Best incubator for continuous hatching?

[BirdLeaf]

Here'a a couple pics of mine. I took the back panel off and you can see the guts of the incubator. In over 20 years the design has changed very little. There are built like a tank. The only difference between mine and the 1502 is the 1502 has a programmable digital thermostat.

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I wanted a GQF sportsman 1502 but didn't want to spend $750. Well I ended buying 4 old GQFs (3 1266s and a 1250) for $1000 and I sold 2 of them.

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It really depends on what you want to do. These incubators hold 250ish chicken eggs and 1200ish quail eggs. I currently have 260 quail eggs in mine. The table top brinseas look nice and probably work great. If you're only doing a few eggs here or there I might could see buying one. But if you're looking for a large capacity commercial incubator that has a proven track record I highly recommend the GQFs.

I have one now that holds 49 I think, and it’s typically full lol. I’d like one that holds around 100ish. I really like the looks of those ones you’ve got, I would just need to figure out a hatcher.

 

[mdees88]

The GQF 1502 is a incubator/hatcher in one. It has the 3 egg trays but also has a hatching box in the bottom. This would be the most cost effective way to go.

I kept 2 incubators because I was going to use one as a hatcher and one as a incubator. Well I just use one for both. I have a Tupperware tote in the bottom of mine that I hatch in. I'm going to remove the bottom egg tray of my incubator so I can add a larger Tupperware box in the bottom.

 

[BirdLeaf]

The GQF 1502 is a incubator/hatcher in one. It has the 3 egg trays but also has a hatching box in the bottom. This would be the most cost effective way to go.

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I kept 2 incubators because I was going to use one as a hatcher and one as a incubator. Well I just use one for both. I have a Tupperware tote in the bottom of mine that I hatch in. I'm going to remove the bottom egg tray of my incubator so I can add a larger Tupperware box in the bottom.

I think that’s the one I want, it looks so nice! Does it automatically control humidity?

 

[mdees88]

It's not "automatic" so to speak but it's a total breeze to control...... ESPECIALLY IF....... you add the Water Reserve System. The water reserve system is a 5 gallon bucket that sits on top of the incubator. It has a hose that goes inside of the incubator and connects to the water pan. The water pan has a float valve in it that maintains a constant water level.

There are vents on the back of the cabinet. You open and close them to control humidity. Once you have them set you do not have to mess with them again. When it's time for lockdown you add their sponge into the pan. This will raise the humidity.

With this system I fill the 5 gallon bucket and I never have to add water during the entire process. When it's time for lockdown I open the door and add the sponge. That's it... I'll take a pic when I get home and show you mine with the water system added.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

There is no accounting for taste or for individual commitment so take all the negative reviews with a sack of salt.

I have used 3 GQF incubators and a fourth as a hatcher and set about 270 eggs per week mostly with very good results. The incubators were turned around every 20 to 21 days and the hatchet got a new batch of ready to pip eggs with a complete turnaround every 7 days. There was never any real need to turn them off until I was finished hatching eggs for the year.

Formaldehyde gas or Sulfur gas was mostly used to sterilize everything so you will need some metal replacement parts from time to time to keep the GQFs operating at peak efficiency. I made my own segmented hatching trays so as to keep the various mating's separated at hatching time. Keep a few spare parts on hand and one of the most critical but overlooked is the little rubber O-ring that goes between the 5 gallon water reservoir that sits on top and the water tray in the incubator/hatcher.

A large metal coffee can with an appropriate sized hole in the bottom makes a good but inexpensive candling device but don't forget to use it only in a blacked out or dark room.