Making an incubator for quail eggs is profitable and accessible to everyone. You can assemble it with your own hands from available materials, the main thing is to know the basic subtleties of the process. This device makes it possible to obtain young animals at low financial costs. Considering that in adults there is practically no parental instinct, only a properly equipped incubator can help in breeding quails.
What is an incubator for?
One of the advantages of quails is their compact size; they can be kept in large numbers in a small area. But natural offspring are often not enough to breed a particular population. In addition, one female is not able to hatch more than 12-15 pieces. There are situations when a quail completely refuses to incubate them.
To successfully breed quails at home, you need to have a hermetically sealed box or incubator. It must have a heat-insulating layer of sufficient thickness, an effective heating system and egg containers. With a competent approach, all conditions for the normal growth of the new generation should be organized in the incubator.
There is a huge range of ready-made quail incubators on the market. But their cost is not small. To reduce costs, such a device can be easily assembled using ready-made drawings and using available materials.
Primary requirements
An incubator made by yourself will be able to completely provide the eggs with a comfortable microclimate if it meets certain standards. For quails, the temperature regime in the box is very important; deviations in indicators are only allowed by 0.1 degrees (+ or -). It is important to install an accurate thermometer in the incubator; it can be ready-made, purchased in a store, or made at home. In addition, in a homemade house for future chicks there should be no gaps or cracks, the heat should be kept inside and not come out.
In an incubator made from scrap materials, conditions should be organized that are as close to natural as possible. This applies not only to air temperature indicators, but also to humidity levels. To install the device, you will need experience with electronics and a soldering iron.In addition, the incubator must have a special grill for eggs.
Types of incubators
Before you go to the store to buy a device for breeding quails, it is worth learning in more detail about the most common models. Often, to breed young quails, owners use boxes designed for large poultry. Only instead of a coarse mesh, a fine mesh one is used.
In addition to some models there are special containers and trays for small egg products. So, there is no need to be upset if the incubator you like is not equipped with suitable trays; they can be purchased separately.
There are three groups of devices on sale, differing from each other by turning the eggs:
- Handcrafted, attracting consumers at an affordable price. But there is one drawback here - the need for human participation. Quail eggs will need to be turned on your own from time to time.
- Mechanical, distinguished by ease of use. A mechanical type handle is provided here.
- Automatic, allowing the owner not to participate in turning the eggs. All actions are performed automatically after a certain period of time.
Regarding the cost, the difference between all positions is not very significant. If possible, preference should be given to automatic incubators.
Selection rules
When buying an incubator, you should pay attention to the body. If it is made of wood or plastic, then the temperature during the incubation process will be distributed unevenly. In such conditions, the eggs will not be able to fully develop.
How to make an incubator with your own hands
To make a homemade house for new young animals, you can use various available means. The main thing is to take care of an effective heating, lighting and ventilation system.
From a wooden box
Wood is the most accessible material in the household. Sheets of plywood, OSB boards, and boards are also suitable here. For a homemade incubator you will need:
- finished wooden box;
- plywood/foam/any heat insulator;
- wooden logs (3 pcs.);
- water containers (2 pcs.);
- fine mesh metal mesh;
- fixing slats;
- resistor-heaters PEV-100, 300 Ohm (2 pcs.);
- incandescent lamps (power 40 W);
- wire in heat-resistant insulation.
The algorithm for performing work on assembling the incubator provides for:
- Covering the walls of the box with sheets of plywood and polystyrene foam.
- Making a viewing window in the box lid. In the future it will need to be glazed.
- Installation of lighting fixtures in each corner of the box. The wiring should be done 20 cm from the cover.
- Stretching fine mesh onto a metal frame. Then place the resulting structure 10 cm above the bottom of the box.
- Installation of a fan, thermostat and thermometer.
- Place containers of water on the floor in the box.
From a non-working refrigerator
An ordinary household refrigerator is also quite suitable for breeding quails. To convert it, you need to do a few simple manipulations. Among which:
- Replace shelves with trays.
- Insulate the walls with foam plastic. Install a fan, install lamps and a thermostat.
- Place containers of water below.
From a foam box
Polystyrene foam is an affordable and easy-to-work material. With a skillful approach, you can make a home incubator in a short time. The following scheme is followed here:
- Assemble a polystyrene box, covering the seams with tape and the inside with foil.
- Make a viewing window in the lid.
- Install incandescent lamps inside. Drill 3 holes with a diameter of 12 mm on the sides of the box for air circulation.
- Install the thermostat, fixing the sensor inside at a height of 1 cm from the egg tray. Also install a fan, insert egg containers and place a bowl of water at the bottom.
From a plastic bucket
A small “house” for future chicks can be made from a bucket. The technology here is simple. It is enough to follow the basic principles of assembly:
- Make a window in the lid.
- Install a couple of incandescent lamps inside.
- Place a tray in the middle of the container, 70-80 mm away from the bottom, drill holes for ventilation.
- Place a bowl of water at the bottom.
A quail incubator is a device that allows you to hatch a sufficient number of chicks at home without financial costs. You can make it yourself using available materials and tools.
