Incubator

[jknudson]

Figured since the males and females are hard at work making eggs I should probably make myself a nice new incubator to cook them in.

First...a premade cabinet from Target...to the tune of $19.99
The dimensions are 24"x12"x30". I found some great tubs to use in it that are roughly 10x10, this incubator should be able to fit four clutches total with these tubs.

I didn't really take pictures of the assembly process, but the cabinet came with a faux back wall made of cardboard...not good at all for keeping heat in....so I put that in place...and placed a sheet of one inch foam on top of that so the pretty pink foam wasn't visible.

To make the box lighted for easy viewing I installed an 18in under cabinet flourescent light fixture for $6.99. I have to order and install a computer fan and 30" of 4in flexwatt.

I also have to pick up some weather stripping to seal the doors a bit better...and maybe install a viewing window so I don't have to open the doors of the incubator all the time to see how everything is doing. The wood shelf will be replaced with an eggcrate shelf for maximum airflow.

Here she is as she stands...running total of about $35 after the addition of an indoor/outdoor thermometer. I'll update again after the fan/flex/herpstat additions and do a dry run!








Enjoy! Hope I can help inspire a few others to build a inexpensive and hopefully efficient incubator for this egg laying season.

Jason

[Jerhart]

Great Idea! I was going to build the ol' cooler incubator, but now you have we thinkin....how are you planing on laying out the heat tape?
-Josh

[jknudson]

Great Idea! I was going to build the ol' cooler incubator, but now you have we thinkin....how are you planing on laying out the heat tape?
-Josh

Simply run along the back...along the lines of a back heated rack. First I'll put down a layer of foil tape and then put the flexwatt atop that.

[Rapture]

Hey Jason, do you think the doors and walls of it are going to insulate the heat well, or will you have to add more insulation to them? Aside from weather stripping the gaps, that is.

[jknudson]

Hey Jason, do you think the doors and walls of it are going to insulate the heat well, or will you have to add more insulation to them? Aside from weather stripping the gaps, that is.

Should be fine...the room is kept heated to 82-84 year round.

[PythonWallace]

That's a great idea for an incubator. I'd definately line all the interior walls with 1/2" foam, then take out the shelf and add 2-3 metal wire shelves to help the air and heat circulate and alow for more clutches in the future.

[Rapture]

That'll help, won't it.

[jknudson]

That's a great idea for an incubator. I'd definately line all the interior walls with 1/2" foam, then take out the shelf and add 2-3 metal wire shelves to help the air and heat circulate and alow for more clutches in the future.

The only real "insulation" I'm going to do to the interior is silicon the corners. And possibly add reflectix if needed.

This incubator will probably never hold any more than 4 clutches...I want to use the largest egg boxes possible. I'm going to use eggcrate that I have for the "shelving", I prefer it to the metal shelves, and its cheaper... I'm cheap.

If during my dry run the temperatures vary too much I may install foam. But once the doors get sealed up I'm sure it'll be good to go.

Thanks for the suggestions.

[jonf]

if thats melamine, then you should be all set with the insulation. You shouldn't need anymore. Just the heat and the weatherstripping around the doors and you should be good to go. A great inexpensive incubator that looks nice!

This was made from a kitchen cabinet!

[jdmls88]

if thats melamine, then you should be all set with the insulation. You shouldn't need anymore. Just the heat and the weatherstripping around the doors and you should be good to go. A great inexpensive incubator that looks nice!

This was made from a kitchen cabinet!

thats awesome! have anymore pics/ write ups on how it was made??