If you want to hatch some wild bird eggs but don't have the money to buy a professional incubator, you can easily make a home out of everyday objects. Once assembled, you are ready to lay the eggs for hatching. However, you have to be careful; in your country it may be illegal to disturb most nests without special permission from the authorized body. For example, in the United States, United Kingdom, Japan and Russia it is forbidden to take wild bird eggs. Learn about the laws in your area before proceeding.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Assemble the Incubator
Step 1. Line a medium-sized shoe box with fabric
Spread a small, thin cloth across the bottom of the box; roll up two rags as if they were rolls and place them together in the container, so that they form a circle or a ring in the center. The width of this circle depends on the size and quantity of the eggs in your possession.
Step 2. Isolate the nest with feathers
Buy a bag of feathers from your nearest DIY store. Use the feathers to cover the fabric ring in the center of the box. The feathers retain heat well and keep the eggs warm.
Step 3. Add 2 to 4 stuffed animals
Again, the number depends on how big they are and how much space there is in the box; arrange them around the circumference of the ring that encloses the eggs to increase the heat. Make sure the pets are large enough to press against the walls of the box and push the rags closer to the eggs.
Step 4. Fill a small bowl with water to create moisture
Place it in a corner of the box to avoid spills; top up the water every day or when the level has dropped due to evaporation and check it at least twice a day.
Step 5. Get a small heating lamp
Look for a cheap one at charity centers or thrift stores; if you want a high quality one, you have to buy it in pet stores. Get one that has an adjustable stem, so that it is positioned in the appropriate way to obtain the ideal temperature.
Make sure the lamp is not in contact with any flammable material in the box, as it could cause a fire
Step 6. Purchase a digital thermometer and hygrometer
Digital instruments allow you to measure the temperature down to the tenth of a degree and for your purpose you need this kind of precision; therefore look for such equipment in the most well-stocked shopping centers. Many stores sell a single instrument that measures both temperature and humidity.
Step 7. Heat the box
Place the lamp so that the light illuminates the inside and place the thermometer and hygrometer in the place where you lay the eggs; make sure that the temperature is around 37 ° C and the humidity between 55 and 70%.
Part 2 of 2: Place the Eggs in the Incubator
Step 1. Define the bird species that will be born
This can help you create the ideal level of temperature and humidity. Take the eggs to a center that can identify them; eventually, you can also read different sources online. For convenience, we list some of them (in English):
- The Audubon Society's Guide to North American Birds (United States, Canada, Mexico);
- The Woodland Trust (UK);
- The Cornell Lab of Ornithology;
- Sialis.
Step 2. Place the eggs in the incubator
Arrange them inside the circle made with the two cloths and place them next to each other, avoiding that they overlap, otherwise they could break during rotation.
Step 3. Place the box in indirect sunlight
The sun's rays provide even more heat without reducing the humidity. Do not keep the box directly in the sun, otherwise the temperature can rise to dangerous levels for the eggs; you can place it in the morning in front of a west-facing window or in the afternoon in front of an east-facing window. If the weather is warm enough, during the day you can put it outside in a partially shaded place out of reach of predators.
Depending on the bird species, the brooding process can be quicker in periods of greater daylight
Step 4. Monitor the temperature
Turn off the lamp if the temperature exceeds 38 ° C and leave it off until it returns to the ideal level; if you find that it is constantly getting too high, try to move the lamp a little away, positioning it more appropriately.
Step 5. Check the humidity level
The exact percentage depends on the species of eggs you are hatching; add more water to increase it. If you continue to see levels above 70%, reduce the amount of water inside the box.
Step 6. Rotate the eggs several times a day
You don't have to flip them, just rotate them. You can buy a mechanical tool at stores that supply farm materials; however, if you have the ability to constantly stick around, you can rotate them by hand. The frequency depends on the species of specimen, but on average one should proceed with two rotations per hour.
Step 7. Put the cover back when you turn off the lamp
Most species also tolerate temperatures as low as 16 ° C well, so the eggs won't get damaged if you turn off the lamp when you go to sleep. The lid helps retain internal heat during the night; but remember to take it off and turn the lamp back on the next morning. Set an alarm to make sure you don't forget.
Step 8. Be prepared for the eventuality of the eggs not hatching
Unfortunately, the risk of the brood failing in an incubator box is very high. Natural incubation is a very difficult process to recreate. If the eggs have cracks or have been out of their natural nest for a long time, they are unlikely to hatch.
Advice
- This article deals in particular with the incubation of wild bird eggs; if you want to hatch chicken ones instead, read this wikiHow article.
- If you wish, you can purchase an incubator temperature control system, which you can purchase at local livestock supply stores or even online at sites like eBay or Amazon. Set the ideal temperature and the device turns the lamp off or on to keep the heat within the ideal range.
Warnings
- Always wash your hands after handling the eggs.
- Remember that bird life hangs by a thread; do not build an incubator "at least worst", but build an efficient system.
- If you live in a country that was part of the Soviet Union from 1917 to 1991, you may still be subject to the Migratory Birds Treaty. In any case, always check your country's regulations regarding the hatching of wild bird eggs before trying your hand at this project.
