Going to buy my first incubator today.

[Teresaann24]

What are others suggestions? What model is the best? I am going to wait to buy a egg turner so if I set any eggs soon I will be hand turning. I have heard so many different things on how much to turn. I have heard once a day twice a day or three times a day also I have heard 6 times a day?? Whats the best? Whats the best temps for incubation for the first 18 days? should temps be raised or lowered after day 18 or stay the same? what about humidity levels for the first 18 days? and what is the best for after 18 days? Any info is great I have only incubated eggs under a hen. Tried a few expiriments but never had my own incubator. Any info would be awesome!

 

[clinkennuts]

I am on my first hatch right now. So I don't have everything nailed down yet, but I would suggest an egg turner.

 

[minna]

I've only had cabinets, so I don't know about the others. But my settings are temp 99.5 to 100.5 and humidity 40-50% the first 18 days then 60 or so the last 3. I would also suggest the turner as soon as you could afford it. When I didn't have a turner, I turned at least 3 times, sometimes 5. You should always turn an odd number of turns and no less than 3 times.Good luck with your first incubator.

 

[Katy]

Get a Hova-bator Genesis 1588. It's pretty much fool proof. I've got 3 of them. Years ago I started out with a Little Giant and struggled with it for a long time until I switched to the Hova-bators.

 

[lowcountrypoultry]

I 2nd the Hovabator Genesis its AWESOME!

Any hovabator is great but the Genesis is just so user friendly

 

[TheNewMrsEvans]

For that same price range i've heard good things about the brower top hatch...
http://dblrsupply.pinnaclecart.com/...or_110_volt_60_Hz_0r_220_volt_50_Hz-3-11.html

That includes the turner, and for better temp regulation get/make an insulation blanket...
http://www.windchyme.com/Images/Chickens/Chickens.htm
better than silver insulation wrap junk, plus they are cute, and she is a nice lady

 

[Guinea Goonie]

Quote:
Agreed. The Hova-bator Genesis 1588 is one I am after. I am still using the little giant (they actually replaced the motor at the feed store on the turner). So I am again going to struggle through another season. I do not like this bator and the hatch rate is poor to good.

However, I have been doing this for awhile now and I know the tricks of the trade and I believe I can get a decent hatch rate out of the LG, but it will be a struggle. I have done a few modifications on the little bugger.

Do NOT get the 1602 Hova-bator, the 1588 is the way to go.

 

[ranchhand]

Quote:
The Hovabator Genesis 1588 is what I went with. After only one hatch, (I'm not an expert), I am sold on it. It made it easy and a really great experience! The turner was a really good idea, because I would have forgotten, sooner or later. It worked like a champ- I set 18 eggs, one was infertile and the other 17 hatched within 12 hours of each other.

Good luck!

 

[Teresaann24]

I bought a little giant? So they are not any good? Thats all my local feed store had. Why is it not good?

 

[gabrielle1976]

dont let the big bullies worry you most are just spoiled lol
LG still air from all the research I have done in the past few weeks is fine , one with a turner and fan is better but for what it is its just as good as anyting else IMHO, Not counting the fancy ones you can get if you have 200 dollers to blow or more.
You just need to read the instructions well and pay attention to youre humidity and temp, one thing i have heard is that the therm that comes with them are iffy so make shure you have another threm and humidity guage in there too to help with accuracy, you can get one at like walmart for under ten bucks thats sapose to be pretty good . Some people think its a good idea to use a heat sink in them .
If I were you I would ether do a search about the little giant or make a topic stateing can people who use LG still airs please tell me how they do with them and if there are any tricks to it.
Anther thing I have heard is that the controls are very very senstive so you just need to move them a tiny bit to adjust the temp.
Good luck.
I am new and I am expecting my LG still air monday.