird.

How to make a homemade incubator from a refrigerator

Very often, home incubators are made from old refrigerators, since the body of this household appliances It is quite spacious and allows you to simultaneously breed large batches of young poultry.

See how to make an incubator from a refrigerator with your own hands with detailed instructions, you can in the video.

Instructions

Before starting production, you need to draw up a drawing and plan for connecting all the necessary elements. You also need to wash the body and remove all the shelves and freezer from it.

The procedure for making an incubator from an old refrigerator includes the following steps(Figure 6):

• Several holes are drilled in the ceiling for mounting lamps and arranging ventilation;
• The inside of the walls is lined with thin sheets of polystyrene foam to retain heat inside the device longer;
• Trays or grates are installed on the shelves;
• A temperature sensor is placed inside, and the thermostat is brought outside;
• Several ventilation holes are drilled in the lower part of the side walls, and in order to provide more high level air flow, fans are installed at the top and bottom.

Figure 6. Scheme for making a household incubator from an old refrigerator

It is also advisable to cut a small viewing window in the door to make it more convenient to observe the incubation process without opening the door.

How to make an incubator from foam plastic step by step

Frame homemade device can be made from old box from under a TV or a polystyrene box, strengthening it with a frame made of wooden slats. Four porcelain light bulb sockets need to be fixed into the frame. Heating bulbs are screwed into three sockets, and the fourth bulb is used to heat the water in the bath. The power of all light bulbs should not exceed 25 W. Examples and drawings for manufacturing simple models are shown in Figure 7.

Note: The middle lamp is often turned on only at a certain time: from 17 to 23-00. A bath of water to maintain humidity can also be made from scrap materials. For example, using a herring jar and cutting off part of its lid. Water will evaporate better from such a container, and the lid will prevent local overheating.

A grille is installed inside the homemade incubator. The surface of eggs on the grill should be at least 17 centimeters from the light bulb, and for eggs under the grill - at least 15 centimeters.

To measure the temperature inside the chamber, use a regular thermometer. To make it convenient to use the device, its front wall must be made removable and covered with cardboard or other dense material. Twists are used for fastening. Such a removable wall allows you to place trays inside the incubator, place a bath and change the water in it, as well as carry out all other manipulations.

Figure 7. Schemes for making simple incubators from a refrigerator and a box

You need to make a window in the lid that will serve for ventilation and temperature control. The length of the window is 12 centimeters and the width is 8 centimeters. It is better to cover it with glass, leaving a small gap along the width.

For additional ventilation, three small square holes (1.5 centimeters on each side) should also be made along the long wall near the floor. They must be open at all times for a constant flow of fresh air.

How to make an incubator from a microwave oven

A microwave incubator is made according to the same principle as an appliance from a refrigerator. But it is worth considering that such a device will not fit many eggs, so at home it is used mainly for breeding quails.

When making an incubator from a microwave oven, you need to consider some features(Figure 8):

• The outside of the body must be lined with thin sheets of foam to stabilize the temperature inside;
• Leave at the top ventilation holes, and the door is not insulated or sealed for additional fresh air;
• A tray is installed inside, but since there is not enough space in the chamber for cans of water, a container with liquid for moisturizing is placed directly under the tray.

Figure 8. The procedure for making an incubator from a microwave oven with your own hands

It is also necessary to provide protection against overheating by installing barriers on incandescent lamps.

How to make ventilation in an incubator with your own hands

The homemade incubator also does not have a special cooling system for the eggs, since they cool for several minutes during the turning process. During the entire incubation, the temperature should be maintained at 39 degrees.

For ease of use, legs can be attached to the device. And since this equipment is very compact, and the incubation process is not accompanied by secretion unpleasant odors, young poultry can be raised even in a city apartment (Figure 9). The procedure for making a simple homemade incubator is shown in the video.

How to make a humidifier in an incubator

For normal operation a homemade incubator should be filled with half a glass of water per day into the bath. If you need to increase the humidity level, you can put a rag in the bath, which is washed every two days.

To lay eggs, special slats with gaps between them are placed. The slats should be made rounded on the sides. To make it easier to carry out the coup, you need to leave free space in the tray corresponding to one egg.

Note: Eggs in a homemade incubator are manually turned 180 degrees. It is better if the revolution is carried out up to 6 times a day with an equal time interval (every 2-4 hours).

Figure 9. Drawings for making simple do-it-yourself incubators

To maintain humidity, no devices are provided in the homemade incubator, and this mode is maintained approximately. To evaporate the liquid, it is recommended to install 25 or 15 Watt bulbs. Before hatching begins, the evaporator is not turned on, and if you turn it off too early, the eggs will develop a shell that is too hard, which the chicks will not be able to break.