My first incubator was the 1602. It is really moody. The best hatch I got out of it was about 40%. It is very sensitive to room temp changes. Even a 5 degree shift (like at night) whacks it out. I lost a lot of eggs using it. I bought it because it was the $55 model. I then lost more than the cost of the good incubator in egg loss.
I just bought the 1588 and completed (mostly) a hatch in it. I put in 14 eggs initially and later pulled 2 duds out (leaving 12). So far 9 of the 12 have hatched and are doing great. I started to throw out the other three last night. I always crack my no-hatchers just to see what went wrong. Imagine my surprise when I cracked one and had blood seep out! It wasn't a dud! ACK! I put it and the other two back in there and will give them a few more days (although it is likely I killed that one by cracking it
).
Soooo, so far I have a 75% hatch and at least one of the ones left has developed. It is likely that I could get a 100% hatch.
Now... this lot of eggs is no better than all the others I hatched. I did nothing different. It is all about the incubator. The 1588 held temps perfectly. Humidity has been easy peasy. I wish I had spent the money for the 1588 first and not lost all my other hatches.
My advice would be to buy the 1588 and not get the turner at first. When you save up more money, THEN get the turner. I don't have the turner in mine and it has been fine. You just have to go turn them all by hand. No biggee. It is well worth the money to go ahead and get the 1588.
Good luck!
edited to add- I bought mine from Cutler Supply. The cost is the same as from the manufacturer direct (actually a couple of dollars cheaper when you factor in shipping). Plus I needed to order some other stuff too. They were great and got it here really fast!
