Best Incubator

[RedheadErin]

I would like to get a nice multi-purpose incubator for hatching various types of eggs--chicks, guinea fowl, ducks, maybe peafowl or turkeys. It will need to have the automatic turner as well. What is the best kind to buy?

 

[Chickenaddict]

A hen lol

 

[chiqita]

brisnia or hovabator, forced airs.

 

[nurse_turtle]

Broody hens are by far the best option, although, I highly recommend Hovabator with fan and egg turner.

 

[RedheadErin]

Ok but what if none of my hens feels like sitting?

 

[GAQuail]

If your setting 10-40 eggs I would recommend the GQF 1588 Genesis. I think Cutler Supply has the best price right now.

 

[walkswithdog]

Note, I am a screaming addict...

Leahy, the six hundred egg cedar one. Or the littler ones...

I build mine. But if I didn't.... brinsea.

I can make just about anything work, including LGs but I really don't like a cramped incubator. And I actually prefer to turn my own eggs. I'm weird like that. For me it's more about the art of hatching, than just perfect results. So I'm different. It's not production, it's passion. I loved my leahy, selling it killed me. I'll find another some day. I don't like not being able to hatch 40 or more eggs at once. And a couple hundred is hilarious. A few eggs leaves me paranoid about failure, I couldn't do it.

To each his own. The Brinsea you can connect to a computer I would also find fun and educational, since then you get really good records for a hatch.

I think I'm too into interacting with my eggs to go that route though.

 

[quintinp]

If I were wanting a multi-purpose incubator, that hatched lots of eggs, I would go with a GQF cabinet incubator, and use a homemade cooler incubator as your hatcher.

That suggestion is if you have lots of money to spend though.

 

[RedheadErin]

I have a few hundred bucks to spend. It's unlikely i would want t hatch more than a dozen eggs at a time, since I like to hand-raise the chicks. However, my work schedule is crazy, so an automatic turner is the only way for me to go.

My son's homeschool group does incredibly well with a little styrofoam dealie thay have had since dirt was new, and a volunteer mom who turns them daily. They usually get 17-18 chicks form 24 eggs. But I dont have that kind of perfect routine.