How to Make an Incubator to Hatch Chicks

When making an incubator you must have the right temperature to hatch the chicks. The purpose of an incubator is to keep the eggs warm and safe as the mother would, until the eggs hatch and the baby chicks are ready to come out into the world. Making an incubator is a fun project for children who are old enough to build and maintain the incubator on their own or with the help of an adult. The children can watch chicks hatch and help to take care of them as they grow.

Things You'll Need

  • 20 gallon aquarium
  • Sturdy clear plastic sheeting
  • Strong tape
  • Small lamp rated for use with up to a 75-watt bulb
  • Thermometer accurate to at least half degrees Fahrenheit, preferably in a clear plastic case
  • Standard light bulbs ranging from 40 to 75 watts
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Instructions

    • 1

      Turn the aquarium on its side so that the open part faces forward.

    • 2

      Cut a piece of plastic that is 2 inches longer than the height of the opening and a little wider than the opening. This will become the door to the incubator.

    • 3

      Tape the plastic door to the top of the aquarium so that it hangs over the opening and covers it completely.

    • 4

      Put the lamp in the aquarium so that the cord comes out the front of the incubator under the plastic door.

    • 5

      Put the thermometer in the aquarium where you can read it from the outside without having to open the plastic. Place it at least 6 inches from the direct heat of the light bulb.

    • 6

      Figure out what bulb you need to use in your lamp by trying out different wattages until you get temperatures consistently between 99.5 and 103 degrees Fahrenheit.

    • 7

      Place a soft, thick, folded blanket in the bottom of the aquarium. When you add fertile eggs to the incubator, press them lightly into the blanket with the large end of the egg slightly higher than the small end. The blanket will keep the eggs in the correct position.