Incubator build | Dale's Quails

Most of our projects are built from scraps we have laying around. You can reuse just about anything it seems! The incubator below is our first attempt and we learned quite a bit from it to make the 2.0 version that much better. Below are some simple steps to help you get the idea we used. The measurements are just what we went with but you can use the same concept for different sizes. This incubator is 3.5 cubic feet(16"x20"x19"), enough for two sets of quail rails (120 eggs each).

Floor 16" x 20" (Outside)

*Assemble your boards for depth, not widht as this will be insulated with 5/8" styrofoam insulation.
*I glue all joints as well as nail with a brad nailer.
*Always ensure everything is square before glue sets

(Wrong pic) Back 23" x 21 1/4"

*Repeat same assembly steps as the floor, remembering to square up

2X Sides 16" x 21 1/4"

*Continue same assembly steps. Double checking that everything is square

Inside floor cover

We used bathroom paneling from a remodel last summer. The paneling is coated in vinyl so will handle the humidity and heat inside the incubator well. We again use some glue and nail with brad nailer. Repeat for 3 sides and floor.

Side

Assemble

Make sure everything is square and lines up well, then glue and fasten the 3 sides to the floor. They get fastened to the outside to keep inside dimensions 16" x 20"

Sides on

Corner joints

Nail from the outside into the floor board, then flip over and nail the floor board into side boards making sure the nails are going into the board and not the paneling.

Top 23 1/8" x 17 1/2"

* DO NOT FASTEN TOP UNTIL FAN IS ATTACHED
We put supports across the center to fasten the heater fan to. We centered the fan as it's a small box.

Fan instal

We centered the fan in the box as its a small space and that fan really pumps the air!

Assembled with glue and nails

Once we attached the top, we clamped everything together to give the glue time to set. We checked to make sure the cube was squared before clamping and adjusted as needed.

Assembled with fan and no doors

Outside

*We forgot to take pictures of the insulation process. We used 5/8" styrofoam insulation we had left over from the attic. The R value isnt the greatest but will act as a great buffer between air zones. We cut the pieces to fit inside of all the sides, top and floor.
*Used left over cheap paneling we tore out from another remodel to sheath the outside and bottom.

Door assembled

*We went with a split door style to allow the thermostat to be attached to the front.
*Left door is 3/4 plywood left over from another remodel (old house so lots of remodeling last 2 years)
*The right door is plexiglas with 1x2 frame. No reason other than we thought it looked good and had some left over from an earlier project.

Front view

side finished

Front finished

All the building materials we used were scraps. The 1x2 for the frame were last years tomato cages. We did decide to purchase a thermostat and heater kit from www.incubatorwarehouse.com as well as their quail rails. Once the rails get installed we will update the pictures. The hinges were cheap for a box of 20 on amazon..$10 Total cost $160 for 240 egg incubator.

We welcome any and all feedback as this is our first DIY post. Hope it helps!