DICKEY'S vs. SPORTSMAN ... Any reviews?

[Debbi]

Well that tears it! After my last hatch disaster, I'm going to buy either a Sportsman or a Dickey's incubator.

Does anyone have any experience with the Dickey's? Has anyone ever used both brands, and if so, which did you prefer? Pros and cons of both models appreciated greatly!! Ideally, I would get an incubator and seperate hatcher, but unless I can find some used ones locally, (that actually work!), I am just going to buy new, and it will be the all-in-one type model (incubator/hatcher), to keep it more affordable. Any takers?

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

I've had my Dickey for about 2 months. It was easy to get set up. Temp stays right on 100 degrees even with the temp swings I had in the room. Really like it. https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=483245 https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=132615

 

[onthespot]

I have both brands. Both are very old. The Dickie has a louder turner motor. The sportsman needs some repair work, but even dilpidated it works fine, with minor work arounds. I would say they are equal, except for the noise. Disclaimer. I think the Sportsman is maybe twenty or more years old. (Still super quiet) and the Dickie, maybe ten or more.

 

[pips&peeps]

I've had both and my experience was that the sportsman was made from better quality materials.

 

[Debbi]

Thank you. Nice looking unit too. Now another question, if you are hatching different eggs that are due to hatch at different times, how do you use the hatcher with the higher humidity, without drowning the other eggs that are incubating? Or do you just incubate/hatch one lot at a time? Seems my Marans eggs do better with a low humidity (25-35) for the first 18 days, but really need the extra humidity (65-70%) for the lockdown. So, if you are hatching some but still incubating the others, how does that work?

 

[fishman65]

good question debbi...I was curious about this too.....cabinet incubator is the next phase in my addiction....

 

[Debbi]

Wonder if Mr. Dickey could make me a 2x2 with a seperate hatching chamber? Like a partition between the incubator and the hatching drawers? That way, you could have the two differently drastic humidity levels going on at the same time! Wonder how much THAT idea would set me back!?

Hmm, maybe I'll just make my own!

 

[gumbii]

nope... you just leave it at 55% humidity and that's it... thru the entire incubation period of the egg...

 

[SED]

I have a Dickey and hatch every week. Week 1, 96 eggs go in the first tray, week 2, 96 eggs go into the second tray, week 3, 96 eggs go into the third tray, tray 1 goes into the hatcher and the rotation period begins. So that every time a new batch of eggs go into a tray, a tray of eggs go into the hatcher. No other adjustments. 80-90% hatch every week. I am very pleased with it.

 

[Debbi]

Hmm, 55% throughout the whole hatch?? Never heard that one, is that specific to cabinet models? Are any of you hatching Marans eggs??