How to Build Vertical Incubators

Incubators protect and nurture fertilized eggs until they are ready to hatch, taking the place of the mother. The machines keep the eggs at a constant temperature and protect them from damage. Incubators range in size and shape from small cardboard boxes that hatch four to six eggs to large commercial machines that hatch hundreds of chicks at a time. A vertical incubator stacks several rows or shelves of hatching eggs in a collumn. A fan circulates the warm, moist air throughout the vertical incubater, keeping every egg at an optimal temperature.

Things You'll Need

  • Old Refrigerator with freezer on top
  • Wire cutter
  • Safety glasses
  • Breathing mask
  • Tape measure
  • Round desk fan
  • Marking pen
  • 1/4-inch Plywood
  • Table saw
  • 1-by-1-inch wood strips
  • Drill
  • 40 wood screws
  • Silicon caulk
  • Phillips head drill bit
  • Handheld jigsaw
  • 2 porcelain light bulb fixtures
  • 2 100 watt light bulbs
  • Thermostat
  • Hygrometer
  • Egg crates
  • Pie plate
  • Sponge
  • 1 foot hook and loop adhesive strip
  • Power strip
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Instructions

    • 1

      Remove the racks out of the inside of the refrigerator. Unplug and cut the electrical cord with the wire cutters.

    • 2

      Measure the diameter of the desk fan. Subtract 1-inch from the measurement. Draw a circle in the center of the refrigerator ceiling. Measure 1-inch from the back wall of the refrigerator section and draw a line

    • 3

      Put on the breathing mask and safety goggles. With the jig saw, cut the circle from the center of the refrigerator ceiling all the way through to the freezer section. Cut a 1-inch slot along the back of the refrigerator ceiling through to the freezer section.

    • 4

      Measure the length and width of the back wall of the refrigerator. Cut the plywood to the width of the back wall and 1-inch shorter than the total height. Cut 2 pieces of the 1-inch wood strips to the height of the refrigerator height.

    • 5

      Secure a 1-inch strip of wood to each side of the back wall of the refrigerator with the wood screws. Place the plywood on top of the wood strips so that the plywood lies against the ceiling of the refrigerator just in front of the 1-inch slot. Leave a space between the bottom of the wood and the bottom of the refrigerator. Secure with the wood screws. Caulk around the wood.

    • 6

      Place the desk fan in the freezer. Center it over the hole so that it blows into the refrigerator section. Run the cord to the fan out the door of the freezer so that the plug lies on top of the refrigerator.

    • 7

      Screw the light bulbs into the fixtures. Place both light fixtures in the freezer. Run the cords through the freezer door and place them next to the fan̵7;s cord.

    • 8

      Caulk the thermostat to the plywood directly below the fan.

    • 9

      Replace the refrigerator racks. Place the hygrometer on the top shelf in the refrigerator. Place the egg crates on the racks.

    • 10

      Place the pie plate on the floor of the refrigerator. Soak the sponge and place it in the pie plate.

    • 11

      Place a power strip on top of the refrigerator. Plug in the light bulbs and fan. Plug the light strip into the wall outlet.

    • 12

      Stick the hook side of the hook and loop closure around the handle of the freezer. Stick the loop side to the side of the refrigerator. Close the freezer door as much as possible with the cords in the way, then seal the hook and loop closure to keep the door almost closed.

    • 13

      Turn on the power strip. The light bulbs heat the air. The fan forces the warm air into the refrigerator. The warm air circulates back up to the freezer behind the false plywood back. Run the incubator until the thermostat reads between 97 and 102 degrees. For best egg development, the humidity should be between 83 and 87 percent humidity. Add water to the sponge, or let it dry depending on your ambient humidity.