How to Build a Cabinet Chicken Incubator

Hatching chicks can be difficult if you don't create the proper conditions for the eggs to incubate. One option is to make a cabinet into a chicken incubator.

Things You'll Need

  • Cabinet
  • 4 15-watt light bulbs
  • 2-by-4 (same width as the cabinet)
  • Chicken wire (enough to cover the 2-by-4
  • Heavy-duty aluminum foil
  • Glue or staples (optional)
  • Thermometer
  • 9- to 12-inch pie tin
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Instructions

    • 1

      Line the inside of the cabinet with foil. Foil will help achieve a consistent temperature in your cabinet incubator. Affix the foil by simply forming it as you go or, for a better hold, glue or staple the foil to the insides.

    • 2

      Place your 2-by-4 inside the cabinet and run it along the back wall. The 2-by-4 will be used as the roost for the eggs. It keeps them up off the base of the cabinet where the foil temperature may run hotter and also helps to keep them from rolling out when you open the door.

    • 3

      Place some chicken wire over the 2-by-4 so there's a ridge on the front of the 2-by-4. This will help cradle the eggs, reducing the risk of them rolling around inside the cabinet.

    • 4

      Hook up your lights. Use four 15-watt bulbs to achieve a temperature between 98 and 102 degrees (optimum for successful incubation). Drill holes in the back wall of the cabinet and the top to input the bulbs.

    • 5

      Affix an accurate thermometer in an area that doesn't receive direct light from the bulb. This will ensure an accurate reading of the internal temperature. Check the temperature often in the first 24 hours to make sure that it remains consistent over time.

    • 6

      Drill four to six 1/2-inch holes in the cabinet for ventilation. Then fill the pie tin with water and set it on the base of the cabinet. The pie tin will work to keep the environment humid.