Create an Egg Incubator for Wild Bird Eggs
If you want to hatch some wild bird eggs that you may have found and you don't have the money for a pro incubator, you can easily create an efficient incubator from household items.
Steps
- Get a medium sized shoebox or if you have a spare fish tank that will be good to (just make sure to check the temperature more often because its glass and reflects the heat)and some wash rags. Roll up two rags like a burrito and lay them together in the box to form a circle or a ring in the middle. Lay a small, soft cloth in the hole that that rags made. Your egg will sit inside the circle there on the small cloth.
- Get four small stuffed animals (They must be very small) and put each one on a part of the circle to enclose the egg more for warmth. (e.g. On on the left, on the right, on the top part, on the bottom part.) Make sure they are each big enough to press against the sides of the shoebox and push in the cloths closer to the egg.
- Find a small cup or dish and fill it up with water. Put the cup in a corner of the box. This will be for humidity.
- Remember that this will have to be refilled every once in a while because the water will evaporate. Always remember to check it.
- You could place the box on a table or in a place where sunlight can reach it if possible. This would provide more warmth.
- Whatever you do, Do not put the lid on at this point. You will may want to use it later, but not now.
- Find a small heat lamp. It doesn't need to be great quality. If you can't find one you can just buy a cheap-o one from a thrift store or garage sale. They're easy to get.
- Point the heat lamp towards the egg. This is the main heat source.
- Make sure to rotate your egg(s) a few times a day. (Don't spin them, just rotate.)
- Enjoy your eggs!
Tips
- Remember that each bird egg has different incubation standards. If you are OCD about this, you may want to find out what wild bird it may be and get a humidity gauge and thermometer to place in there.also if the egg is to hot move the heat lamp farther away from the egg and if its to cold try moving it closer.
- At night, you can turn off the heat lamp and put the lid on the box.but its best not to with the fish tank) It should be okay for the night because mother birds don't incubate every second of the day. Just don't forget to fix it in the morning! (As early as you can get up!)
- Don't be sad if the egg doesn't hatch. You did your best.
- If you want, you can get a temperature controller for the incubator. You can even buy cheaper incubators online, it buy a used one from Craigslist or eBay
Temperature controllers: U You set a temp, it turns the heat source on or off so it does not get too cold or too hot.
Warnings
- Remember to consider the fact that the bird's life is on the line. Don't just throw an incubator together. Make it efficient.
- Always wash your hands after handling an egg.
- Remember! This article is about wild bird eggs! Not chickens or anything like that. Be careful!
Things You'll Need
- Shoebox or fishtank
- Wash cloths
- A small, soft cloth
- Heat lamp
- Natural sunlight (optional, but recommended.)
- Small cup or dish with water
- Small stuffed animals
- Patience and readiness
Related Articles
- Buy an Egg Incubator
