My large incubators are great, but they take up a lot of space. I have a small breeding population, so there are plenty of times when I only want to set a couple of eggs. I wanted a desktop model that would run off one plug and sit nicely in a corner without lighting up the entire room at night or upping my electric bill. This is what I came up with around June 2019.
Linked below are some articles and videos that may be helpful.
Rush Lane Poultry's Video Series
Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4
This video series is almost solely what I used to come up with the plans for my first build. The wiring schematics and the element locations are based directly off of this video. I highly recommend watching it if you are building a tabletop incubator of a similar shape. On the off chance that the videos have been deleted in the future, I will still include instructions for wiring in this article.
Building the BinBator
This was my first, cheapest incubator build and the incubator that directly preceded this one. Most of the supplies for this build have been re-used from the original BinBator.
BinBator Mark Two
After several issues with the original build that I will delineate later on, I decided to create a second iteration using mostly the same parts and a different body. This article covers the construction and operation of that build.
Cabinet BinBator
This is the build I made when I outgrew standard tabletop models. It has a capacity high enough that I cannot see a future in which I will need another incubator for the pre-lockdown period. This is a good choice for large backyard operations.
DIY Cabinet Incubator
This thread is what I based my cabinet incubator off of. It may seem overwhelming at first, but if you pay attention and break down the wiring and installation into discrete pieces it will seem more manageable. Building an incubator is not difficult!
Tools
Bulb:
Bulb and adapter:
Socket:
I, unfortunately, did not get images of the build in progress, but it was uncomplicated. Since I wasn't using a fan in this build, I wanted a small floor area; to accomplish that, I placed the cooler on its side like a mini cabinet. Using the spade bit, I drilled a 1.25" hole in the ceiling for the socket. The particular one I got this time had a plug on the back rather than wires. After I glued that in, I screwed in the medium-to-candelabra bulb adapter and then the bulb. The thermostat was installed at the back, just far enough above the floor to allow rotation of the disk. The thermostat wires were pushed through a hole in the back and connected with either end of the hot side of the extension cord, which I had cut and stripped the ends of prior. The side of the extension cord with the wide plug is the ground or neutral side. The smaller one indicates the hot wire. The window was cut with a utility knife; a piece of plastic I got off of a broken bin was then inserted and hot glued in.
Images of the finished project:
I am currently doing a test run and will set eggs in it once it is stable and free of hot spots. I may have to add a fan, but I am going to do my best to make it work without one.
Thank you for reading. I hope you have found this article series helpful.
Linked below are some articles and videos that may be helpful.
Rush Lane Poultry's Video Series
Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4
This video series is almost solely what I used to come up with the plans for my first build. The wiring schematics and the element locations are based directly off of this video. I highly recommend watching it if you are building a tabletop incubator of a similar shape. On the off chance that the videos have been deleted in the future, I will still include instructions for wiring in this article.
Building the BinBator
This was my first, cheapest incubator build and the incubator that directly preceded this one. Most of the supplies for this build have been re-used from the original BinBator.
BinBator Mark Two
After several issues with the original build that I will delineate later on, I decided to create a second iteration using mostly the same parts and a different body. This article covers the construction and operation of that build.
Cabinet BinBator
This is the build I made when I outgrew standard tabletop models. It has a capacity high enough that I cannot see a future in which I will need another incubator for the pre-lockdown period. This is a good choice for large backyard operations.
DIY Cabinet Incubator
This thread is what I based my cabinet incubator off of. It may seem overwhelming at first, but if you pay attention and break down the wiring and installation into discrete pieces it will seem more manageable. Building an incubator is not difficult!
Tools
- Drill
- Spade bit
- Utility knife
- One small cooler
- Hot glue
- Duck tape
- One light socket
- One extension cord
- One wafer thermostat assembly
- One medium-to-candelabra bulb adapter
- One 4" x 3" plastic sheet
Bulb:
Bulb and adapter:
Socket:
I, unfortunately, did not get images of the build in progress, but it was uncomplicated. Since I wasn't using a fan in this build, I wanted a small floor area; to accomplish that, I placed the cooler on its side like a mini cabinet. Using the spade bit, I drilled a 1.25" hole in the ceiling for the socket. The particular one I got this time had a plug on the back rather than wires. After I glued that in, I screwed in the medium-to-candelabra bulb adapter and then the bulb. The thermostat was installed at the back, just far enough above the floor to allow rotation of the disk. The thermostat wires were pushed through a hole in the back and connected with either end of the hot side of the extension cord, which I had cut and stripped the ends of prior. The side of the extension cord with the wide plug is the ground or neutral side. The smaller one indicates the hot wire. The window was cut with a utility knife; a piece of plastic I got off of a broken bin was then inserted and hot glued in.
Images of the finished project:
I am currently doing a test run and will set eggs in it once it is stable and free of hot spots. I may have to add a fan, but I am going to do my best to make it work without one.
Thank you for reading. I hope you have found this article series helpful.
