The Official Forum of the Ameraucana Breeders Club > Housing, Health & Hatching
Custom Incubators
John:
--- Quote from: Don ---I've often quipped that we keep chickens so we can build things. John, i think you fall in that vein too. Custom incubators, sounds interesting. Where are the first pics?
--- End quote ---
I have a good start on the 2 setter incubators with photos below. I have most of what I need to build 2 hatcher incubators, but haven't started on them yet. They'll be much easier to build.
The setters have 6 trays that hold 132 LF eggs each for a capacity of 792 eggs per setter. I'm using 350 watt strip heaters along with proportional heating thermostats. The cabinets are made from 1/2" plastic board. I started putting the doors on yesterday, but still have wiring to do along with a few other things to finish up these units.
Most of the fasteners are stainless steel and the racks are aluminum (fabricated at a local welding shop).
Mike Gilbert:
John, do you have an estimate on what these will cost to build? Do they have certain features you can't find in a manufacturer's unit?
far149:
Impressive!
Beth C:
Very nice! Are you just building these for your own use or are you planning on marketing them?
John:
--- Quote ---do you have an estimate on what these will cost to build?
--- End quote ---
No, but I'm saving the bills so I'll have a good idea when I'm finished. I'll have more money invested in the setters, due to the turning racks and motor unit. I don't feel that I'm skimping on any part of these incubators and at the same time I'm trying not to go overboard with costs. If I decide to take orders I'll have a good idea of the price I'd have to charge. The problem is you can probably buy an imported incubator cheaper than I could custom build them.
--- Quote ---Do they have certain features you can't find in a manufacturer's unit?
--- End quote ---
I guess I'm building these mainly because I want to. They make a good project to work on on a cold day. With over 30 years of incubating experience, I feel like I'm making them the way I want them for my operation. They may be no better than GQF cabinet incubators. I've used the same fans, latches and other parts that GQF uses in these, but these are totally my design. As I've mentioned before, even though GQF now has acrylic windows in their doors I've been modifying their units for many years to include that design.
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