How to Hatch Chicken Eggs From a Homemade Incubator

When a hen lays eggs, she generally sits on them to keep them warm and humid. If for some reason she can't do so, it's important for someone to "save" the eggs and substitute these duties as they can. To do this successfully, use an incubator and maintain careful turning schedules. If you don't want to buy an incubator, build one of your own to raise the eggs.

Things You'll Need

  • 30-quart Styrofoam ice chest with cover
  • Screwdriver
  • Pocket knife
  • Lamp building kit
  • Light bulb (120 volt, 25 watt)
  • Thermostat switch
  • Newspaper
  • Shavings/Straw
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Instructions

    • 1

      Save the lid of your styrofoam chest for use during the incubation of the eggs. Poke holes in the sides of the ice chest. There should be one hole in one short side, three inches from the top edge, plus four additional holes evenly spaced along the bottom, three inches from the base. These four holes can be placed together on one side or divided between sides. These holes are for the heating and light device, and for air circulation.

    • 2

      Gather what you need from the lamp-building kit: the bulb, extension tube and internal wiring. Put the extension through the hole at the top of the ice chest, then screw the bulb into the end of the extension tube, so the bulb is inside the chest. This will provide warmth for the chicken eggs.

    • 3

      Attach the thermostat to your ice chest; drive a nail into the inside of the chest and hang the thermostat there. Put it near the bottom, in the side, so it monitors the temperature of the air in which the eggs are being kept.

    • 4

      Wire up your thermostat and heating system. Attach one of the lamp wires to the electric plug, and the other wire to the thermostat, per the directions that come with the kit. Attach the wire from the thermostat to the electric plug to close the circuit.

    • 5

      Set the thermostat to 90 to 100 degrees for egg incubation. The thermostat should switch the lamp on and off to maintain the correct temperature.

    • 6

      Put a layer of newspaper on the bottom of your ice chest, and cover this with straw or shavings to support the eggs.

    • 7

      Place the eggs in your incubator. Spray them with warm water and turn them at least three times a day. Chicken eggs take 21 days to hatch.

    • 8

      Once the baby chicks hatch, begin feeding them chicken starter mash, and provide a bowl or container with water. The chicks will begin eating 48 hours after hatching. Keep the lid off the ice chest to allow air and light into the incubator. Maintain the temperature for the first week, then reduce it by five degrees a week thereafter until you reach room temperature.