Anyone have any thoughts on the GQF Chick-Bator?

[A.T. Hagan]

Howdy,

I've been out of hatching for a while now and thinking about getting back into the game. I see that GQF has what I believe is a new incubator - their Chick-Bator (GQF Chick-Bator) that appears to be their entry to compete with the Brinsea model.

I don't mean the little dome-shaped exhibition incubators (worthless), but this:

In searching around yesterday I found a number of vendors offering them but could find no useful reviews.

Anyone have one? What do you think? Are they worthwhile?

Thanks.

Alan.

 

[Debbie292d]

Howdy,

I've been out of hatching for a while now and thinking about getting back into the game. I see that GQF has what I believe is a new incubator - their Chick-Bator (GQF Chick-Bator) that appears to be their entry to compete with the Brinsea model.

I don't mean the little dome-shaped exhibition incubators (worthless), but this:


View attachment 4306402

In searching around yesterday I found a number of vendors offering them but could find no useful reviews.

Anyone have one? What do you think? Are they worthwhile?

Thanks.

Alan.

Hi Alan,

I searched around here and elsewhere and there really isn't much about that particular incubator. Perhaps it's too new to have any reviews. It does look good though.

I'm personally more a stickler for things I can read reviews in a couple of different sites, but if you're the adventurous type I'd say go for it. Did you check out if they have a return policy just in case?

 

[Ridgerunner]

I use a GQF Hovabator 1588 but a real old model. I see a few similarities but the 3200 is different, especially the controls. I did find the instruction manual.

They say this one is insulated which is unlike other plastic models. I don't see that insulating makes that much difference if the thermostat is working correctly but my question is whether that makes it harder to clean. My 1588 is not that hard to clean but is styrofoam which can stain. After a hatch, I clean mine outside. In a wind I have to be a little more careful with the styrofoam than I would with hard plastic. My base was styrofoam, which is fragile. I can't tell if that base is styrofoam or styrofoam lined plastic. I can't see enough to tell is there are any issues with this or not.

It sounds like there are 4 distinct water channels in the bottom to manage humidity, same as my 1588. My suggestion is to run it with water in different channels or combination of channels to get a feel for what that does to humidity. It sounds like you have a control for that. I'm sure you are aware that you have to wait until a channel totally dries out for the humidity to stabilize. That can take a while so adjusting down can be harder.

They say do not trust the instruments on the incubator. I agree with that, initial settings or readings can be off whether GQF or Brinsea. Use your own calibrated instruments. It took me a couple of hatches with my 1588 to get the settings correct but once I did it was remarkable stable. But there have been a lot of changes in design, materials, and the people putting them together, I'm not sure how my experience from several years ago with GQF translates to today's equipment, even a new 1588, let alone a different design.

If I were in the market for a new one I'd consider this one but I'd really like to see a few reviews.