Homemade Heating Elements for Incubators

Raising chickens for your own use or hatching eggs for your children's education is a fascinating endeavor, but it requires a steady heat source that is safe and reliable. If you are hatching eggs and find yourself without a heating element for your incubator, there are several ways you can make a quick homemade heating element or construct an entirely new incubator. For a few dollars and some household goods, you can continue hatching your chickens --- no need to wait on an entirely new heating element to arrive from the supplier.

Things You'll Need

  • 25-watt light bulb
  • Lamp kit
  • Power strip
  • Sock
  • Rice
  • Thermometer
  • Heating pad
  • Disposable hand warmers
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Instructions

    • 1

      Replace the heating element in your incubator with a 25-watt bulb. Assemble the lamp kit and place the light bulb into the incubator about 6 to 8 inches away from the chicken eggs. Plug the light into a surge protector to make it easier to turn on and off and for safety.

    • 2

      Make a homemade warmer by heating a sock filled with rice in the microwave. Simply pour 2 cups of rice into a sock and tie a knot. Test the rice with a thermometer first, making sure the temperatures does not exceed 103 degrees. If it does, place a towel between the egg and the sock until it has cooled sufficiently.

    • 3

      Use a heating pad on the lowest setting. Place a towel over the heating pad and place the eggs on top. Use a thermometer to take with the temperature of the eggs and rotate 1/4 turn four times a day to keep the stress on the growing chickens even.

    • 4

      Use a disposable hand warmer if you are in a pinch to keep your eggs warm and find yourself without any other way. Simply wrap the hand warmer in a sock and place it underneath the egg. Carefully monitor the heat with a thermometer, making sure it does not exceed 103 degrees or drop below 97 degrees. Since hand warmers lose their heat over the course of a few hours, look for a more reliable source of heat.