Fixing to bite the bullet on a Cabinet incubator Which one

[andypettis3370]

I am fixing to go a head and get me a cabinet incubator, and I was just wondering which ones have y'all had luck with and which ones are crap? I have been looking hard a Dickey but I know there is others out there. What is some good ones to look at and what should I stay away from. I have 2 of the stryofoam ones but just want something nicer and a little easier to run. I have gotten a lot of good information from y'all before so that is why I am back again. Thanks y'all for all the help in the past.

 

[jcinadr]

I can not provide any first hand info - like you I am in the looking stage (and hoping someone knowledgeable will reply). My wife's brother wants us to send him some chicks (he sent us the breading stock last fall), and our brooding hen let us down. Like many others on the board, he has a couple of incubators already - and he suggested that we might want to just start off with a cabinet and get it over with....

Brother in law has been eying up a Sportsman I think, Dickey has caught my attention. That said, do see that R-Com has some interesting stuff out - but it's probably overkill for barnyard fowl (and 2x as expensive).

 

[andypettis3370]

Yeah the Rcom is way up there. I think my best bet is the Dickey but I would like to look at a few more brands. Do any of y'all know of any others than the ones listed?

 

[dheltzel]

I got a used Sportsman last December and I love it. So much better than the styrofoam ones. That said, last week I started up my old hoverbator to use as a hatcher, it's hard to use the bottom of the cabinets and manage the humidity for the other eggs. After studying this one, I'm pretty sure I could improve upon it by building my own for a lot less.

A few notes:
1) don't waste you money on the clear door or humidity pail with float valve. Spend that money to buy a styrofoam incubator to use as a separate hatcher, that's a lot more practical.
2) watch Craigslist and other places for used ones, they are often half price that way.
3) it can really heat up a room. I'm going to add more insulation for the summer, when that is no longer a welcome thing.

 

[jcinadr]

Bullet has been bit here. DW called Mr. Dickey this morning. Went with everything... 3-1 to do staged hatches (rather than 2-2 that appears designed to do full batches - if I ever want to do a full batch, will deal with a separate hatcher then). Went with the window - I have curious kids - they will want to peak all the time. Digital because it looked easier. By that time, just added the water to be done with it...

Did not order redundant thermometer or humidity gauge - yet. Always nice to see 2 separate units reading the same. Yes I can be paranoid.

I had done a bit of research before this last weekend, but project does feel like it is steamrolling ahead. Will start saving eggs and depending on how fast it is shipped, should have the first tray going a day or 2 after it arrives.
-
Wife did not get (or is not telling me) shipping cost...

 

[andypettis3370]

Yeah I have looked into building one with this right here.
http://incubatorwarehouse.com/225-watt-cabinet-incukit.html

I did call and talk to Mr. Dickey and I know he is trying to sell his incubator, but when he told me that he had an incubator in his shop right now that a lady has had for 29 and run in dang near none stop and all that has went wrong was the fan motor went out. I would say that is good quality. I have talked to several others and say that if an egg is fertile it will hatch in a Dickey. And the biggest selling point on the Dickey for me is that he is only a hour away from me so I can drive up and pick it up and save on the shipping.
I am still wondering is there any other brands out there to look at?