Hi My gramps has lots of eggs and 2 days ago one of them layed eggs, but sadly on the same days the mother of the eggs were stolen!! My gramps gave me one of the eggs today and said they might have died But I'd like to think there still ok so I made a nest myself a nest with heaps of towels and on top put a hot waterbottle the egg is warm but i'd like to make an incubater my self with house hold stuff but don't know how!!! Can u PLEASE tell me if I'm doing it right or if I should use a lamp and for how long and how many times a day I do this!! Its really urgent I don't want to cook them!! reagrds Cèzanne, Switzerland

-- Cèzanne Broad (willy tome@bluewin.ch), April 06, 2002

Answers

Hi, we've raised chickens for years. When that happens I take the eggs and put them in a incubator. Some hatch and some don't. You can use a 100 Watt bulb but they need to be kept warm. Over 90 degrees.They ususally hatch in 28 days. Maybe someone has a incubator that is used. O therwise they problably are dead . Sorry to say that. Pris Mountain Ashe ACRES Farm Upstate,NY

-- SUNSHINE (MTASHEACRES@AOL.COM), April 06, 2002.

There is a typo in the above post----chickens hatch out in 21 days, not 28. Also, the eggs need to be warmer than 90 degrees---more like 101 or 102. Good luck with your project, but I may as well warn you that the chances of the egg hatching are not good.

-- Jeff (lorianandjeff@aol.com), April 06, 2002.

Hello, if you would like plans to make your own incubator you might start in two places. First check the archives(the old posts here)for discussions on incubators. Second, go to www.poultryconnection.com and post your question on their general forum. Many people there have made their own incubators and will be glad to help you. Also on that site are LIKKS pages. do check these because you will find wonderful information on chickens, great pictures and fun stuff. Find "Quackers Home Page"(on the general waterfowl forum) and there is a sequence of photos on there showing what fertile chicken eggs look like from the time they are layed until the day they hatch and also non'fertile ones and how to tell the difference. Have fun, LQ

-- Little Quacker (carouselxing@juno.com), April 06, 2002.

I have several plans filed away, but this one will probably be the Easiest Home Made Incubator

-- ~Rogo (rogo2222@hotmail.com), April 08, 2002.

Ya.. Iv'e been trying to hatch an of my own and I put a large goose egg under a lamp with a 60 watt light bulb. i covered the lamp with a blanket and it has been plenty warm. i have almost no doubts that the goose will hatch. I was worried at first to, but just place your hand on the egg and check every once in a while if it is warm enough! I'll keep you uupdated on my egg!

Sincerely Megan Bohls age15. seattle, Wa

-- Megan K. Bohls (stepawayfromtheblond@charter.net), May 12, 2002.