Selection of automatic incubators for chicken eggs
Raising chicks requires high temperature and sufficient humidity. The egg turning mechanism should also be taken into account when choosing an incubator. When incubating, the hen regularly turns all the eggs over so that they warm up evenly. According to the principle of rotation, there are automatic, mechanical and manual incubators for chicken eggs.
Manual incubators require human input. Turning eggs on your own is difficult if there are a lot of them, but for home incubators it is not so problematic. But you will have to do this several times a day, which is not very convenient.
Mechanical rotation eliminates only the need to turn each egg. The mechanism changes the position of the whole tray. But you have to control the turnover, temperature, humidity of eggs yourself.
Household automatic incubators completely relieve the owner of the obligation to monitor the state of the eggs. The automation also controls temperature and humidity.
Read also: incubation of chicken eggs and the correct temperature regime!
Criteria for any incubator
Regardless of the type of egg turning when choosing an incubator, rely on the following parameters.
Number of eggs
Fan
To keep the eggs evenly heated, a fan forces hot air to circulate through the chamber. The benefits are obvious, but the incubator will consume more energy. Also, try to choose quiet appliances.
Ease of cleaning
After the incubation period, the hatched chicks leave a mass of the finest fluff and shells from the eggs. All this dirt clogs the vents, hard-to-reach places in the incubator. The chamber must be cleaned and sterilized, so make sure this is easy to do beforehand. All manufacturers now plan their incubators so that cleaning the chamber is easy.
Service
Each device breaks down over time, so keep in mind that one day the automatic incubator for chicken eggs will have to be repaired. Focus, first of all, on Russian firms, in this case the details are much easier to get.
Automatic incubator selection
The automatic egg incubator turns eggs by itself 2-4 times a day. The number of revolutions per day can be adjusted, as are the temperature and humidity. Incubator controls are usually intuitive and uncomplicated. They must be located in warm conditions, otherwise temperature measurement errors will appear. All home incubators are made on the basis that they will be stored at room temperature and humidity.
Also, errors in the operation of automation are inevitable when the tray is partially filled. If there are few eggs, place oval pieces of styrofoam in the empty cells in the tray. Some incubators are made of foam.The material is porous and allows air to pass through well, but at the same time it quickly becomes polluted and becomes a breeding ground for pathogens. Such incubators need regular disinfection.
Automatic chicken egg incubators are divided according to the turning method. The first method is rolling when moving the grid. The second is to tilt the grate by 45 ° C. The third method is to rotate the rollers under the egg. There are no particular advantages for each method.
Since they do everything themselves and are completely dependent on automation, it is preferable to buy incubators with an emergency power source.
The price of incubators with automatic egg turning starts from 3000-4000 rubles. Such products are reliable, have built-in batteries (but not all). There are more expensive models - for 7000-12000 rubles. These incubators can hold more eggs or have various upgrades. For example, an air ionizer or bioacoustic stimulator.
DIY incubator
To make an automatic incubator with your own hands, you will need a special tray with automated egg turning. Of course, you can do without it, but then you have to turn the eggs by hand. Since this needs to be done 3-4 times a day, the problem is obvious. Therefore, home-made automatic incubators are more common. But homemade devices with manual egg turning are also popular.
A homemade incubator requires:
- incubator chamber;
- fan;
- incandescent lamps with a power of 25 watts;
- thermostat.
Thermostat
It is a temperature and humidity control device. Owner configures thermostat the indicators required for eggs, and the device, in case of their violation, gives a sound signal.
Please note that the temperature in the incubator must be calibrated with high accuracy to +/- 0.5 ° C, which cannot be obtained from home-made thermostats.
An ordinary thermometer is also not able to do this, since it also requires control over humidity. At the same time, the cost of the simplest hygrometer with a remote display will be only 600 rubles, and its accuracy meets the highest requirements. There are also more expensive thermostats with many additional functions.
Incubator
The camera itself can be made from available tools: a cardboard box, a TV, a refrigerator. For any device, the same requirements are met:
- holes are made at the bottom and top of the structure so that there is an influx of fresh air;
- a deep bowl of water is placed at the bottom of the chamber, the evaporating liquid gives the desired moisture;
- egg trays can be arranged in several rows
- to heat the air, lamps with a power of at least 25 watts are used;
- the wiring to them passes through separate side holes;
- the minimum distance between lamps and eggs is 15 cm, but better around 25 cm;
- the door is made small 40x40 cm so that when opened, the temperature and humidity indicators do not change;
- trays are made of metal mesh so that moisture vapor and air circulate freely around the eggs;
- all cracks are carefully sealed with a sealant.
Incubator from the refrigerator
Let's analyze a specific example of creating an incubator with our own hands. An old refrigerator will act as a camera. The material is ideal, hermetically sealed, spacious, easy to clean after hatching. In addition, the set includes ideal grids for trays. You only need to make bumpers to them. Of course, it is advisable to equip the incubator with trays with automatic egg turning.
We dismantle the freezer, it is not needed. We make an observation window in the refrigerator door. We close it with durable glass, and eliminate the cracks with a sealant. Above and below we make two holes with a diameter of 3 centimeters, this is for ventilation of the chamber. At the bottom we install the thermostat and a bowl of water.
Since the refrigerator is a vertical structure, the air can circulate without a fan. But it's better to put it. At the bottom, several more holes are made for the wiring of incandescent lamps. Take 4 lamps with a power of 100 watts each, since a large enough chamber will warm up. It is advisable to install them at the bottom so that the cold air warms up immediately at the inlet.