Homemade Turkey Incubator

Incubators provide a steady 99 to 100-degree Fahrenheit temperature for 28 days to hatch fertile turkey eggs. There are many styles of homemade incubators but all consist of a container, heating element, method of providing humidity and an egg platform.

  1. Container

    • Boxes made of wood, several layers of insulated cardboard, Styrofoam, or plastic (such as a portable ice chest) commonly serve as the container for the heating element and eggs. The box must have an easy-to-remove lid and be large enough to hold the desired number of turkey eggs.

    Source of Heat

    • Porcelain sockets and light bulbs or a commercial incubator heating element provide warmth for the eggs. The heating element is attached to an electric thermostat switch to maintain the required temperature. Carefully follow the manufacturer's instructions to prevent creating a fire hazard.

    Humidity

    • The required relative humidity inside the operating incubator is 65 to 70 percent. A cake or pie pan filled with water and placed on the incubator floor usually supplies the required humidity. A hygrometer is used to measure the relative humidity.

    Egg Platform

    • A piece of 1/2-inch metal mesh serves as an egg platform. Turn under the edges to create legs to hold the mesh above the water container.