Constructing a Plywood Incubator
The following illustrations are designed to guide the reader through the construction of a small plywood and glass incubator that will accomodate about 100 chicken eggs.
Basic woodworking tools are required required for construction. Gather all equipment and supplies listed below together before starting construction.
The diagrams shown will guide the construction of the unit. Printed diagrams are shown in MCES Publication 1150, Avian Embryo that is available through your local County Agent Office.
Bill of materials
| 1 pc 5 pcs 1 pc 1 pc 1 pc 1 pc 1 pc |
1/2"x4'x6' A-C Exterior Plywood 3/8"x3/4"x8' Pine 3/4"x1½"x13' Pine 3/4"x3¼"x4' Pine 1/2"x3/4"x8' Pine 1/2"x18"x27" rigid insulation board 18"x27" heavy duty aluminum foil |
| 1 pc 4 pcs 4 pcs 2 2 2 1 pc |
1/2"x30" semi-rigid plastic pipe 10"x20" single strength window glass 10"x14" single strength window glass 1½" roundwooden drawer pulls metal drawer pulls (cup type) 2" hooks with eyes 8' felt weatherstripping 1/4"x1/2" |
| 1 pc 2 1 1 2' |
20"x27" - ¼" hardware cloth vent covers - sheet metal incubator electrification kit * attachment plug No. 18-2 flexible service cord |
| 1 10 1 pr 1 1 pc 1 pc |
duplex outlet for surface mounting small porcelain knobs for heating element 4"x1" flat hinges water pan - minimum 360 sq. in. 1/8"x16½' steel rod 3/16"x8' steel rod Assorted nails and screws Waterproof wood glue |
*electrification kit composed of wafer thermostat with duplex outlet, pilot light, service cord, and 160-watt flexible glass-covered heating element.
Publications
News
Poultry is big business in Mississippi, and poultry producers are having to manage disease and high feed costs to produce the meat and eggs that Americans consume in great quantities. Poultry is the most consumed meat in the U.S., according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, followed by beef and then pork. Eggs are also popular, with Americans eating close to 250 eggs per person each year.
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- The Mississippi Board of Animal Health reported Feb. 23 that a backyard poultry flock in Copiah County tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza, often referred to as HPAI or H5N1.
This is the second backyard flock to test positive for HPAI. The first confirmation was in Lowndes County in November 2022. There have also been two detections in commercial broiler flocks, one in Lawrence County in November 2022 and the other in Leake County in February. All affected facilities were quarantined, and the birds were depopulated to prevent spreading.
Shoppers facing sticker shock at the grocery store know that eggs are part of the cost increase, but they may not know why.
Josh Maples, an agricultural economist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said egg prices over the Christmas holiday were more than double what they were at the same time in 2021.
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Poultry was already Mississippi’s top agricultural commodity before its overall value increased even more in 2022.
The estimated value of production for the state’s poultry in 2022 was $3.8 billion. This 48% increase over 2021’s record production value of $2.6 billion will rewrite the record books if these totals hold when the final numbers are released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture next April.
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- The Mississippi Board of Animal Health is asking backyard bird owners to be vigilant in their biosecurity procedures after a commercial breeder chicken flock in Lawrence County tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza, or HPAI.
