Never incubated before..what kind to buy?

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bkterry

bkterry

In the Brooder
11 Years
Mar 6, 2008
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I've never tried to incubate eggs before. I'm thinking about buying a bator, but I'm not sure what kind to get. I do not want to spend a lot of money....has to stay under $100. I found a GQF Hova Bator thermal air flow incubator for $48.99. Is this a good price? Is it best to get one with forced air or do still air ones do ok? I'd like to get a turner eventually but I don't know that I want to spend the money right now. Any advice is welcomed and appreciated.

Anyone that uses a still air bator...do you have a very good success rate with your eggs and any tips???
 
I have a Little Giant with fan, and without the fan it had one major temp fluctulation and with fan it hasnt budged. Alot of people on here swear by the hova bators. But its really if you know how to control your bator. You can get the LG bator and the LG auto turner for about $80.00 and both are pretty good and stable. But if you get it dont listen to the instructions with the humidity, it tells you to fill all troughs with water. You will need a thermometer/ hydromometer. Ilike the five dollar springfeild from wal mart. Goodluck, -Jay
 
Quote:
I agree 100%. I have two LG's and one Hovabator and I've never been able to figure the Hovabator out. All are still airs and I've had decent hatches with them. I like the LG's because for me they are easier to adjust. If you want to increase the temp, when the light goes off, turn it a HAIR til the light goes on. Same with decreasing but turn it til the light goes off. I also think the turners that you can buy for the LG's are better quality.
 
Quote:
I agree 100%. I have two LG's and one Hovabator and I've never been able to figure the Hovabator out. All are still airs and I've had decent hatches with them. I like the LG's because for me they are easier to adjust. If you want to increase the temp, when the light goes off, turn it a HAIR til the light goes on. Same with decreasing but turn it til the light goes off. I also think the turners that you can buy for the LG's are better quality.

Glad to see Im not the only one who likes LGs. LOL Thanks, and goodluck
-Jay
 
I have great success with my Hovabator forced air. It just keeps the temperature more even than a still air.

Also, an egg turner will be worth each and every penny you spend on it. Keep in mind, you have to turn all the eggs at least 3 times a day, which is not only time consuming. What if you forget it or if something else unforseen keeps you from doing it? Even more important, without a turner you will have to open the incubator and that will significantly destroy your desired temperature and humidity for your eggs.
 
Quote:
I agree 100%. I have two LG's and one Hovabator and I've never been able to figure the Hovabator out. All are still airs and I've had decent hatches with them. I like the LG's because for me they are easier to adjust. If you want to increase the temp, when the light goes off, turn it a HAIR til the light goes on. Same with decreasing but turn it til the light goes off. I also think the turners that you can buy for the LG's are better quality.

Glad to see Im not the only one who likes LGs. LOL Thanks, and goodluck
-Jay

Thought it was just me!
he.gif
 
Quote:
For turning the eggs it should not take you 20 minuets to turn even fourty eggs. Auto turners can be expensive and sometimes a good thing to have around. Anways opening the bator is good for the eggs, they cool and it simulates the hen getting off the eggs to eat and poop. Therefore hand turning maybe better. I dont disagree with some of what your saying, but some cooling time increases your hatchability, only let sit for 5 minuets and put lid back on so you can also give it time to heat back up so all around the eggs will be able to cool for abotu 10 minuets. At least this is what I have read from articles written by pros. Goodluck -Jay
 
I also have 2 LG's and 1 hovabator (1583). I loved my LG's, until I got the hovabator!
gig.gif
It is forced air with the picture window, perfect for hatching tiny quail that love to hide! The temp does not move at all unless the water gets low!! I still like my lg's, but only as still airs. I tried adding a fan to one, and I couldn't hatch a thing!
The hovabator forced air is less than $100, but that is without the turner. I think mine was $150 with the turner, universal and quail egg racks. The LG's cost about $50 for a still air, and $45 for the turner, with chicken racks only.

I would go with a forced air bator, and turn by hand. Once the chicks hatch you can always sell them and buy a turner, or look for one online for cheap.
 
Quote:
For turning the eggs it should not take you 20 minuets to turn even fourty eggs. Auto turners can be expensive and sometimes a good thing to have around. Anways opening the bator is good for the eggs, they cool and it simulates the hen getting off the eggs to eat and poop. Therefore hand turning maybe better. I dont disagree with some of what your saying, but some cooling time increases your hatchability, only let sit for 5 minuets and put lid back on so you can also give it time to heat back up so all around the eggs will be able to cool for abotu 10 minuets. At least this is what I have read from articles written by pros. Goodluck -Jay

I too think the eggs should be cooled, but one way to get around opening the bator and hand turning is by using paper towels or sponges for the humidity, and just tilting the bator, to simulate turning. I got the turners because I have too many things to remember! I would forget to turn, or forget if I had turned, much less stressful to have the turner.
 
Hovabator 1588 w/ auto egg turner.

I've used Melissa at (pasofinofarms) and Nancy (bargain). They are both wonderful.

Out of the 18 eggs I got from each of them. (36 eggs) I was able to hatch out 12 chicks. 6 from each of them.
 

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