Farm innovations 4250 incubator

[ASilkieNest]

I'm curious as well. I've been eyeing them for a while since TSC has them for $129 w/ everything. I will say don't ever trust the gages on any bator until checked for accuracy first.

I got one. The temp jumps and falls a lot. I wouldn't buy it again. The egg turner works but other then that I hate it. I've had about 4 hatches in it. 1st time using it, it jumped to 111 degrees! Then when hatch day came most eggs didn't hatch and then the temp fell to 96! This happened every time!

 

[AmyLynn2374]

I got one. The temp jumps and falls a lot. I wouldn't buy it again. The egg turner works but other then that I hate it. I've had about 4 hatches in it. 1st time using it, it jumped to 111 degrees! Then when hatch day came most eggs didn't hatch and then the temp fell to 96! This happened every time!

That's good to know, thanks.

 

[PlaymorSiberian]

Amy, any update on the 4250 Farm Innovators? I'm considering a purchase in the next few days. Its been hard to find any reviews on this model.

 

[poultryman84]

I've had no luck with it. Started perfect then down hill from there. lots of temperature spikes and baby sitting.

 

[Shadow722]

I just ordered the new 4250. I've been using the 4200. I haven't had much luck this year with it. Last year I did okay with it. I'm tired of only getting 4 or 5 chicks out of 41 eggs. Curious to see how the new one will work. Should come in a few days. $109 from Farm and Fleet. http://www.farmandfleet.com/m/produ...d-air-incubator-wih-automatic-egg-turner.html

 

[Shadow722]

I got mine 2 days ago. I started my 4200 the day before. I just moved the egg Turner over. First I changed the tops. The 4200 was actually running 104 degrees according to the 4250 digital display. I also had a thermometer inside that came with the 4200 which was about 2 degrees warmer than the one on the case. So I bought 2 glass fish tank thermometers and put those inside each. I confirmed 100 on the 4200 was 104. So when I was trusting the previous inside thermometer it was then 106. I'm hoping that is the source of all my hatching problems. The 4250 is dead on with temperature indicated on the inside thermometer. So 18 more days and I'll find out.

 

[glacierridge]

Any feedback?

I got mine 2 days ago. I started my 4200 the day before. I just moved the egg Turner over. First I changed the tops. The 4200 was actually running 104 degrees according to the 4250 digital display. I also had a thermometer inside that came with the 4200 which was about 2 degrees warmer than the one on the case. So I bought 2 glass fish tank thermometers and put those inside each. I confirmed 100 on the 4200 was 104. So when I was trusting the previous inside thermometer it was then 106. I'm hoping that is the source of all my hatching problems. The 4250 is dead on with temperature indicated on the inside thermometer. So 18 more days and I'll find out.

 

[Shadow722]

Any feedback?

I only hatched 2. I have 1 problem I discovered too late and I wonder how much business my rooster was doing. I discovered on day 20 the lid wasn't on good. It looked good but when I gave it some more water because I was having trouble keeping humidity over 50% it dropped on better. I put a cloth down in the bottom and used a large straw through the vent hole to add more water. I got rid of 15 Golden lace hens which seemed to have the highest fertility rate and I have had the most success with their eggs. My hens have been real good at hatching the Maran eggs, so I'm suspecting my incubation skills have been bad. I put a fish tank thermometer in both incubators and discovered the 4200 was was running 4 degrees warmer than the built in thermometer. The 4250 seemed very close to the fish tank thermometer.

I'm not going to say the the 4250 is no good. I think it was my incubation skill. I'm going to give it one more shot before I sell it.

 

[glacierridge]

Thanks.
This is the unit I get to work with. My nephew was disgusted how poor the last hatch rate was and I'm supposed to take the next turn. Maybe I'll see if there's a way to calibrate it, and I'll still probably get another hygrometer to check and verify against.
I'll be darned if I'm gonna fail the next lot of eggs if there's something I can do to help.
Thank you for the report.

 

[Spatzerl]

I just bought the 4250 and it is my first try at incubating eggs. Will see how it goes, but to start off with: do I just pour water into the bottom tray? I don't understand where the water is supposed to go.