How to build quick egg turner for your incubator

greenaus · **Posted:** Sun Oct 12, 2008 7:14 pm

Materials
2.4m length of 12mm x 30mm timber
2 x 1.8m lengths of 6mm wood dowel
Several screws
Rolls of non-slip matting

Tools
Jig saw
Drill
Drill bits
Screw driver bit for drill (or a screw driver)

Your list may vary depending on the dimensions of your incubator shelves, materials you already have on hand and personal preference.

From the 2.4m length of timber I cut 2 x 19.5" and 3 x 14" lengths. I drilled six holes at 5cm spacing along the 14" lengths.

I began to screw the pieces together and quickly discovered my chosen timber required pre-drilling to avoid splitting. I pre-drilled and screwed the frame together.

I cut the dowel into 19.5" lengths and began feeding them through the holes in the three 14" lengths.

I finished adding the lengths of dowel. I lined the incubator shelf with non-slip matting that I had cut to size and taped it in place.

I put the shelf back in the incubator, sat the egg-roller frame on it and added the eggs.

When working out the measurements (the 14" bit) I first established how far the frame would need to move to turn the eggs exactly half-way. I then allowed a little extra to leave a small space along the front for the thermometer.

With the frame in place, I can turn up to 56 eggs by sliding the frame forward or back in under 20 seconds including repositioning the thermostat and thermometer probes. I put 43 eggs in there at about 2am this morning.

Peter16 · **Posted:** Sun Oct 12, 2008 7:21 pm

greenaus wrote:

I began to screw the pieces together and quickly discovered my chosen timber required pre-drilling to avoid splitting. I pre-drilled and screwed the frame together.

Pilot holes

How come you didnt film the construction, would have gone well with your new narrated video.

well done BTW, very ingenious.

greenaus · **Posted:** Sun Oct 12, 2008 7:55 pm

Peter16 wrote:

How come you didn't film the construction

1. It is unsafe to build with one hand and hold the camera with the other.

2. My digital camera only videos 30 seconds at a time (with no sound)

3. I'd have to build everything in the office to use the web cam.

4. I forgot.

nevit · **Posted:** Sun Oct 12, 2008 8:00 pm

brilliant just brilliant
:lol:

greenaus · **Posted:** Sun Oct 12, 2008 11:24 pm

Fat Chook was concerned about thermometer placement in their turner.

I offered a suggestion or two in the Photo Gallery. I believe the fix comes down to making the thermometer a "part" of the turner...so that it moves with it.

This could be as simple as using cable ties to attach it to top centre of one of wooden dowels. If the incubator is full and that idea would inhibit the rolling of any eggs, perhaps tape it to the top of one of the sides. Or build some kind of low framework over the top (a bridge) and suspend the thermometer just above the eggs (as suggested in the Photo Gallery).

If I was using a similar thermometer that's what I'd be doing.

What I have considered for my incubator is adding a little support or something to keep the thermostat probe in place. It could be as simple as a couple of those little eyelet hook things that I could screw into the centre support. That would remove the need to remember to return the probe to the top of the eggs after each roll (turn). I'd have to be sure the probe wasn't touching anything that could affect the accuracy.

Actually, I could just use cable ties (or duct tape) and cable tie (or tape) it to the centre support or one of the wooden dowels (not touching the dowel of course).

I'll try something after the chickens hatch from the middle shelf where the probe is now. The eggs and frame will move down from the top shelf then (or I'll build a new egg turner frame for there).

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