Best incubator for beginner - all in 1 type - 150 or less?

[oregonkat]

Sorry, mine is actually a Hovabator 1588, it would have been helpful to actually go and look at it I got a deal on mine which came with the auto turner (eggs on their sides) which I do NOT use with shipped eggs but I see that Incubator Warehouse is not offering this deal any more. Sorry for the misinformation but I do love this incubator. I think the Incuview is probably very comparable but I am not sure.

 

[flipflops]

I ended up going with the hovabator 1588 with egg Turner. I will have shipped eggs. Is it not ok to use the Turner that comes with this with shipped eggs?

 

[feedman77]

I have the 1588. Excellent choice.

Shipped eggs are a gamble. Sometimes a 50 percent hatch is excellent.

Unless they changed the turner it holds the eggs upright. If it doesn't and that's how you want to hatch an LG turner will fit.

 

[flipflops]

Im going to be doing bntams, but is it ok to mix bantam with standard eggs when incubating? Any tips or advice will be great!!

 

[feedman77]

I don't incubate bantams but shouldn't be a problem.

If they need 18 days just set them 3 days after the regular chicken eggs.

I used to hatch turkey and chicken eggs at the same time. I just set the chickens a week after the turkeys. So that way all hatch at the same time.

 

[flipflops]

So bntams do not take as long?

 

[feedman77]

Not positive. Haven't hatched them. But read I believe they usually hatch around day 18 or 19.

 

[Redhead Rae]

Chicken eggs, bantam or not, should take 21 days.

 

[Redhead Rae]

I just researched. They are more likely to hatch before 21 days than standard eggs.

That is why you move to lockdown on day 18 just incase of early hatchers.

 

[oregonkat]

I ended up going with the hovabator 1588 with egg Turner. I will have shipped eggs. Is it not ok to use the Turner that comes with this with shipped eggs?

The only reason I incubate my shipped eggs in the turner that keeps the eggs upright as opposed to on their sides (I think maybe your bator came with the flat turner that keeps the eggs rolling on their sides) is because shipped eggs can have such a rough and tumble journey getting to you and the air cells can become detached. If the eggs are a: allowed to rest for at least 24 hours fat end up before going in to the bator, and b: are kept upright for incubation the air cell has a much better chance of staying where it should be. Shipped eggs are notorious for having a significantly lower hatch rate than unshipped/owner fresh eggs. Usually around 50% or lower and with shipped eggs being as expensive as they are, getting as many to hatch as possible is ideal. However, all that being said, I know that lots and lots of folks on here hatch shipped eggs on their sides perhaps not turning them at all for the first couple of days.

Upright is just my preferred method and even with the last hatch of shipped eggs I got a 70% approx. hatch rate which still is not ideal, but some were clears, and a couple were quitters.