Incubator Methods

I am looking to building an incubator.

Need info about what you used (fridge, etc), supplies, and how it was wired/installed.

Any info helps :)

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hey,

there are a lot of vids about that on youtube, some are pretty good :D

I build one with a coleman cooler. I'm waiting for parts for my wine cooler, something I did this this time is buy a usb powered fan and usb extension cord instead of splicing a computer fan to fit an ac/dc plug.

I was lucky enough to get an old pepsi retail fridge for free. Put a false wall in back with heat cable in it. Fan blowing air in the top and holes on the bottom of the wall. Fan runs all the time and the cable connected to a thermostat and that's it. Works great.

It's pretty simple to build one. Craigslist wine cooler, 11" heat tape, thermostat, cpu fan. Holds 8 boxes and cost about $200, half of that being the thermostat. I'll eventually add led lights when I'm not waiting for someone to lay any second.
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...229_154415.jpg

Cooler Incubator

120 Quart cooler (holds 8 clutches)

Heat Tape

RELIABLE thermostat (SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT piece of equipment)

Egg tubs

Light diffuser

Thermometer

http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/a.../Incubator.jpg

Fridge Incubator

Fridge (holds 27/30 clutches)

Heat Tape

RELIABLE thermostat (SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT piece of equipment)

Computer fan

Egg tubs

Light diffuser

Thermometers

http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/a.../Incubator.png

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sensismell

I was lucky enough to get an old pepsi retail fridge for free. Put a false wall in back with heat cable in it. Fan blowing air in the top and holes on the bottom of the wall. Fan runs all the time and the cable connected to a thermostat and that's it. Works great.

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http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...75af58de34.jpg so did I starting to convert it...

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Deborah

Cooler Incubator

120 Quart cooler (holds 8 clutches)

Heat Tape

RELIABLE thermostat (SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT piece of equipment)

Egg tubs

Light diffuser

Thermometer

http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/a.../Incubator.jpg

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Hey I notice you didn't mention a computer fan for this one, doesn't it need it because it is smaller?

and about the heat tape, do you place it on the bottom with this type of incubator or on the sides/black?

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Originally Posted by ARBallMorphs

Hey I notice you didn't mention a computer fan for this one, doesn't it need it because it is smaller?

and about the heat tape, do you place it on the bottom with this type of incubator or on the sides/black?

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Because of the size the fan wan unnecessary I had one setup run the incubator with it and without it without seeing any difference.

The heat tape is place on the sides.

Where do you guys keep finding retail fridges for free?? You must share this information with me.


(Seriously, though, I have a soul I could trade for the info.)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SmoothScales

Where do you guys keep finding retail fridges for free?? You must share this information with me.


(Seriously, though, I have a soul I could trade for the info.)

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In my case it was a local guy that fixes appliances on the side and also remove appliances that no longer work for metal scrap. I called him up he had a fridge that he already stripped down and let me have for free since he knows my stepson.

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You can also just post an ISO on your local Craigslist and someone will usually give a broken one up for free and just be thankful to get it out of their garage.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Deborah

Because of the size the fan wan unnecessary I had one setup run the incubator with it and without it without seeing any difference.

The heat tape is place on the sides.

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thanks Deborah!

that's like the second time in 2 days you have been very helpful!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Deborah

Cooler Incubator

120 Quart cooler (holds 8 clutches)

Heat Tape

RELIABLE thermostat (SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT piece of equipment)

Egg tubs

Light diffuser

Thermometer

http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/a.../Incubator.jpg

Fridge Incubator

Fridge (holds 27/30 clutches)

Heat Tape

RELIABLE thermostat (SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT piece of equipment)

Computer fan

Egg tubs

Light diffuser

Thermometers

http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/a.../Incubator.png

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The fridge looks like a nice clean set up!

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Your local menards usually sells used ones for 10 to 50 that they took out of people's houses when they buy new ones

At the dump here we have what it called the swap and trade. Its kind of a horrible name for it since you don't actually swap or trade anything... just drop stuff off that you don't want that is in somewhat good condition and other people can grab it if they want. This is where I got my replacement front door which was in fantastic condition and FREE! Maybe your garbage dump will have something like this for you to get a fridge for free? Recycle, reuse.

I might get flamed for this but it worked for me. I used a cooler with water and a fish tank heater (thermostat built in) in the bottom. I used an elevated floor with holes in it and placed eggs in Tupper ware containers full of vermiculite. This gave me plenty of humidity, air flow was not an issue and although the fish tank heater was not accurate to the temp the eggs needed to be at, it was consistent. Once I figure out what setting to leave it at to give me the ambient air temperature I wanted, I just left it there. I successfully hatched multiple clutches of house snake eggs and a couple clutches of chondropython eggs with an 80-85% success rate if I recall. It was about 18 years ago.

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Originally Posted by enginee837

I might get flamed for this but it worked for me. I used a cooler with water and a fish tank heater (thermostat built in) in the bottom. I used an elevated floor with holes in it and placed eggs in Tupper ware containers full of vermiculite. This gave me plenty of humidity, air flow was not an issue and although the fish tank heater was not accurate to the temp the eggs needed to be at, it was consistent. Once I figure out what setting to leave it at to give me the ambient air temperature I wanted, I just left it there. I successfully hatched multiple clutches of house snake eggs and a couple clutches of chondropython eggs with an 80-85% success rate if I recall. It was about 18 years ago.

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Some people still do it, there are many ways to incubate, the only issue with that method is the limit in amount of clutches you can hold at once ;)....otherwise it's perfectly fine.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by enginee837

I might get flamed for this but it worked for me. I used a cooler with water and a fish tank heater (thermostat built in) in the bottom. I used an elevated floor with holes in it and placed eggs in Tupper ware containers full of vermiculite. This gave me plenty of humidity, air flow was not an issue and although the fish tank heater was not accurate to the temp the eggs needed to be at, it was consistent. Once I figure out what setting to leave it at to give me the ambient air temperature I wanted, I just left it there. I successfully hatched multiple clutches of house snake eggs and a couple clutches of chondropython eggs with an 80-85% success rate if I recall. It was about 18 years ago.

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This was my first incubator at I think the age of 12. Hatched several leopard gecko eggs with it. Unfortunately, I forgot to turn it off when I finished and the heater burned out a hole in the bottom of the Styrofoam cooler when enough water evaporated to uncover it.

Now I use a converted fridge for dragon eggs and a cabinet hatchery model for bps.

Ebay has some interesting incubators coming out from sellers in China. They cost $100 and are in between the quality of a hovabator and nice professional cabinet model. All digital. I haven't used my poultry one yet (has egg turners) but they have gotten consistently good reviews. I haven't looked but I'm sure there's a good model for reptiles that could replace the $200 garbage we see in pet stores.

I made this one a while back. Holds 12 clutches and perfect temps.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNZAa_bYOiY

My first incubator was made with taped Styrofoam, two layers. Two small holes to get wires inside, flex and a thermostat outside. I elevated the egg box so its not over the flex. I hatched 3 clutches that year, 100% rate.

For the next year I build one with melamine , and I insulated the inside with Styrofoam, water bottles over the flex, thermostat, and it holdsa lot of clutches.

I think its important to understand how the incubator works. Its also important where its going to be, because of the temps in that room. Making it as air tight as possible helps keeping the temp stable.

Keeping this in mind build it out of wood, styrofoam, osb, ply, its a box. Then insulate it, and you are good to go.

I' ll post some pics if I find them!

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http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...7787b3322b.jpg

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...036a7a2f62.jpg

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Originally Posted by rafacacho

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That's one heck of a DIY!

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Originally Posted by SmoothScales

That's one heck of a DIY!

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Thanks! I'm a DIY guy!
It 's easier than it looks actually!




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