Brower TH120 is a great bator, all plastic, larger capacity than any styrobator, build in universal egg turner for all kinds of eggs from quail to goose, no need to purchase and sweep extra racks. It is easy to clean, (Dishwasher) very durable, easy replacable , cheap and self diagnosing heat source (60W candelabra socket type light bulb).
But Top Hatch has one serious fault and perhaps that's why it is not very popular.
Brower TopHatch does not hold steady temperature especially with fluctuating room temp. By the way I never found any room without temp fluctuations.
Brower's fluctuations are not as bad as famous or rather infamous Little Giant but are still not acceptable for efficient and assured hatch.
I bought a second hand TH120 just out of curiosity and for a heck of it and used is as a hatcher first with great results on coturnix quail eggs.
Then I came with an idea to improve it making it a quality bator rivaling Brinsea and other higher end bators.
I am very happy with my Tophatch now (I own Brinsea ECO too).
I improved my Top Hatch by pluging it into ReptiTemp 500R thermostat. (about 25 bucks). No wiring necessary, plug and play situation. I insert Reptitemp 500R probe into one of the Brower ventilation 4 holes until the probe is at the top of the eggs level , then set Reptitemp thermostat so it will cut off at 100F. You plug in the Top Hatch into Repti outlet socket.
Result is a very stable and high quality bator, temperature may fluctuate between 99.5 and 100 but it will NEVER spike above 100F even if the room temp fluctuates up to 7-10 degrees in my case, since the probe senses the temp at the egg level and will cut it off at exactly 100F or whatever you set it on no matter what the room temp is.
My last hatch was Silver Appleyard ducks (shipped eggs) incubated in Brinsea ECO, hatched in Brower, I hatched 8 out of 13 eggs, actually 8 of 9 good eggs at kindling time. That was before above modification.
Now I am going to use my Brower as a bator for any larger hatch since it has larger capacity than my Brinsea ECO20 or any styrobator. Also Brower it is better for incubating waterfowl since eggs are rolled not swung like in cabinets or LG/GQF type bators.
To me Brower has one more important adventage over other bators/hatchers as a hatcher:
Ther is no fan blowing directly on eggs possible dehydrating them when humidity is critical at hatch time, since Brower Tophatch has the fan located under the floor blowing gently air upwards along the heating lightbulb and then air descends down along the dome walls. Also due to large water evaporation area it comes to high humidity quick after removing some chicks. (Most of us can resist it, can we?)
HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYBODY
But Top Hatch has one serious fault and perhaps that's why it is not very popular.
Brower TopHatch does not hold steady temperature especially with fluctuating room temp. By the way I never found any room without temp fluctuations.
Brower's fluctuations are not as bad as famous or rather infamous Little Giant but are still not acceptable for efficient and assured hatch.
I bought a second hand TH120 just out of curiosity and for a heck of it and used is as a hatcher first with great results on coturnix quail eggs.
Then I came with an idea to improve it making it a quality bator rivaling Brinsea and other higher end bators.
I am very happy with my Tophatch now (I own Brinsea ECO too).
I improved my Top Hatch by pluging it into ReptiTemp 500R thermostat. (about 25 bucks). No wiring necessary, plug and play situation. I insert Reptitemp 500R probe into one of the Brower ventilation 4 holes until the probe is at the top of the eggs level , then set Reptitemp thermostat so it will cut off at 100F. You plug in the Top Hatch into Repti outlet socket.
Result is a very stable and high quality bator, temperature may fluctuate between 99.5 and 100 but it will NEVER spike above 100F even if the room temp fluctuates up to 7-10 degrees in my case, since the probe senses the temp at the egg level and will cut it off at exactly 100F or whatever you set it on no matter what the room temp is.
My last hatch was Silver Appleyard ducks (shipped eggs) incubated in Brinsea ECO, hatched in Brower, I hatched 8 out of 13 eggs, actually 8 of 9 good eggs at kindling time. That was before above modification.
Now I am going to use my Brower as a bator for any larger hatch since it has larger capacity than my Brinsea ECO20 or any styrobator. Also Brower it is better for incubating waterfowl since eggs are rolled not swung like in cabinets or LG/GQF type bators.
To me Brower has one more important adventage over other bators/hatchers as a hatcher:
Ther is no fan blowing directly on eggs possible dehydrating them when humidity is critical at hatch time, since Brower Tophatch has the fan located under the floor blowing gently air upwards along the heating lightbulb and then air descends down along the dome walls. Also due to large water evaporation area it comes to high humidity quick after removing some chicks. (Most of us can resist it, can we?)
HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYBODY
