Homemade Bird Incubator

Whether you or your child are curious about having a bird egg incubator, you can make your own at home with a few simple materials. Homemade bird egg incubators have long been a favorite science fair project, and there are many variations available. A quick trip the hardware store or home improvement center in your neighborhood should allow you to procure all the items you will need to make your own incubator.

Things You'll Need

  • Plastic foam cooler
  • Lightbulb socket with cord
  • Hobby or razor knife
  • Carpenter's glue
  • Lightbulb, 15 watt
  • Picture frame
  • Screwdriver
  • Small desk fan
  • Small bowl
  • Water
  • Straw or pine straw
  • Thermometer
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Instructions

  1. Making the Incubator

    • 1

      Purchase a small plastic foam cooler. Place the light bulb socket on the cooler lid and trace the outline. Cut out the circle you traced. Place the socket into the hole and glue it in place with carpenter's glue. Set the lid aside to dry.

    • 2

      Remove the glass from an 8-inch by 11-inch picture frame. Trace the outline of the glass on the side of the cooler. Cut, leaving about 1/4 inch extra on the inside of the cutout. Apply a line of carpenter's glue around the edge of the glass. Press the glass against the cooler so that the glue holds it firmly in place. Allow at least 30 minutes to dry. (This is your viewing window.)

    • 3

      Set the cooler upright. Place a small desk fan in a corner of the cooler. Turn the fan so it points upward. Cut a small hole in the top of the lid where the fan cord will be. Place a small bowl of water in the corner next to the fan. The fan and the water will help regulate the heat and humidity in the cooler.

    • 4

      Layer a small amount of straw or pine straw in the bottom of the cooler to act as nesting material for the eggs. Place a small thermometer in the bottom of the cooler in the area where the eggs will be. Make sure you can see the thermometer reading through the viewing glass.

    • 5

      Screw a 15-watt lightbulb into the socket. Turn the fan on low. Place the lid on the cooler and turn on the light. Punch several holes in the lid with a screwdriver to help ventilate. Allow the lightbulb and fan to run for several hours. Check the temperature after a few hours to see if you need more or less heat. If you need more heat, replace the 15-watt bulb with a 25-watt bulb, or place some tape over some of the ventilation holes. If you need less heat, punch more holes in the lid. The cooler is now an operational egg incubator.