Fish Tank Incubator

[Bribble]

So instead of buying a $200 + incubator (for like the 5 chicks I want to hatch) I decided I'm going to try and make one out of an aquarium. If you've made one of these before, how did it work out? How did you regulate temperature/humidity in the tank whilst incubating? Do I need a fan like some people say? I've looked at the stuff people have built on here but couldn't find anything with photos that worked to go off of.
PS. I have very knowledgeable chicken friends to help me with any actual care parts, I would just like to know your thoughts/insights on the incubator. I also won't be keeping the chicks in the incubator when they hatch, they'll be moved to much larger accommodations Thanks!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

First off, a cooler would be a better choice than an aquarium.
An aquarium has no insulation but a cooler is well insulated.
Glass is a better conductor than an insulator.
Secondly, for oxygen, it would be easier to drill a few holes in a cooler than to get a hole in the bottom of an aquarium.
A fan is helpful to distribute air. Still air thermally stratifies. That means an inch or two in elevation can mean a degree or two in temperature change. If you have the thermostat at the right height, you will still have an issue where the top of the egg is about one degree higher than the middle of the egg. Hence, a fan is better.
To regulate temperature, you need a good thermostat that doesn't have a large temperature swing like a house thermostat does. You need something that will turn on or off within a tight range like 1/2 degree F or less.

 

[hillbillyreefer]

I agree with what ChickenCanoe has said. I’ve used a terrarium as a hatcher a few times, mostly when I’ve overfilled the ‘bator and ran completely out of room. The bottom was cover in peat that was damped down for humidity, heat supplied by an incandescent bulb hooked to an accurate programmable temp controller. Then it was wrapped in towels for insulation. The eggs were in carton bottoms with a plastic cutting board between the peat and the cartons. Simple setup, I’d use a cooler next time, much easier to keep a constant temperature.