Experiences with the Hovabator Incubator?

[australorp_breeder]

I'm debating on getting the Hovatabor Incubator and I was wondering if anyone here can tell me the good/bad experiences you've had with it? I don't want a huge incubator, and the Hovabator is the smallest, decent one I could find and holds 70 chicken eggs for $60. The other smallest one was $18 and only held three chicken eggs.

If you suggest any others please let me know. I don't want to go over $80 and I don't trust making a homemade one.

 

[Mahonri]

I got a Hovabator Genesis 1588 last year. It holds 41 eggs for me because I use one of the turner slots for a water tube.

I've now done three hatches in it.

First two hatches I got 12 chicks both times.

Third hatch I got 21 out of it. Once I learned that you'll hatch more if you do a "dry hatch". 35% humidity for the first 18 days, then 65% for lockdown.

I also have a Brinsea Octogon 20 Advance Ex. I got 20 chicks out of it, first hatch.

 

[juliechick]

I have the Hovabator Genesis as well. It holds temp very well and I've had several great hatches from it. I don't think you could go wrong with one of these.

 

[australorp_breeder]

Thank you! The one I'm getting won't be a Genesis, but a regular one. I don't think it will make that much of a difference though.

 

[MagsC]

I dont have a genesis, but my Hovabator did just fine for hatching eggs. The only thing I did notice is that it holds humidity more than the LGs, so add water a little at a time and keep an eye on it.

 

[bigdawg]

i have the 1602 with turner and fan. very good hatch rates. and i dont know who told you it would hold 70 chicken eggs. you might get 50 in it without a turner but any more than that they wont have room to hatch and it will be almost impossible to turn them by hand

 

[chickenjoe]

I have a 1602 with a turner w/o a fan . I'm doing my first hatch as we speak. started with 10 eggs 2 hatched so far, I notice that the temp and humidity swung alot. It could have been my inexperience and messing the thermostat. I'm going to add a fan to mine. From what I read it stablizes a the temp and humidity.

 

[petrelline]

I have an older picture window hovabator with a fan -- don't know the model number -- and I'm just finishing up my first hatch with it. It seemed to hold a stable temperature, but the humidity trays went dry fairly frequently so I had to make sure to check them. I really should have bought a good hygrometer before I started, which would have helped better understand what was going on inside the box. But I can't complain about the incubator itself (especially since I got a really good deal on it).

 

[Painted Spirit]

I have a Hovabator that I added a turner and fan too. Bought a LG to use for "overflow" not realizing the difference. Got home with the LG, unpacked it, looked at it, took it back. The airholes are right on the bottom so anything that drips down (and stuff will, trust me) will drip out, the water trays on the bottom are tiny in comparison. I just waited while the basic Hovabator came in the mail. It was 40, plus the turner was 40, and the fan was 20. I do use it in a spare bedroom so the temps in the house are pretty stable. Once you get the temp where you want it don't make many temp adjustments at first - especially when you put in the eggs.

 

[aceschix]

I have a1588 Genesis. Have not hatched in it yet...got it for Christmas. It has been running for a week. The humidity if steady at 39 - 40% up here in the dry North East

. The temps are right on with no adjusting. Eggs going n on Friday. Can not wait but so far this thing ROCKS!!