How to Build a Domestic Egg Incubator

If you have ever had fresh eggs from a farm, you know why many people are starting to raise their own chickens. The eggs that you buy in the grocery store are older, and don't taste as good as eggs from a farm. Most farm eggs come from chickens that are well fed and are allowed to move around instead of sitting in a tiny cage their whole life. If you are ready to raise chickens, it's easy to get started. Make a domestic egg incubator to begin hatching your eggs.

Things You'll Need

  • 24 inch by 24 by 1 inch wood
  • 3-24 inch by 18 inch by 1 inch wood
  • 2-26 inch by 18 inch by 1 inch wood
  • 24 inch by 24 inch by 1/2 inch Styrofoam sheeting
  • 2-24 inch by 18 inch by 1/2 inch Styrofoam sheeting
  • 2-23 inch by 18 inch by 1 inch Styrofoam sheeting
  • Aluminum foil
  • Metal foil tape
  • Hammer
  • Nails
  • Paint
  • Paintbrush
  • Sand paper
  • Clip on light
  • 75 watt bulb
  • Paper egg carton
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place the 24-inch-by-24-inch-by-1-inch piece of wood on a flat surface, so the side is facing upward, to create the bottom of the incubator.

    • 2

      Label each of the 1-inch sides with a letter: “A," "B," "C," and "D."

    • 3

      Place one of the 24-by-18-by-1-inch wood pieces against side “A.” The 24-inch side should line up against the bottom of the incubator. The 1-inch-by-24-inch side will be what you see on top if you are looking down on the incubator. Nail the bottom into place. Use at least 4 nails, so the incubator will be sturdy enough to last a long time.

    • 4

      Repeat step 3 on side “C”.

    • 5

      Place one of the 26 inch by 18 inch by 1 inch wood pieces on side “B”. The 18 inch side will go up from the bottom. Make sure that you line up the edges of the 26 inch side, so it touches the corner of side “A” and “C”. Nail the piece into place. Put at least 4 nails in the bottom, and 4 nails in each side.

    • 6

      Repeat step 5 on side “D”.

    • 7

      Push the 24 inch by 24 inch Styrofoam sheeting into the bottom of the incubator. It should be a tight fit. Push the 1 of the 24 inch by 18 inch by 1/2 inch Styrofoam sheeting flat against the wall on side “A”, and repeat the procedure with the other 24 inch by 18 inch by 1/2 inch piece of styrofoam on side “C”. Push the 1 of the 23 inch by 18 inch by 1 inch Styrofoam sheeting flat against the walls on side “B”, and repeat the procedure with the other 24 inch by 18 inch by 1/2 inch piece of Styrofoam on side “D”. Nail the Styrofoam into place. Use 1 nail in each corner of the pieces of Styrofoam.

    • 8

      Line the walls with aluminum foil. Tape the foil in place with metal tape.

    • 9

      Sand the incubator on the outside. Make sure you remove all of the rough edges.

    • 10

      Paint the incubator. It will protect the wood, and make it last longer.

    • 11

      Place a clip light on top of the incubator box. Put a 75 watt bulb in the clip light.

    • 12

      Place an egg carton in the box.

    • 13

      Monitor the heat. It should stay between 95 to 100 degrees in the incubator. If it gets too cold, get a higher wattage light bulb. If it gets too hot, get a lower wattage light bulb. Once the heat is right, you are ready to put your eggs in the egg carton inside the incubator.