孵卵器(ふらんき)

Composed of 孵卵(ふらん) (egg incubation) and the suffix -器(き) (instrument, apparatus). Refers to the device itself, in contrast with 孵化場(ふかじょう), which refers to the whole facility.

Usage

Commonly encountered in agricultural contexts (poultry, game birds), elementary-school science projects (hatching chicken eggs in the classroom), and among hobbyists who breed exotic birds or reptiles. The term is slightly technical; in casual conversation, people may instead describe the box by function, for example 卵(たまご)を温(あたた)める機械(きかい) (a machine that warms eggs).

Common collocations

• 孵卵器(ふらんき)に卵(たまご)を入(い)れる: to place eggs in the incubator
• 孵卵器(ふらんき)の温度(おんど)を保(たも)つ: to maintain the incubator's temperature
• 小型(こがた)孵卵器(ふらんき): small / compact incubator
• 自動(じどう)孵卵器(ふらんき): automatic incubator (with automatic egg-turning)
• 孵卵器(ふらんき)で孵化(ふか)させる: to hatch using an incubator

Similar words

• 孵化場(ふかじょう): hatchery — the building or facility, not the machine
• 保育器(ほいくき): (baby) incubator — a medical device for newborn humans; not for eggs
• 育雛器(いくすうき): brooder — a device for keeping newly hatched chicks warm after hatching
• インキュベーター: incubator — the katakana loanword, used for laboratory/medical incubators or, figuratively, business incubators