At most any farm store; you can buy a Hovabator egg turner for about $50.00; if you have basic knowledge of carpentry, & electrical (or know someone who does; you can build a decent incubator with laminated particle board (ie: old library shelf, or cabinets that are no longer useable for that purpose); when I was a "green goose" in chickens; after spending $100.00 my first year to get an incubator & egg turner; I bought a box of 3 egg turners (or traded for them?) at a Bird swap; built a incubator large enough for all 4 turners I had.
I started buying chicks from Cackle Hatchery; because I lived close (for locals; they sometimes will sell cheap "surprise" boxes with over-hatches) I built a nice, secure closed in brooder box to keep my babies safe & warm. Using a light "dimmer" switch to adjust my warmth; I got the idea that I could adapt it for hatching purposes. So by the next spring I had a 4 turner incubator setup in my "Nursery" shed; worked excellent; I had room enough to keep bowls of water for humidity control in the box; I was also able to keep a rotating hatch going for once a week per month to ensure a fresh supply of chicks... I wouldn't hatch on that scale (or at least I don't think) any more; but a 1-2 turner incubator would be alot of fun to operate again; may build a few incubators & brooders; maybe combo boxes; this spring to finance a setup for myself; plus having one of my own; would give me a sales prop...
If I make one; I'll post some pictures to the group..
--- In CHICKENS-101@yahoogroups.com, "zilla963" <zilla963@...> wrote:
>
> Thanks, its a small unit probably only hold like 10 eggs... ( so it wont take much time, but still needs to be done often I know)
>
> The unit I am looking at is on Craigslist, and the seller doesnt have a turner, not sure if I can go find a turner for it...
>
> A friend from work says he has an incubator in the attic he is going to give me but keeps forgetting to get it down... GRRR!!!! meanwhile, spring is creeping up and I want to start getting prepared for it..
> Did I ever mention that patience is NOT my virtue.. ?? lol
>
>
> --- In CHICKENS-101@yahoogroups.com, "wildliferescue29" <wildliferescue29@> wrote:
> >
> > You can hand turn but it must be done religiously and it's a chore. For a few bucks, I'd suggest getting the automatic turner. Except for checking on temps and adding water occasionally, you can set your eggs and pretty much walk away.
> >
> > Of course when hatch time is near, you'll be hovering over the bator like a hawk all day long looking for progress ;)
> >
> >
> > Sue
> > WLR
>
CHICKENS-101@yahoogroups.com
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