Brower Top Hatch - Anyone Use One?

[bantyhen'sfriend]

So, I'm contemplating on buying my first incubator (that didn't cluck and lay eggs), and I saw the Brower Top Hatch. It looks good (washes in the dishwasher, holds any size egg and comes with standard egg turners) however, I was wondering if anyone on BYC has used one or is using one now. I know it's about the same price as a HovaBator (with the turners). Is it easy to set up and use? How does it cope with temperature change? How does it hold temp. and humidity? What have your hatch rates been?

Any feedback or info is appreciated!
Liz

 

[Pampered Chicken]

I was wondering also.

 

[bantyhen'sfriend]

Anyone?

 

[kid-n-chickens]

I am using my cousins and it is used condition. The turner I am sure works well but I have could not figure out how to load the eggs in the triangle with out them turning sideways and every which way, so I elected to use egg cartons with holes in the bottom of them and change positions of the eggs myself. As soon as it was time for the first batch to hatch, I switched and started using it as a hatcher (which it is awesome at) because you can see everything and watch it all. In order to get the humidity to hold at around 45 I had to put strips of papertowels in the built in ring so they would wick water to increase surface but once I got it there it stayed pretty stable. For lockdown I had to add two sponges cut in half and 8 papertowel strips in the water to wick it to get to 58-60 percent. I had to add water every 2 days. The turner and fan motor makes a rrrrrrring noise and it heats with a light that flashes on and off about every 3 seconds. It does hold temps very stable once you get it there as long as your room stays steady if your room raises a couple degrees for a period of time so will the bator. I keep my bedroom door closed so I can sleep thru the flashing light. Browers support guys have been awesome to answer questions. When setting up and adjusting temps make small changes then wait 2-3 hours before adjusting again b/c it adjusts out over time. The more I have used it the more I like it, I am using an LG and and Hovabator for incubating, but I would definitely want a fan in them to even out the temp from top to bottom. the jury is still out on them. Any more questions I will try to answer.

 

[pascopol]

I just bought second hand Brower Top Hatch, have 3 other bators. Mostly intend to use it as a hatcher due to easy cleaning.

But since I am overloaded with eggs now I got 3 bators running now including Brower.

Top Hatch is not as stable as Brinsea ECO temperature wise but much better than LG. Humidity is easy controlled and I can add water without opening it. Also it seems that high humidity for lockdown can be easy achieved due to large area of evaporation.

Some bators including Brinsea ECO have trouble holding high humidity due to design.

I have coturnix eggs in it, waiting for the first hatch to fully evaluate it.

Have already plan to improve the temperature control if needed making it as foolproof as Brinsea, but of much larger capacity.

So far my impression is Top Hatch is not a plug and play like Brinsea, but I like it already due to solid construction and easy dishwater cleaning.



Top Hatch is a little noisy, but the noise is much less than I expected, also peronally blinking light does not bother me.

My homemade bator blinks too, so I am used to it.

Anyway Top Hatch beats any styrobator in my opinion.

 

[Pampered Chicken]

OP did you buy one. Would the genisis be a better chouce?