Cheep cheep incubators

[greenleader]

I bought a really cheap incubator via E Bay. It cost about 36£. It is a simple polystyrene box with a small halogen bulb (looks like the old camera flashgun bulbs), it has a small fan to circulate the heat. OK you have to do all the singing and dancing yourself turning at least thrice daily and playing with the humidity etc., however it works. We have hatched chucks, Guineas and Ducks.

Why pay hundreds (OK if you can afford it) when cheap and simple is not cheap & nasty. Had the box 2 years now and it is getting a bit battered, there are some almost holes right through where I have accidentally had the bulb touching whilst turning yet it remains pretty efficient. Have not monitored power consumption but bill does not rise radically.

Have just deviated from our norm though using in winter (in living room, not heated 24/7) and noticed it is running for much longer so will be interested to view leccie bill. Our friend has gone to England for 4 weeks and we are looking after her flock of fancy chucks. She told us to take the eggs so we decided to incubate not eat. If we get hatchlings will mean using heat lamp longer as well but keen to see what/if we get (if) any.

 

[sumi]

You were really lucky with that incubator. With incubators and most other things you usually get what you pay for and if you don't pay much, you won't get much.