The device of homemade incubators with automatic egg turning and how to do it yourself
Until a few decades ago, almost no one used automatic incubators. Such devices were considered a luxury since many poultry farmers could not afford them. However, today they have become more affordable, and therefore everyone can start making a homemade incubator with automatic egg turning.
What is it needed for?
Many aspiring poultry farmers are unsure if they need an automated incubator and don't know what it is for. This device is indispensable as it turns chicken eggs on its own. This greatly simplifies the process of incubating the testicles, because a person will not need to turn them over by hand.
It is imperative to turn the testicles over, as this contributes to the correct development of the young fetus. If this is not done, the chick will grow up sick and soon die. Professional biologists say that they should be turned over at least three times a day.
Basic requirements for homemade incubators
A homemade hatchery design must meet the requirements, thanks to which it will be possible to hatch new chicks. Young chickens hatch within twenty-five days. At this time, the humidity in the structure should be 50-64 percent. When the chicks begin to hatch, the humidity level rises to 75 percent. In the past few days, it has been lowered to its original level.
Also, the incubator must be kept at a temperature. The temperature inside should not fall below 37 degrees and rise above 39 degrees.
Advantages and disadvantages of homemade devices
There are advantages and disadvantages to automated constructs that you should be familiar with before using them.
Among the advantages are:
- compactness;
- attractive appearance;
- ease of use;
- automated work.
However, such devices have several disadvantages, which include the following:
- Automated incubators must be filled completely. This creates difficulties for people who are going to raise few chickens.
- Overheat periodically. Due to overheating, some of the embryos may die.
How to make an automatic egg incubator at home?
Before making an incubator with your own hands, you need to familiarize yourself with the features of creating a structure.
Size calculation
It is recommended to understand in advance the dimensions of the future incubation structure. To determine the size, you will have to decide in advance how many chickens will be raised. The number of testicles that will be laid in the incubator depends on this. In addition, the dimensions of the device depend on the material of manufacture and the characteristics of the heating system used.
Most often, poultry farmers make structures in which 100 eggs are placed. Moreover, each cell for an egg must have a diameter of at least 40 millimeters and a depth of about 75 millimeters.
Necessary tools and materials for work
Before making an incubator, it is necessary to prepare in advance materials and tools for work. To assemble the structure you will need:
- Drill. It is an indispensable device with which holes are created for installing fasteners.
- Assembly adhesive. Some structural parts cannot be fastened with screws or nails. Instead, they are connected using a special assembly glue.
- Knife. Used for cutting fabric or rubber materials.
- Light bulb. It is used when organizing heating inside the incubator.
- Refrigerator. The body of the structure is created from it.
- Hygrometer. It is used to monitor the moisture level in the device.
- Thermoregulator. An indispensable part of automated incubation systems that monitors temperature readings.
Incubator body
The effectiveness of the further operation of the created device directly depends on the preparation of the case. Therefore, it is necessary to familiarize yourself in advance with how to create it correctly.
An incubator case can be made from an old waste refrigerator. For this, the freezer and other equipment, which is built inside, are removed from it. Then small holes are made in the walls of the refrigerator through which air is circulated. After organizing the ventilation system, you can install egg trays inside.
Tray system
The system of trays that are installed inside the structure is made in the form of a grid. A small lattice with cells for eggs is installed inside it. These trays differ in the number of cells. The most commonly used systems are those that hold one hundred testicles. However, for more compact designs, less capacious systems are used, in which there are only 60-70 cells.
For automated systems, models of trays are used, equipped with special sides to support eggs. They are made of durable cardboard or foam rubber.
A heating element
People who decide to make an incubator with their own hands will have to equip a heating system. 40 W incandescent lamps are used as heating elements. They are located at the top and bottom of the refrigerator. In this case, they must be placed in such a way that the bulbs below do not interfere. Therefore, before organizing the heating system, you need to carefully think over everything and make a layout diagram.
You also need to install one of three types of thermostat:
- barometric;
- bimetallic;
- electrical contactor.
Fan
When organizing a ventilation system inside the structure, you will have to install a small fan. It is needed to improve air circulation through the drilled holes. For the refrigerator, choose a fan that meets the following requirements:
- the ability to work from a 220V network;
- the diameter of the structure is not less than thirty centimeters;
- productivity about one hundred m3/ h.
Experienced poultry farmers recommend installing special fabric filters on the fan.They prevent pieces of dirt, dust and other debris from entering the blades.
Automatic swing mechanism
To turn the laid out eggs, a special turning mechanism is used, which must be triggered at least twice a day. There are two main types of systems that are used in incubators:
- Framework. This mechanism pushes the testicles together using a small frame.
- Inclined. This is the most common system used. In this case, all eggs are turned over due to the inclination of the filled trays.
Placing eggs in the device
After setting up a hatchery for raising chickens, you can start laying eggs. They must be laid very carefully, as this affects the growth and development of the embryos. Testicles no more than ten days old are used for laying in the incubator.
Before placing them inside the structure, their surface is thoroughly cleaned of dirt. Also, they must be inspected in advance and checked for cracks or other mechanical damage.
Temperature regime for different birds
When growing birds, observe the temperature regime:
- Chickens. The optimal temperature indicators are considered to be a temperature of 37 degrees Celsius. The growing period lasts 20-25 days.
- Ducks. The incubation period for domestic duck eggs is 28-30 days. In this case, the temperature inside the incubator should be about 35-36 degrees.
- Geese. Temperature readings should not be below 36 degrees Celsius.
Conclusion
Many poultry farmers decide to make their own egg incubators. Before that, it is recommended to understand the advantages and disadvantages of such structures, as well as the peculiarities of their creation.
