How to Make a Simple Breeder Incubator

You need to have an incubator for hatching reptiles and chickens, since they require warmth to grow. If you want to breed chickens or quail, for example, you need some sort of heat box, since they require very warm temperatures. Incubators can be expensive to buy, but they are relatively easy to make using inexpensive materials. Before you plunk down a lot of money for an incubator, try your hand at building a homemade one.

Things You'll Need

  • Styrofoam cooler
  • Utility knife
  • Light socket
  • 8- by 11-inch piece of glass
  • Duct tape
  • Bowl of water
  • Thermometer
  • 25 watt lightbulb
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Instructions

    • 1

      Purchase a large Styrofoam cooler, which costs less than $10. Cut a hole in the top of the cooler's lid with a utility knife, and feed a light socket with a cord through it, upside down.

    • 2

      Get a piece of glass that is 8 inches by 11 inches. You can use the glass from a picture frame.

    • 3

      Cut a hole slightly smaller than the piece of glass into the side of the cooler.

    • 4

      Tape the piece of glass onto the cut out area using duct tape. The glass should be taped on the outside of the cooler, not the inside. This creates a window for viewing inside your incubator.

    • 5

      Cut some holes in the sides of the cooler for air flow.

    • 6

      Fill a container of water, and place it inside the cooler to add moisture to the air.

    • 7

      Tape down a thermometer to the bottom of the cooler, where the eggs will lay.

    • 8

      Screw in a 25 watt lightbulb into your socket on the cooler lid. Place the lid on top of the cooler, and plug in the lightbulb.

    • 9

      Allow the light to stay on for an hour, and check the temperature to make sure it doesn't go over the temperature specified for the eggs. You can use a stronger lightbulb if you need to raise the temperature or poke more holes in the cooler if you need to lower the temperature.