Beginner Incubator?

[aclee]

I am thinking about getting an incubator. Possibly for chicken or turkey eggs...maybe both? What is good for a beginner? Reasonable cost wise...don't need one that holds 300 eggs or anything

Any other tips for a beginner would be great.


Thanks!

 

[RedfogsFlock]

We bought a little giant still air incubator, it costs about $60. It is what we started with, and we still use!

 

[Brickman House]

What's your budget? There are a couple or three incubators at each price point.

 

[aclee]

Iwould say $50-$75 would be great...

 

[Sweetfolly]

I started with the Brinsea Octagon 20 Eco, and I liked it so much that I bought another and an auto-turning cradle for it - I definately recommend it for beginners: http://www.jmtdistributors.com/octagon-20-eco-egg-incubat20.html
The Brinsea website seems to be down today, but here's the direct link to them: http://www.brinsea.com/prod-Octagon_20_ECO_egg_incubator-224.aspx

I've got the hatching bug this year, and I didn't have room in my pair of Octagon 20's for all my assorted duck, chicken, and turkey eggs, so I just borrowed a Little Giant still air incubator this week to fit them all in. I can say that I hate the Little Giant incubator with a passion, and don't recommend it for a beginner. The temperature is super-touchy and swings all over the place, while my Brinsea incubators have been holding rock-solid temperatures for months now and have been giving me really great hatch rates.

If you want your first hatch to be successful, invest in a good incubator. The Brinsea incubators are great, as is the R-Com King Suro 20 - the Suro is fully automated, and a bit pricey: http://www.jmtdistributors.com/rcom-suro-20-n20.html

 

[One Acre Wonder Farm]

The Brinsea Octogan Eco 20 is the way to go. It holds temperatures, it is super easy to turn the eggs (you don't even have to open the incubator, just tilt the entire thing) and it is made of plastic, not styrofoam, so it is a breeze to clean and will last many years. I

mine!!

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

Hovabator 1588

 

[Brickman House]

At that price point, your choices are pretty much the Little Giant, or the Hovabator.

You'll find proponents of each on here, but I suspect you'd find that the Hovabator comes more universally recommended.

The Brinsea Octagon comes highly recommended, but it's over twice your budget.