BREEDING FOR PRODUCTION...EGGS AND OR MEAT.

[bnjrob]

Quote:
I've heard the Rcoms are good, I just hate that their prices are up there with the Brinseas.

 

[ronott1]

I was not impressed with the Hovabator Genesis pretty much from day one, it was my second incubator. After only a couple of years of use, it crapped out. And I don't hatch hundreds of eggs a year either. It fluctuated temps quite a bit when it was new and it just kept getting worse.

You really get what you pay for though. My favorite is Brinsea. I only have the little one because it is so pricey but unless the egg isn't fertile, the hatches have been good in it. I got it with the automatic humidity pump system and it is basically set it and forget it till you need to shut the turner off. Last year I bought an Incuview with the aerosol humidity pump kit. It did well, has more ability to tweak the settings and held better temperature than the Hovabator.

I don't like cabinet incubators because of the potential to lose a lot of eggs if something goes wrong.

When the Genesis went to the new version with the digital display, there were a bunch of them with a bad control board. I have an old style and a new style. The new style was replaced and it now works great!

Mine are 5 and 4 years old and hatched hundreds of chicks each year. I still use them for hatching at lockdown.

I do like the Brinsea, but they are not going to fit into the $130.00 range.

There is a person on the Easter hatch thread that is selling a Brinsea octagon 40 with all the bells and whistles for $600.00 used.

 

[ronott1]

I really like my Rcom. I bought it because it appeared to be dummy-proof, and so far it hasn't let me down.

Remember the OP was on a $130.00 budget.

My dream incubator is the contact incubator from Brinsea--in the $6000.00 neighborhood for price. Definately not $130.00.

 

[lpatelski]

Does anybody have a favorite incubator? I don't want to jump into an $800 machine, but I want something dependable that holds a stable temperature. All the reviews I've read about Hovabators and similar, styrofoam models seem to work great for some people and fluctuate wildly for others. I'd like to buy something under $130 and preferably a lot under that. Ideas?

I made mine for $35.00 or less. Are you handy? Mine runs with-in .8 degrees of 99.5ºF. I used a lower water heater unit. Instructions below and videos on website.
I turn my eggs by hand, essentially pulling the roller from one side of the incubator to the other. I have two incubators. One to incubate and one to hatch. Like I have said before, my eggs go in every six days and three cycles later they come out into the hatcher at 18 days.
works for me. I have never lost one of my 85+ live chicks after they come out of the hatcher. I euthanized one, one died coming out of the shell. After they hatch, they rock and roll.

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

For a number of crazy, crazy reasons (involving being upset after a dog attack of my best rooster leading to questionable purchase decisions), I have both the R-Com 20 Max and the Brinsea Octagon Advance with the humidity pump thingie. I have had 16 of my own eggs (Cream Legbar) in the R-Com 20. 15/16 developing nicely, 1 wasn't fertile. I'll be setting 16 shipped eggs (with messed up air cells) in the Brinsea tomorrow.

Certainly it's still early, but the R-Com is a BREEZE, and actually cheaper than Brinsea (given the additional amount to pay for the humidity thing). And it has a REALLY big clear window, which I really like. If not in use, I would likely move any eggs incubated in the Brinsea int the R-Com to hatch, so I can observe more easily. Down side - eggs are incubated on their sides, so you can't really incubate upright unless you put into a carton (as you may need to in messed up shipped eggs) unless you don't turn or turn by hand.

If it's just local eggs, I'd get the R-Com. It's more money than your budget (but cheaper than Brinsea), but about as effortless as is possible. If shipped are a possibility, the Brinsea Octagon can incubate upright (and still tilt if and when you want to) - though you can rig something upright in the R-Com and turn the turner off. Humidity and temp rock solid with both.

If you're ok with DIY (I'm not good at that AT ALL), you can make your own very successfully - Sally Sunshine has instructions on how to make one from a cooler, and how to ensure calibration. VERY successful for LOTS of folk (who hatch hundreds of chicks...) and cheaper, more in the range you noted. But I have to say, the R-Com or Brinsea really are "set it and forget it". With my job, this is required.

Honestly? I really like the R-Com better so far. But I suppose time will tell...

Photos (you can see what I mean by the visibility issue):

Brinsea Octagon Advance (humidity on the right) - no eggs in it yet (tomorrow!):

R-Com (SOOOOO easy!!!) - note if you order the Max, this egg tray needs to be ordered separately. GET THIS TRAY for good turning (universal tray/rails not as good):


Hope that helps!

- Ant Farm

 

[bnjrob]

Quote: Aha! Betcha that was the problem with my Genesis. I still have it but haven't messed with it to see if it could be fixed.

 

[ronott1]

Aha! Betcha that was the problem with my Genesis. I still have it but haven't messed with it to see if it could be fixed.

Contact their support to see what they can do for you.

Even with a nice brinsea it is helpful to have a good backup.

 

[Kassaundra]

The only incubator I have experience w/ is the Brinsea eco 20, out of the stated price range. It keeps rock solid temps, but I hate it. I have had to "birth" nearly every bird by hand, they all shrink wrap even w/o external pip. No matter how much water I add. I have had eggs shrink wrap when the last few days the outside humidity has been 100% and the reservoirs full of water, and condensation on the inner "walls" of the fool thing.

 

[Beekissed]

That's strange, K...I've used the same 'bator and never had a problem with that. Humidity stayed perfect throughout and hatch was normal. I really like the Eco 20 and would search no further if I intended to use a 'bator for hatching.

 

[Kassaundra]

That's strange, K...I've used the same 'bator and never had a problem with that. Humidity stayed perfect throughout and hatch was normal. I really like the Eco 20 and would search no further if I intended to use a 'bator for hatching.

So many people have no problems w/ them, even local to me people (so no weird Oklahoma vortex going on) I do not know why my experiences have been so bad w/ it. I love the being able to see the eggs the ease of use and it is rock solid on temps. It has caused me to be near professional at "birthing" hatching chicks though.