How do I incubate eggs without a commercial incubator?

Janb · **Posted:** Tue Nov 13, 2007 7:54 am

Hi all, I am wondering how I could incubate some eggs when I don't have a commercial incubator. Can anyone give me advice/suggestions?
cheers
Janb
ps. Prue is looking a bit better this morning!!!

Jeff Trescott · **Posted:** Tue Nov 13, 2007 12:25 pm

Can you use a Hen (chicken that is) what about a flying pan :idea:

I read someware you can use one to hatch eggs, I will go and look in my books :-D

Good news about Prue :-D

Jeff

bunyanuternie · **Joined:** Wed Jul 11, 2007 10:31 pm **Posts:** 2903

Hi Jan , my first incubator was home made , It was a wooden box with three light bulbs , a dimmer switch , and a thermostat, all of which you can buy from the hard where , I hatched 56 from 60 one hatch and is still one of my best hatches , but eventually the box deteriated and I dumped it , after it had well and truly payed for itself , My mum used to hatch chickens in her electric frypan with a teatowel folded up in the bottom and a saucer of water in the middle, and a freind of mine recently hatched guineafowl in a shoebox with a bulb over it (no water, no temp)and he sprayed them and got 6 out , or just get a broody hen they are better than anything , Ian

Peacocks Australia · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2002 9:14 am **Posts:** 310755

Hi Janb, One option is to Hire an Incubator below is a link to a company in Victoria that hires them.

http://www.kimskovapark.com.au/hatching.htm

Thanks
P.A :lol:

Jeff Trescott · **Posted:** Tue Nov 13, 2007 8:21 pm

Great info Ian :-D

amazing your friend hatched a Guinea fowl in a shoe box :shock:

Jeff

bunyanuternie · **Joined:** Wed Jul 11, 2007 10:31 pm **Posts:** 2903

Thanks Jeff , I was amazed myself , I had given my friend 12 guinea eggs , which he stuck under a clucky hen , the hen left the nest so he put the eggs in a shoe box with some hay in the bottom . and put a bulb over the top (I don't know how many watts) his wife did all the work , I asked her how she monitored the temp and she did it by feel , any way yesterday I had to see for myself and they have 9 beautiful healthy guinea chicks , It probably isn't the best method but it just shows that if you are determined and dedicated enough , it just might be possible , one of my brooders is an old kerosine incubator , I converted to electric , before we had all of the mod cons people just had to make do ,like mum used to do with the old electric frypan , I believe the first incubators were used by the egyptians and they were actually ovens , mind you I don't think I would be sticking any of my eggs in an oven ,does anyone know if has Jan found or made a bator yet , ? Ian

Janb · **Posted:** Sun Nov 18, 2007 3:39 pm

Hello all,
Sorry I have been slow responding but have been working madly for the past 3 days on sparrow proofing the 4 peafowl enclosures. Pesky little critters really gobble up the peafowl feed. We seem to have hundreds of them unfortunately. I think I have them stumped now. Prue is just fine and has made a complete recovery, wonderful! I contacted the hiring place for incubators as suggested by PA (many thanks) and they are located just up the road in Teasdale. Have been emailing back and forth and because they don't have any incubators empty right now I have been offered the opportunity to take Prue's 2 eggs to them to put under a clucky chook. How great is that?
Thanks everyone for your suggestions and advice.
cheers
Janb

Jeff Trescott · **Posted:** Mon Nov 19, 2007 10:30 am

That is amazing Ian, but as you said it your determined then anything’s possible. That lady must really like her birds, so devoted :-D

Jeff

Jeff Trescott · **Posted:** Mon Nov 19, 2007 10:33 am

janb, that is very nice of them, do you know what it costs to hire one :?:

a small one that is. They sound like really nice people, maybe we should add them to the links :?:

Jeff

Peacocks Australia · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2002 9:14 am **Posts:** 310755

Hi Janb, pleased it worked out for you, please keep us informated as to how they go!

Thanks
P.A :lol:

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