How can I make an incubator for chicks for cheap?

What temperature do I put my incubator to hatch female chicks only?

• I recently bought an incubator and I am thinking about hatching eggs. I would like to know if it is at all possible to set the incubator to a certain temperature so the eggs will hatch as females. I have been told by a friend it is possible, is it?? And if so what is the correct temperature for females? Please take this seriously because I cannot keep any cockerels as my next door neighbour will not approve. Thanks so much! Hope you can help!? :)

• Answer:

  You are getting confused with crocodiles, their eggs either hatch all male or all female depending on the temperature inside the heap of vegetation where the mom croc lays the eggs. I try to only hatch eggs that are more rounded and less "pointy" as someone told me that the more pointy eggs are cockerels but I think its rubbish because any eggs I hatch I always end up with more cockerels than pullets, its sods law I'm afraid. Often you can't tell until 9-10 weeks of age what sex they are, sometimes longer depending on the breed. I hatched 3 Brahma chicks in May and I am still not entirely certain what they are. If you hatch cockerels all you can try to do is sell/give them away or alternatively eat them. I have a 6 month old cockerel that is destined for the chop next week I'm afraid. All the rest of the 11 that hatched in May have homes (I kept 2 pullets) but nobody wants him and he's getting stressed on his own so its time to go.