Help me find a good incubator

[Lazys]

I really enjoy hatching chicks, ducks and quail. but I have such lousy hatches..... First incubator was one of those Chinese ones that looked so good and had all the bells and whistles. But I had really lousy hatches. Didn't realize that the turner was not working and had a 10 percent hatch, and a 15 percent hatch then the company said they would take it back because they were defective. I had a terrible time keeping the heat/humidity controlled. didn't seem like the temperatures would ever stay steady. So sent it back and bought a styrofoan farm innovator one and didn't really have much better hatch. I can't use the thermometer on the incubator because it is not accurate at all. So I have 4 other thermometers (two laying on top of eggs) and two digital one that is taped to the top and one laying in the bottom. None say the same thing ever.....
Is there a good pretty fool proof incubator that doesn't break the bank? I want one that does more eggs, just can't see hatching 12 at a time. Need one that I can get quail rails for too.

I remember years ago hatching them and they just hatched, didn't ever think about the thermometer being off at all, just used it. This one shows like 95 and the others are all right around 98-100 the eggs hatch earlyish when they do hatch.

Help!!!!

 

[Pyxis]

I'm not sure what your budget is, but brinsea incubators are great. I have an eco 20 with the autoturn cradle and love it.

 

[Lazys]

How much do they run?

 

[Briktorian]

I don't know what they run but i used a cooler, fan, and heat lamp, and i made my own. It is inexpensive and it worked great. https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/missprissys-chic-chick-homemade-incubator

 

[AmyLynn2374]

I really enjoy hatching chicks, ducks and quail. but I have such lousy hatches..... First incubator was one of those Chinese ones that looked so good and had all the bells and whistles. But I had really lousy hatches. Didn't realize that the turner was not working and had a 10 percent hatch, and a 15 percent hatch then the company said they would take it back because they were defective. I had a terrible time keeping the heat/humidity controlled. didn't seem like the temperatures would ever stay steady. So sent it back and bought a styrofoan farm innovator one and didn't really have much better hatch. I can't use the thermometer on the incubator because it is not accurate at all. So I have 4 other thermometers (two laying on top of eggs) and two digital one that is taped to the top and one laying in the bottom. None say the same thing ever.....
Is there a good pretty fool proof incubator that doesn't break the bank? I want one that does more eggs, just can't see hatching 12 at a time. Need one that I can get quail rails for too.

I remember years ago hatching them and they just hatched, didn't ever think about the thermometer being off at all, just used it. This one shows like 95 and the others are all right around 98-100 the eggs hatch earlyish when they do hatch.

Help!!!!

Briseas are your fool proof bators but they will break the bank especially if you want to hatch larger quantities at a time.
Thermometers can be checked and calibrated so that you have a better idea of your temp and have better hatches. Humidity control in the styro bators especially can make you or break you too. A low humidity method has shown to work much better in the styros than the suggested 50% that is touted by a lot of these manuals.

For a good quality lower cost incubator with a bigger hatching capacity, look at the Hoverbators. They are your better styro bators, have a range of prices and people are usually pretty happy with them once they find what works for them. I personally am interested in the Hovabator 1588 because I like the viewing window.

DIY is always an option if you are good at that stuff and there are a lot of threads here that showcase many different ideas.

 

[Pyxis]

How much do they run?

Depends on the size you want but my eco 20 that holds about 30 eggs runs $180 without the turner. I bought mine used here on the forums and got a good deal, so that's something you might look into too.