Looking for a new Incubator. Need Info - Page 2

This is an incubator I built from a medical grade shipping container.  Its very think styrofoam.  I've been making small improvements since I built it last summer and yesterday I finally got my first 100% hatch!  12 eggs set and 12 chicks hatched!!

Here is a picture of my first hatch.  You can see how thick the incubator is in this one!  I used two panes of glass to better insulate it.  I've also put the water sink (a bottle of water) behind a wire screen that also keeps the chicks off the fan, light bulb, and thermostat.  I also switched out the wire on the bottom to a super fine hard ware cloth since I noticed the chicks feet slipping through it.  There is also a much larger and flatter humidity tray under the wire.  I use an egg carton with duck tape on the holes for the first hatch.  It worked really great because I just filled it with water and chopped up sponge and the humidity did great!  The best part, I could just throw it out when the hatch was done!  No cleaning required!  Speaking of cleaning, its pretty easy to clean.  I usually just throw out the wire floor and replace it and then soak the water bottles in bleach water then rinse and let them air dry.  Then I cover and tape over the lightbulb, thermostat, and fan, and fill it with a little soapy water and scrub it with a little stiff brush after I soak it for a bit!  Rinse with the waterhose and let it air dry!  The greatest part about this incubator is that it cost me only $17 to build!!

I own them both and a few more. the hovabator is the best little styrofoam incubator on the market in my book.

Not for a better hatch rate because that would not be true. my hatch rates are the same this year in 3 different incubators and 8 hatches.

just because it seals up better or at least seems to. I know light dosent shine through the seems of it like the little giant.

I know the temps are more stable then the little giant. The wafer is much better when run side by side day in and day out.

It has a plastic liner in the bottom of it the little giant lacks ( BIG PLUS )

it holds more water so you don;t need to refill as often ( ANOTHER BIG PLUS )

it is thicker and I don;t feel like I'm going to break it just because I'm handling it. ( ANOTHER BIG PLUS )

hatch ability. they run dead even.

so it's only the big plus that I think it's better. when in reality,, they both work

I looked for an incubator at Tractor Supply, all they had was the Little Giant. I went with the Hovabator over the Little Giant due to reviews all over the internet, most of them not in favor of the LG and the way it didn't hold the temps. My Hovabator kept the temp and humidity perfectly throughout the entire incubation period.

I just fired up the bator yesterday. In a matter of no time it was at the perfect temp/humidity, and has stayed that way. I like the plastic tray, that made clean up pretty easy.

OLD Hovabators are AWESOME when they get right. and parts are not expensive.

sounds like your wafer thermostat is loose tighten up the wafer and start by getting the set points right. check all the connections too to make sure nothing is loose from the years passing by.

I have 4 different incubators from the old hovabator I added fan and turner too.

the brand new this year little giant I did the same thing too

a homemade job out of a fish shipping crate they throw away at pet stores.

and a cabinet 3 tray gqf 1270 with all the bells and whistles and a 5 gallon water capacity.

I use the hovabator the most. every hatch this year has spent 18 days in it.

Buy a new one if you want to. but get a fan and an egg turner in it.

fix the old one and use it for the last three days.

I'll sure be glad to help you trouble shoot it and get it holding a steady temp.

If your close enough bring it by or send it to me and I'll be glad to fix it.

I'll even trade the brand new LG to you as I hate it. it hatches a good chick. and my lowest hatch rate of the year has been 87 % and I've been through 7 hatches so far this year.

I've found it dosen't make any difference which incubator I use. the hatch rates are the same.

Don't hesitate to contact me if you want to. I'm always willing to help a brother out.