What can you cook from squid: quick and tasty

In home gardens, large industrial incubators can be impractical due to their large capacity. For growing small livestock poultry compact devices are needed, which can be made with your own hands, using available tools and materials.

We will present several methods for making incubators. However, even a homemade device must meet certain requirements, which you will learn about from this article.

How to make your own chicken egg incubator

Breeding poultry is a fairly profitable activity, but for uninterrupted production of productive young animals, you need to buy or make your own hands a device in which young animals will be hatched.

How to make an incubator for chicken eggs or do-it-yourself quails, using the materials at hand, you will learn from the sections below.

What you need to pay attention to

For full-fledged breeding of young poultry, one should adhere to certain recommendations and requirements regarding the use of the apparatus and its manufacture:

• The temperature regime at a distance of two centimeters from the eggs should not exceed 38.6 degrees, and the minimum temperature is 37.3 degrees;
• Only fresh eggs are suitable for incubation, which should not be stored for more than ten days;
• The chamber must be kept at an optimal level of humidity. Before peeling, it is 40-60%, and after the beginning of peeling, it is 80%. The moisture level should be reduced before hauling chicks.

Breeding young poultry also depends on the location of the eggs. They need to be placed vertically (pointed end down) or horizontally. If they are located vertically, they should be tilted to the right or left by 45 degrees (when laying goose or duck eggs, the tilt is up to 90 degrees).

If the eggs are placed horizontally, they must be turned over at least three times a day by 180 degrees. However, it is best to do a coup every hour. A few days before pecking, the turns are stopped.

Rules

If you are interested in how to make a homemade incubator, you should know that this device is made according to certain rules.

For manufacturing you will need:

1. Material body, which retains heat well (wood or foam). This is necessary so that the temperature inside the device does not change during the hatching process. As a body you can use old refrigerator, microwave or even a TV.
2. For heating they use ordinary lamps (from 25 to 100 W, depending on the size of the chamber), and to control the temperature, a regular thermometer is placed inside the device.
3. So that fresh air constantly flows inside, you need to equip ventilation. For small appliances, it is enough to drill holes in the side walls and the bottom, and for large incubators (for example, made from a refrigerator), several fans are installed (under and above the grate for).

Trays or grates can be purchased or made from wire mesh. It is important that there is space between the trays for free air circulation.

Peculiarities

Ensure good ventilation in the incubator. Preference should be given to forced ventilation, since the constant movement of air will maintain the required temperature and humidity inside.

Figure 1 shows the main types of incubators that can be used for hatching young poultry in a backyard farm.

How to auto-rotate eggs in an incubator

Models without manual rotation are not very convenient, since a person needs to constantly monitor the process of hatching chicks and manually turn all the eggs. It is much easier to immediately make a homemade auto-rotate incubator (Figure 2).

Instructions

There are several options for arranging auto-rotation. For small appliances, you can simply equip a movable net, which is driven by a small roller. As a result, the eggs move slowly and gradually turn over.

Note: The disadvantage of this method is that you still have to control the overturn, since the eggs can simply move from their place, but not overturn.

Roller rotation is considered more modern, for the arrangement of which special rotating rollers are installed under the grate. To prevent damage to the shell, all rollers cover mosquito net... However, this method also has a significant drawback: to manufacture the auto-rotate system, you will have to take up free space in the camera by installing rollers.

The best way is considered to be the flip method, in which at once the entire tray is tilted 45 degrees. The rotation is activated by a special mechanism located outside, and all eggs are guaranteed to warm up.

How to set eggs correctly in an incubator

Incubation of poultry should be carried out taking into account certain characteristics and maintain an optimal mode of hatching young animals. The table in Figure 3 shows the basic requirements for breeding chickens, ducks and geese.

First of all, you should support correct temperature(minimum 37.5 - maximum 37.8 degrees). It is also necessary to regularly check the humidity, determining it by the temperature difference on the "wet" and "dry" thermometer. If a "wet" thermometer shows temperatures up to 29 degrees, then the humidity is about 60 percent.

The mode of hatching young animals must also meet the following requirements:

• The turn must be done at least 8 times a day;
• When breeding young geese and ducks, the eggs must be periodically cooled in a combined way: the first half of the incubation is cooled with air for half an hour, and then irrigated with a weak solution of potassium permanganate;
• During the hatching of young animals, the air temperature on the "dry" thermometer should not exceed 34 degrees, and the humidity should not exceed 78-90 degrees.

It is important that insufficient heating, regardless of the stage, can slow down the growth and development of embryos, since the chicks absorb and use protein worse. As a result of insufficient warming, most chicks die before hatching, and the surviving chicks later hatch, their umbilical cord does not heal and their belly grows.

Underheating, depending on the stage, can cause some disturbances. In the first stage, they include:

• The intestines are filled with fluid with blood;
• The kidneys are enlarged and the liver is colored unevenly;
• Swelling appears on the neck.

During the second stage, underheating can provoke:

• Swelling of the umbilical ring;
• The intestines are filled with bile;
• Enlargement of the heart with subcooling in the last few days of incubation.

Overheating can cause external deformities (eyes, jaws and head) and hatch starts prematurely. If the temperature regime has been elevated in the last few days, the chicks may have deformed internal organs (heart, liver and stomach) and the walls of the abdominal cavity do not grow together.

Severe and short-term overheating can lead to the fact that the embryo dries to the inside of the shell, swelling and hemorrhages appear on the chick's skin, and the embryo itself is located with its head in the yolk, which is not normal.

Long-term exposure high temperatures in the second half of incubation, it leads to early movement of the embryo in the air chamber, and unused protein can be seen under the shell. In addition, many chicks are observed in the brood, which hatch through the shell, but died without drawing in the yolk.

Violations of the humidity regime can also provoke serious disturbances.(Figure 4):

• High humidity causes delayed development of embryos, embryos use protein poorly and often die in the middle and at the end of incubation;
• If the humidity was increased during biting, the chicks may begin to adhere the beak to the shell, goiter develops, and an excess of fluid is observed in the intestines and stomach. Swelling and hemorrhage may develop on the neck;
• An increase in humidity often causes late hatching and hatching of sluggish young animals with a swollen belly and too light down;
• If the humidity was low, pecking begins in the middle part, and the shells are dry and too strong;
• At low humidity, small and dry young growth is hatched.

It is especially important to maintain optimal humidity (80-82%) during the mowing period. It should be noted that during all periods of hatching, one should strive to maintain the temperature and humidity regime that exists during natural incubation.

The incubation time depends on the type of poultry. For example, for chickens of meat breeds, it is 21 days and 8 hours. If the normal regime was maintained, the beginning of pecking begins on the 19th day and 12 hours after laying, the chicks begin to hatch already on the 20th day, and after another 12 hours most of the young appear. During incubation, it is necessary to periodically check with an ovoscope in order to detect damage in time (Figure 5).

What is needed for this

To properly lay eggs, you need to preheat the device and prepare the eggs.

For hatching young animals of any poultry, only eggs are suitable that have been stored for no longer than a week in a dark room with good ventilation at room temperature. Before laying them, they must be shone through with an ovoscope and specimens are taken without damage, cracks and growths on the shell.

Peculiarities

Only eggs of the correct shape and with a characteristic shell color for a certain type of bird can be placed in the incubator.

You also need to find the right wire rack to match the size of the eggs. For example, for quail, a smaller grill is required, and for turkeys, a larger one. It is also necessary to familiarize yourself in advance with the temperature and humidity conditions of incubation for each type of bird.

How to make a homemade incubator from the refrigerator

Very often, home incubators are made from old refrigerators, since the body of this household appliances quite roomy and allows you to simultaneously hatch large batches of young poultry.

See how to make an incubator from the refrigerator with your own hands detailed instructions, you can in the video.

Instructions

Before starting manufacturing, you need to draw up a drawing and a plan for connecting all the necessary elements. You also need to wash the case and remove all shelves and the freezer from it.

The procedure for making an incubator from an old refrigerator includes the following steps(Figure 6):

• Several holes are drilled in the ceiling for attaching lamps and arranging ventilation;
• The inner part of the walls is trimmed with thin sheets of foam plastic so that heat remains inside the device for a longer time;
• Trays or grates are installed on the shelves;
• A temperature sensor is placed inside, and the thermostat is brought out;
• Several ventilation holes are drilled in the lower part of the side walls, and to provide more high level air flow, fans are installed above and below.

It is also advisable to cut through a small viewing window in the door to make it easier to observe the incubation process without opening the door.

How to make a Styrofoam incubator step by step

The body of a homemade device can be made from an old TV box or a foam box, reinforced with a frame made of wooden slats. Four porcelain lamp holders must be fastened to the frame. Heating bulbs are screwed into three sockets, and the fourth bulb is used to heat the water in the bath. The power of all bulbs must not exceed 25W. Examples and drawings for the manufacture of simple models are shown in Figure 7.

Note: The average lamp is often turned on only at a certain time: from 17 to 23-00. A bath of water to maintain moisture can also be made from scrap materials. For example, using a herring jar, cutting off part of the lid from it. From such a container, water will evaporate better, and the lid will prevent local overheating.

A grate is installed inside a homemade incubator. The surface of the eggs on the wire rack should be at least 17 centimeters from the light bulb, and for eggs under the wire rack at least 15 centimeters away.

An ordinary thermometer is used to measure the temperature inside the chamber. To make it convenient to use the device, its front wall must be made removable and covered with cardboard or other dense material. Twists are used to secure. Such a removable wall allows you to put trays inside the incubator, put a bath and change the water in it, as well as carry out all other manipulations.

In the lid you need to make a window that will serve for ventilation and control temperature regime... The window is 12 centimeters long and 8 centimeters wide. It is better to cover it with glass, leaving a small gap in width.

For additional ventilation along the long wall near the floor, you should also make three small square holes(each side is 1.5 centimeters). They must be open at all times for a constant supply of fresh air.

How to make a microwave incubator

An incubator from a microwave is made according to the same principle as a device from a refrigerator. But it should be borne in mind that many eggs will not fit in such a device, therefore at home it is used mainly for raising quails.

When making an incubator from microwave oven you need to take into account some features(Figure 8):

• Outside, the body must be sheathed with thin sheets of foam to stabilize the temperature inside;
• Ventilation holes are left in the upper part, and the door is not insulated or sealed for additional fresh air;
• A tray is installed inside, but since there is not enough room in the chamber for cans of water, a container with a liquid for humidification is placed directly under the tray.

It is also necessary to provide protection against overheating by installing barriers on incandescent lamps.

How to make ventilation in an incubator with your own hands

In a homemade incubator, there is also no special cooling system for eggs, as they are cooled for several minutes during the turning process. During the entire incubation, the temperature should be maintained at 39 degrees.

For ease of use, legs can be attached to the device. And since this equipment is very compact, and the incubation process is not accompanied by the release of unpleasant odors, young poultry can be removed even in a city apartment (Figure 9). The procedure for making a simple homemade incubator is shown in the video.

How to make a humidifier in an incubator

For normal operation of a homemade incubator, pour half a glass of water per day into the bath. If you need to increase the level of humidity, you can put a rag in the bath, which is washed every two days.

For laying eggs, place special slats with gaps between them. The slats should be rounded on the sides. To make it easier to carry out the flip, you need to leave a free space in the tray corresponding to one egg.

Note: Eggs in a homemade incubator are manually turned 180 degrees. It is better if the coup is carried out up to 6 times a day with an equal time interval (after 2-4 hours).

To maintain humidity, no devices are provided in a homemade incubator, and this mode supported approx. It is recommended to install 25 or 15 Watt bulbs to evaporate liquid. The evaporator is not turned on before the biting begins, and if you turn it off too early, the eggs will form too hard shells that the chicks cannot break.

Birds such as quails, chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys. Such a variety has become possible thanks to microcontroller automation.

Body materials:
- chipboard sheet or old furniture boards (like mine)
- laminate flooring board
- perforated aluminum sheet
- two furniture sheds
- self-tapping screws

Tools:
- A circular saw
- Drill, drills, furniture drill (for awnings)
- screwdriver

Materials for automation:
- circuit board, soldering iron, radio parts
- transformer for 220-> 12V
- electric drive DAN2N
- two 40W incandescent lamps
- 12v computer fan, medium size

Item 1. Manufacturing of the case.
Using a circular saw, we cut out blanks from a chipboard sheet in accordance with the dimensions in Fig. one.

In the resulting blanks, in accordance with Fig. 2, we drill holes D = 4 mm. for self-tapping screws, they are marked with red circles, green circles indicate the place where the cover canopies are attached. We assemble the body in accordance with the diagram. We install the cover on two furniture hinges.

The result is a completely finished case for the incubator, there is no need to insulate it additionally, the electronics do an excellent job of heating the box with just two bulbs.

Item 2. Egg tray.

I made the sides of a laminate, in which cuts are made to the middle with a step of 50 mm, in them a net for holding eggs is braided from garden twine, at the end of the twine in the cuts is glued with Titan glue. It turns out a cell of 50x50 mm, the size of large duck eggs, so as not to make many different trays for different birds, therefore, in some places, chicken eggs have to be buried a little with styrofoam bars. The capacity of this tray is 50 eggs. Goose eggs are laid in a checkerboard pattern, the twine net squeezes the bookmark well.

For quails, a separate tray similar to this is made, but with a cell pitch of 30x30 mm, the capacity of which is 150 eggs.

The capacity of the incubator does not end there, because there is also a second tier, a second tray, which, if necessary, is installed on top of the first tray.

In the photo: Mount (V) for the upper tray and a metal bracket for fastening to the axis of the tilt mechanism.

The photo also shows a metal eyelet for attaching the tray to the flag swivel mechanism.

In the photo: Flag of the swing mechanism.

Photo: Opposite side of the tray.

Item 3. Device for tilting the egg tray.
To rotate the axis with a flag, which in turn tilts the tray with eggs 45 degrees to one side or the other, I used the DAN2N electric drive used for ventilation pipes.

Pictured: Typical DAN2N application, opening and closing a pipe valve.

Item 4. Control unit.
The control box or the heart of the incubator, which determines whether or not you get chicks.

With the release of the popular Atmel microcontroller, many interesting projects began to appear, including simple and very reliable thermostats. So the March project from the Radio 2010 magazine has grown into a full-fledged complete incubator control module with all possible functionality. And this: the adjustment range 35.0C - 44.5C., Indication and signaling in case emergency, temperature control by a complex algorithm with a self-learning effect, automatic tray rotation, humidity control.

When heating the heating element (in our case, incandescent lamps), the algorithm selects the heating power, due to which the temperature comes into balance and can be constant with an accuracy of 0.1 g.

The emergency mode will help out if the output triacs are damaged, the control goes to the analog relay and until the breakdown is eliminated, it will maintain the temperature in the permissible range.

To control the rotation of the trays, the controller provides an adjustment range of up to ten hours, supports the presence of tilt limit switches, or without them, by setting the time to turn on the motor to travel the desired distance.

Automatic humidity control is controlled from a second electronic wet thermometer, a psychrometric calculation method, and when necessary, the load is turned on - a nebulizer or an ultrasonic fog generator with a fan.

All adjustments are made with three buttons.

The circuit uses DS18B20 temperature sensors, the error of which with an accuracy of 0.1 degrees can be set from the CU menu.

Diagram of the incubator control unit on MK Atmega 8.

* If pulse transformers MIT-4, 12 with a connection point (A) are used to control thyristors / triacs, then this scheme is used.

Firmware - Phase-pulse, connection at point (A), MOC3021, MOC3022, MOC3023 are used (without Zero-Cross)
Firmware - Low Frequency PWM, Connect at Point (B), MOC3041, MOC3042, MOC3043, MOC3061, MOC3062, MOC3063 (with Zero-Cross)

If you have certain materials, you can make an incubator yourself. However, the successful incubation of eggs depends on a number of factors and, in order not to spoil them in the first bookmark, it is important to anticipate all possible issues in the operation of the manufactured structure. Consider one of the popular options for creating such a device.

Characteristics of incubators with automatic egg turning

In addition to incubators with "manual" or semi-automatic turning of eggs, there are automatic incubators that minimize human intervention in the process of hatching chicks. According to the time set by the owner, the automation itself performs the required turnover, and the eggs do not lay in one place.

Such machines can be built at home, but first of all, it is important to take into account all its possible pros and cons.

Advantages

• Indisputable merits homemade apparatus its following features can be considered:
• low cost in comparison with ready-made purchased models;
• efficiency in terms of energy consumption;
• independent selection of the required internal volume, depending on the personal needs of each farmer;
• high maintainability (if some part fails, the master will always be able to replace it without outside help);
• versatility (with the correct assembly of the structure, a homemade incubator can be used not only for breeding chickens, but also for breeding chicks of other domestic or even exotic birds).

In addition, if the constituent parts for the future device can be found at home, then you will get a ready-made incubator completely free of charge.

Flaws

This group of characteristics mostly includes disadvantages associated with inaccurate calculations and the use of old materials.

• Therefore, the possible disadvantages of homemade devices are as follows:
• the possibility of damage to some part of the device (especially if the incubator is made from old technology);
• independent increase in temperature or power outages, which leads to the death of embryos;
• unattractive appearance;
• no warranty from the manufacturer, allowing you to replace the device if it breaks down.

Requirements for homemade automatic incubators

Without knowledge of the technical conditions of incubation, not a single assembled incubator will be able to provide good work productivity, therefore, before starting work, it is worth considering some requirements for automatic designs:

• incubation of eggs takes at least 21 days, which means that this is exactly how much the incubator should work (without interruption);
• eggs should be placed inside the device at a distance of at least 1 cm from each other, which is important to consider when choosing a specific pallet;
• along with the change in the stage of development of the embryo, the temperature inside the incubator should also change;
• automatic egg turning should be performed slowly, with a frequency of 2 times a day;
• to maintain an optimal level of humidity and ventilation, a self-made mechanism must have a regulator of the required parameters (a thermostat, as well as sensors that scan the temperature and humidity levels).

Important!To use a homemade incubator for breeding different types It is useful for birds to purchase a ready-made universal tray that ensures the timely turning of their eggs.

How to make an automatic egg incubator with your own hands

If you are going to create your own incubator, then one of the good solutions is to use an old refrigerator. Of course, it will have to be completed and the correct consumables have to be selected.
To do this, you need to make sure that the finished structure:

• had holes for ventilation and maintaining humidity at a level of 40-60% (drilled in the case, after which tubes are placed in them, protecting from the interaction of air with glass wool);
• provided for the regulation and maintenance of temperature indicators;
• ensured the airing speed of eggs at the level of 5 m / s;
• guaranteed timely turnover of eggs.

However, all this will be calculated during the direct collection, and first you should correctly calculate the size of the device and select all consumables.

How to calculate the size?

The size of a ready-made homemade incubator will directly affect the number of eggs for one bookmark, so if it is important for you to get as many chicks as possible at a time, then we suggest focusing on the following approximate values:

As for the external dimensions of the device, they depend on the selected material, because, for example, the foam will be more voluminous than cardboard. In addition, in the manufacture of structures of several floors, completely different technologies will be used, which means that calculations will be made taking into account the parameters of each tier.

The size of the incubator will also be influenced by:

• type of heating system;
• placement of lamps;
• placement of trays.

In order not to make mistakes in calculations when designing an incubator, it is important to adhere to a pre-drawn scheme, which for a small device for 45 eggs may look like this:

Consumables and tools for work

The device of the incubator has much in common with the device of the refrigerator, from which a good body will turn out: the walls of the refrigerating equipment keep heat well, and existing shelves can be used as racks.

Did you know? On the territory of Russia, the first mass production of incubators dates back to the beginning of the 19th century, and the volumes of such machines were very impressive: 16-24 thousand eggs could be placed in them at a time.

Main list necessary tools and materials will look like this:

• old refrigerator (you can old model, but whole and working);
• bulbs 25 W (4 pcs.);
• fan;
• metal rod or chain with an asterisk;
• a drive for turning the eggs (for example, a motor gear from a car wiper);
• drill;
• thermostat;
• thermometer;
• screwdriver and screws.

How to make an incubator with an automatic flip of trays with your own hands: video

Approximate diagram of the finished product:

Step-by-step manufacturing instructions

The whole process of making a home incubator from an old refrigerator will take only a few hours, since it consists of a small number of basic steps:

1. Development of drawings showing a clear location of every detail of the future incubator.
2. Disassembling the refrigerator and removing all unnecessary parts: freezer, trays on the doors and other items of secondary importance.
3. Organization of the ventilation system (one hole must be drilled in the ceiling of the refrigerator, and three more holes must be drilled in the lower part, closer to the bottom, inserting plastic tubes into them).
4. Fastening polystyrene sheets to the inner walls of the case (you can use double-sided mounting tape or small self-tapping screws).
5. Heating system installation. The prepared 4 incandescent lamps must be fixed at the bottom and at the top of the refrigerator body (two each), and the lower lamps should not interfere with the placement of the container with water (small self-tapping screws can be used for fastening).
6. Installing a purchased thermostat on the outer part of the door and connecting it to heating elements.
7. Creation of an overturning mechanism using an automatic gearbox. First, use metal strips and self-tapping screws to secure this element to the bottom of the refrigerator. Then, inside the device, install a wooden frame and attach the trays to it, only so that they can tilt 60 °, first towards the door, and then in the opposite direction. Attach a rod to the gearbox motor, connected to the tray on the opposite side of the refrigerator (the motor will act on the rod, which, in turn, will begin to tilt the tray and provide rotation).
8. Installation of a viewing window. Cut a small hole on the outside of the refrigerator door and cover it with glass or clear plastic. Reinforce all joints with tape or sealant.
9. Installing a pan with water and fixing the thermometer inside the refrigerator, only so that it can be seen through the viewing window.

In conclusion, you should check the operability of all mechanisms by turning on the device for several hours.

Setting eggs in the incubator

Before being placed in the incubator, all eggs must lie in the room for at least 8 hours, because if they were previously in cool conditions, then condensation is not excluded when placed in a warm incubator.
An equally important stage of preparation is the culling of unsuitable eggs.

So, specimens are not suitable for further incubation:

• small size;
• with cracks, build-ups or any other abnormal features on the shell;
• with a freely moving yolk;
• with a displaced air chamber (more than two millimeters).

The next stage is the direct setting in the incubator, which also has its own characteristics:

• it is advisable to lay eggs on one tray that are close to each other in size, and preferably from one species of birds;
• first of all, the largest eggs should be laid on the trays, and after them, taking into account the incubation period, medium and small ones (on average, at least 4 hours should pass between the laying of each next group);
• if possible, it is worth moving the bookmark time to the evening hours, due to which the chicks should appear in the morning;
• it is advisable to place the incubator in a room with stable temperatures, so that it is easier for the device to maintain the indicators inside;
• for complete control over the incubation process, get yourself a calendar in which you need to note the date of the bookmark, the date and time of the coup, as well as the date of the control ovoscopy of the eggs.

The incubation duration of different types of poultry has significant differences, which means that the egg turning must be performed in different ways.
In addition, the conditions for the development of embryos will also differ:

• for chicken eggs, the temperature inside the device must be monitored every hour, maintaining it at +37.9 ° C for the first 11 days, with a humidity of no more than 66%;
• for duck eggs, the optimal performance is + 38 ... + 38.2 ° C, with a humidity of 70%.

Did you know?Chickens perfectly remember faces and are able to retain in memory up to hundreds of images, not only human, but also animals.

Temperature range for different types of poultry

The right temperature is one of the most important conditions for incubation, without which it is simply impossible to hatch chicks.

For each type of bird, these indicators are purely individual, therefore, when laying eggs of chickens, ducks, geese or turkey, you should focus on the following values:

In general, a homemade incubator is a good solution both for those who are just trying their hand at poultry farming and for experienced farmers who do not want to spend extra money on the purchase of ready-made equipment. Equipping the structure with automatic turning of eggs, you can achieve 80–90% of hatchability of chicks.

Homemade incubators use several types of automatic egg turning trays, which are divided into two types. The device can turn eggs one at a time, or in layers. The first type proved to be ineffective, and is used only in small incubators for 5 - 20 eggs. Trays of the second type have proven themselves well both in industrial and home-made devices.

In order for the embryos to develop and warm up evenly, the eggs must be turned over every 2-4 hours. In small incubators, it is very often used manual way turnover, and in machines designed for 50 or more eggs, it is optimal to use an automatic turnover system. It is divided into two types: frame and inclined.

Each type of tray has its own pros and cons. The frame pivot consumes less energy and the pivot mechanism is very easy to operate. Another advantage: it can be used in small incubators. The disadvantages include the effect of the shear step on the turning radius of the egg. At low limits, the eggs can beat against each other. Eggs can also suffer with sharp movements of the frames.

The inclined tray provides a guaranteed rotation at a given angle, regardless of the size of the eggs.

The horizontal movement of the trays along the guides reduces the level of egg damage by 75-85%. The disadvantages include more complex maintenance and higher energy consumption. The design is heavier, which is not always convenient for use in small incubators.

Frame turning system

The incubator tray is suitable for those who use lightweight styrofoam or plywood models. To make an apparatus for 200 eggs, you will need:

• Gearmotor,
• Galvanized profile,
• Fruit or vegetable boxes,
• Corner made of steel and rods,
• Clamps with bearings,
• Sprocket with chain
• Fastening materials.

How to make a tray: the base is welded first from the corner. Its dimensions are selected individually, depending on the number of trays and the dimensions of the home incubator. The flipping device is assembled from a pair of axles to which the first and last tray are attached. The rest are hung on the rods themselves. From the cutoffs of the corner, a platform for landing bearings is made, which is welded on both sides on the axis.

The frame itself is made of an aluminum corner - it is lighter. If vegetable boxes are used as trays, then the size of the frame will be 30.5 * 40.5 cm. If the trays are homemade, then the size is adjusted for them + 0.5 cm for free entry. Pros of vegetable crates: affordability and durability. Cons: poor airflow. Homemade trays can be made from a metal mesh with a rod thickness of 1.5 mm, and a section equal to the size of an egg. The finished frame is placed on an axle, in which several holes are drilled for fastening. It is recommended to paint the structure to prevent the appearance of rust.

The axle is welded to the frame through a bearing, which is tightened with a clamp for strength. The mount for the gearbox is mounted on the left to the base. The first and the last frame are connected by rods, the rest are hung between them every 15 cm. To secure the fastening, it is recommended to lock the nuts.

The trays are driven either by a chain drive or by means of a pin.

Which method to choose depends on the gear motor used, but usually in homemade devices use a chain transmission.

On a cut of plastic in the lower part of the bed, switches are installed that stop the gear motor when the trays are tilted at an angle of 45 °. More detailed diagrams and drawings can be found on thematic forums - this will help you understand the features of fastening and connecting nodes.

A conventional relay can be used together with a control unit. It will have to be slightly modified: three wires are brought out, and the tracks leading to the contacts are cut. The block is programmed to turn on every 2.5-3.5 hours. Two toggle switches are connected to the relay: momentary and latching. The first is used to manually transfer the frames to a horizontal position, and the second - to transfer to automatic mode.

The power source for the overturn mechanism is a pair of power supplies from a personal computer.

Depending on the size of the incubator and the number of trays, additional heating elements are installed on one or more frames. In large spaces, this will provide additional control over temperature and humidity. A small fan is also attached to the bed, which will provide ventilation. Lack of ventilation can lead to the death of up to 50% of the brood, since favorable conditions are formed for the development of pathogenic bacteria.

Tilt swivel system

It is possible to automate the rotation of trays in a home incubator using the built-in electromechanical drive, which is triggered after a specified period of time. Usually the timer is set for 2.5 - 3 hours. The time relay is responsible for the accuracy. You can buy it, or you can make it from a mechanical or electronic watch.

The mechanism of rotation to the incubator can be made from a clock with an electromechanical relay. There is usually a socket on the case where you can connect a consumer. Arrange time intervals on the dial. The motor will transmit torque through the gearbox.

The egg trays in the incubator rotate along the guides, which are the walls of the chamber. The design can be improved by attaching a metal strip that is longer than the lattice to the axis. The axis itself is inserted into the grooves cut on the sides of each tray.

In order for the lattice to move, a working unit is assembled from a rod, a gearbox, a crank element and an engine. For this model, a motor from car wipers or a microwave oven is quite suitable. As a battery, you can use a power supply from a computer or connect a cord to connect to an outlet.

The device works as follows: the electrical circuit is closed using a relay after a specified period of time.

The mechanism comes into action and turns the eggs in the tray until they come into contact with the end position stops. The frame is fixed before repeating the working cycle.

Inclined tray for 50 eggs

The main part is an aluminum base with drilled holes for better air circulation. The maximum diameter is 1 cm. The sides are made of laminate. To the middle, a cut is made with a step of 5 cm, through which a net of twine is intertwined to hold the eggs.

For smaller eggs, you can make a grid with a step of 2.5 or 3 cm. The DAN2N electric drive is used to rotate the axis. It is usually used for ventilation in pipes. The drive is powerful enough to tilt the tray slowly by 45 °. The position change is controlled by a timer that opens and closes the contacts every 2.5-3 hours.

Everyone involved in poultry has at least once observed how hens (and hens, and ducks, and geese, and turkeys, and any other bird) turn the eggs with their beak in the nest.

This is done for several reasons, including:

1. When turned over, the eggs are warmed up more evenly, since the heat source is located only on one side.
2. Eggs "breathe" better (in the case of an incubator, this is not as important as with natural incubation, but many farmers even in incubators arrange ventilation of the eggs, providing them with an influx of fresh air).
3. The turning of the eggs ensures the correct development of the chick (the embryo without the movement of the egg can adhere to the shell membrane, the percentage of hatched eggs can be greatly reduced).

Allantois is the embryonic membrane that serves as the respiratory organ of the embryo. In birds, allantois forms along the walls of the shell around the embryo.

The time of closure of the embryonic membrane in all species of birds is different.

You can track the process using an ovoscope. When translucent, the eggs become dark from the sharp end, and an enlarged air chamber is observed in the blunt end.

Incubator Egg Turning Mechanism - Choosing the Best Method

Eggs should be turned over at least 2 times a day with horizontal laying (180 ° - half turn). Although some bird breeders recommend doing this more often - every 4 hours.

The modern assortment of incubators involves a large number of device models with different functionality.
The most inexpensive models are not equipped with an automatic flip mechanism. And therefore, the procedure will have to be performed manually according to a predetermined schedule with a timer. In order not to get confused, a special accounting journal is started, and marks are put on the eggs with a marker.

More functional models of incubators can be equipped with automatic overturning.

Mechanical turning of eggs in an incubator most often there are two types:

• Framework,
• Inclined.

The first type of mechanism works on the principle of rolling eggs. That is, the lower part of the egg is stopped by the supporting surface due to friction, and a special frame, moving, pushes the egg, thereby scrolling it around the axis.

With this type of inversion, eggs are only laid horizontally in the incubator. The frame can move by pushing to one side, or it can rotate about the axis.

The second type of mechanism involves a design that works on the principle of a swing. Eggs in this version are loaded only vertically.

Benefits of frame rotation

1. The device consumes a little energy for turning and therefore can even use a backup current source for operation (in case of a power outage).
2. The rotation mechanism is quite easy to maintain and functional to use.
3. Such an incubator has a small size and does not take up much space.

Flaws

1. The shear mechanism assumes that the shell is perfectly clean, even a little dirt can trap the egg, and it will not turn.
2. The shear step directly affects the turning radius of the egg. If the eggs are of a larger or, conversely, a smaller diameter, laid down by the manufacturers of the device, then the angle of rotation will be significantly changed to a smaller or larger side (incubators with a circular movement of the frames are devoid of such a drawback, all eggs will completely turn over).
3. Some incubator manufacturers do not take into account the dimensions of the eggs, make low frames, and therefore, when shifting, the eggs can beat against each other. With a sharp movement of the frame due to equipment malfunction (backlash, incorrect adjustment, etc.), again, eggs may suffer.

Advantages of tilting egg flipping mechanisms

1. The eggs are guaranteed to turn a given degree, no matter what diameter they are. That is, incubators with an inclined turning mechanism can be safely called universal. They are suitable for any poultry eggs.
2. Such an overturn mechanism is the safest in comparison with the frame one, since the horizontal amplitude of the movements is small, which means that the eggs will beat each other less.

Flaws

1. The swing mechanism is more difficult to maintain than the frame mechanism.
2. The cost of incubators with such automatic egg turning is often high.
3. The dimensions of the end devices and power consumption are higher than the frame counterparts.

The choice of the most optimal mechanism, as well as when choosing any other device, depends on many factors (the final price of the device, other additional functionality, dimensions, power consumption, etc.), as well as the individual preferences of the breeder.

Egg turnover tray in an incubator - nuances

The simplest and most functional version of the mechanism for turning eggs in an incubator- sliding. Most often, the choice for incubators with such equipment falls due to the low final cost.

Below we will consider what to look for when buying such a unit.

• The tray has a certain amount of eggs to be loaded. This indicator is the first thing to pay attention to. The size of the incubator should be selected based on the planned house population. It makes no sense to take a large stock, since an increase in the population directly affects an increase in the area of ​​the chicken coop (or premises for growing other species of birds).

• Some models of trays are made in the form of thin frames. They are the cheapest, however, the most unsafe (the frames bend easily, from which the mechanism can fail if large diameter eggs can touch each other, hanging outside the cell, which is dangerous when moving, etc.). It is best to choose trays with fully insulated cells (on all 4 sides of the egg) with high sides.

• The size of the cell and the offset of the tray directly affect the angle of rotation of the egg. Therefore, the size of the cell should be selected based on the type of eggs. It is not recommended to lay eggs with small diameters in large cells. For example, for quail eggs the tray should have a smaller mesh size, for turkeys - a larger one, etc.

• If you want a versatile auto-rotate incubator for different types eggs, it is best to pay attention to models with trays with removable partitions. They allow you to choose the required size. In such incubators, you can lay different types eggs at the same time (in one row there should be eggs of the same diameter).

How to make a homemade chicken egg turning mechanism in an incubator

In order to make an automatic egg turning mechanism for an incubator, you will need knowledge of mechanics and electrical engineering.

Below we will consider a simple example of creating a mechanism with a horizontal displacement of the tray with an electric drive.

Due to the wide variety of engines and methods of technical implementation of the movement, it will not be difficult to find the necessary materials.

You can always purchase a version of an incubator with an auto-rotate, therefore, creating a mechanism with your own hands is justified only when the price of the tools and materials used does not exceed the price of the finished device.

The basic principles from which it is necessary to proceed:

• The circular motion of the motor rotor must be converted into a horizontal reciprocating motion. This is done with the help of a connecting rod mechanism, when the rod, fixed at one of the points of the circle, transfers the cyclic circular motion performed to the reciprocating movement of the other end.

• Due to the fact that many rotary motors have a large number of revolutions per unit of time, in order to convert frequent axis rotations into rare ones, it is necessary to use a combination of gears with different gear ratios. The number of turns of the final gear should correspond to the time of turning the eggs (in finished models, the rotation is carried out once every 4 hours). That is, one turn at about 2-4 hours.

• The reciprocating movement of the rod in one direction should be the full diameter of the egg - this is about 4 cm, or 8 cm - the total length (rotation in each direction will be carried out by 180 °, that is, in one complete cycle of the last gear - 360 ° of rotation of the egg) ... Simply put, the radius of the rod attachment point on the last gear should be equal to the radius of the egg (or slightly more).

VIDEO INSTRUCTION

The assembled mechanism will work as follows:

1. The motor rotates at a high frequency.
2. The gear system converts the high rotation speed of the motor shaft into a low speed (approximately 1 rotation in 4-8 hours).
3. The rod connecting the last gear and the egg tray converts the circular motion into horizontal reciprocating movements of the tray (by a distance equal to the diameter of the egg).