Hova-Bator vs. Little Giant Incubator

[sheila3935]

I have a LG that I just hatched out of got 22 chicks out of 23 eggs. My only problem with it was the humidity I did have to keep a close watch on it as far as temps mine held pretty steady mine also has a fan bought it used for 25 dollars the lady I bought it from had a LG and hovabator she was selling for same price. I asked her which did better for her she said the LG so thats the one I bought. She said she had hatched several hatches out of each.

 

[lynxs1981]

If money is tight, obviously go for the LG. The LG's can be a bit of a pain to get the temps set right, but once it's set right they work great for the $$. Temp problems are easily solved by purchasing a knob from Radio Shack or someplace similar. The temp control is just a little stick coming out of the top, very hard for fine tuning. But with a big knob stuck on there, fine adjustments are a breeze.

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

I will get the Hova-Bator. It costs more, but it sounds like it's worth the money! If anybody has one for sell please PM me.

 

[johninluray]

I love my Lg..Never had a problem with temp or humidity..

 

[jerseygirl1]

Mrs. Fluffy Puffy :

I will get the Hova-Bator. It costs more, but it sounds like it's worth the money! If anybody has one for sell please PM me.

I just listed one - i PM'd you​

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

Humm ...

 

[reesepoultry]

Quote:
OMG! I told you the LG had a problem with temp spikes. I am so sorry to hear the bad news.

I would go with the Hovabator. I have had both and the hovabator is awesome. I had no spike with it. But the Lg spikes all the time.

Goodluck in your decision.

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

Quote:
I just listed one - i PM'd you

I got it .... could you send me the link?

 

[mdulik]

I have been reading up on the GQF 1502 model and am seriously thinking about spending the money for it, does anyone else have this or know anything about them? Im a first time hatcher and want to do it right. Is this too much of an incubator for a small back yard flock?

 

[BeeBeeBirdyMama]

I bought a still air LG and later bought a HB.
The Little Giant Incubator brought out 2 loads of chicken eggs with a pretty good hatch rate about 20 to 30 chicks each load .
Little Giant Incubator also brought out 2 loads of quail eggs with what I think is wonderful hatch rate between 85 and 95 out of each 120 eggs.
Now the HB was a different story, the Hova-bator had only one chicken hatched and made it, out of 41 eggs and so we added a incubator fan thinking it was a taller incubator and it may need the extra circulation and may have a more even heat that way. I loaded it and did everything the same as all the other loads with the LG but still only brought out 15 chicken chicks from 41 eggs. It was good to know the air circulation did help to increase the hatching rate but by no means was it a good hatch rate.
I was wondering why So I investigated and found an article on incubators and the difference of the watts of the elements and the thermostats, the Hovabator has only a 27 watt element and the (Miller) Little Giant has a round a 41 watt element, much hotter, and the HB has a waffer Thermostat that lets the heat very too much (I think) and the LG has a solid state thermostat. (I will post the site I found this information)
http://www.poultryconnection.com/quackers/incubator/batortest.html

So after the 15 chick hatching, we decided to just gut the HB, It was still a good shell but did not seem to keep a steady temp. (I do not advise anyone gutting their Hovabator and put in LG parts, it cost as much to buy the parts as it was to buy a new LG.) Anyway, me being the kind of person to recycle I found LG parts on the internet and bought them and installed a Little Giant Incubator element and a Little Giant solid state incubator thermostat, and also installed the existing fan we had bought for it before. We are in the process of incubating 120 quail eggs right now and should be ready to hatch between Sept. 3rd and 5th. I am curious to see the hatch rate. Also if you were wondering, I have turners in bother incubators.
The Little Giant incubator is a still air incubator and we get such a good hatch rate that I did not put a fan in it, why mess with success.
Just because you pay more for an incubator don't mean it is as good as the cheaper ones. We will have to keep you posted on the hatch rate after reconstruction of the new and improved Hova-Giant!!!! or as my Brother now calls it the “masterbator” The eggs are set to hatch between Sept 3rd – Sept 5th