Hovabater or Octagon?? Help!

[Azriel]

I can hear eggs calling out Hatch Me, Hatch ME!!, but I don't have an incubator. I have been reading the info on both Hovabater and Octagon but can't decide which one to get. I need easy, uncomplicated, that will give good hatches with little work. Idealy I would like my chickens to hatch the eggs for me, but...... I see hatching eggs for sale that are calling my name and no guarantee I'll have broody hens when I need them. Please help me to decide which to get. Thanks for any help

 

[leeandtina]

I'm not such a fan of my LG anymore... I'm subscribing to this.

 

[jm93030]

All depends on how much money do you want to spend

Many people belive that the Octagon is a very good incubator, but is expensive .

the hovabator incubator genesis 1588 is a good incubator too, you can fit more eggs, cost less but may requiere little more attention that the octagon.

also ask yourself
how many hatches are you going to do?
how many chicks you want ?

or you trying to make a profit out of this.

if this is just one or two times hatching idea you may consider to find someone local to hatch eggs for you .

I have a genessis 1588 hovabator and I get very decent hatches . I like to try other incubators like Brinsea to compare for myself , but they are just to expensive for what i do.

Bottom line if you have the money go for the Brinsea


Sorry if I made it more complicated for you

 

[mlove]

Great info.

I am planning on buying a second incubator and had the same question. Would the smaller serama eggs work for either incubator or would one be better than the other?

 

[Petej]

I vote for the Hova-Bator line of Incubators.

I've got an older 1582 (picture window) model here at our farm. I could probably hatch rocks with it.

I also have a 1611 Egg turner for it. This alone makes incubating a breeze.

The addition of a little water to the troughs every few days is going to happen no matter what company you buy from....

 

[Baralak]

I have both... I love my Octagon 20 and I love my Hova-bator. They both preform the basic functions, hatching eggs. Questions you have to ask yourself:

1. How many eggs are you hatching? The Octagon 20 will be cramed full with 24 eggs, the Hova can fit 42 with the turner and more with out.

2. How much time do you spend with your bator? The Octagon 20 with turner is set and leave. Checking it a couple of times a day for temp and humidity. The Hova, I don't care what any one else says, you gotta watch it. Of course that depends on which thermostat it has (and there are the Wafer VS electronic arguments)

3. What are you hatching? Just chickens then then apples and oranges..

4. How much do you like to clean? The Octagon 20 is plastic. Soap and Water, then rinse, and spritz with a little bleach water and your done. Styrofoam, well theres going to be soaking and cleaning going on there.

I like both.. But if I have a small hatch, hard to hatch breed, shipped eggs, they are going in the brinsea. Local eggs, or more common eggs then they are going in the Hova..

Of course if I had to choose... I would go with the Brinsea 100%

 

[sonjab314]

I vote Hova. You can put almost twice as many eggs in it and it is cheaper. I have the 1588 and it is truly a "set it and forget it" other than checking humidity, which Im sure needs to be done daily with any bator. It is programmed straight from the box on the correct temp. I love mine and I'd buy another one in a heartbeat if I needed it.

 

[gryeyes]

I'm in the Brinsea camp. I have several, using two models, the MiniAdvance EX and Octagon20 Advance EX. Those have the humidity pump and it handles EVERYTHING for you. I also have a MiniAdvance without the humidity pump and it's fine, too - basically fool proof but I needed a Stupid Proof model so I got the ones with the humidity pumps.

Easy to clean and to sterilize. 7 eggs in the MiniAdvances, up to 20 or 24 in the Octagon20s. REALLY quick recovery on both models, for temperature and humidity.

 

[Azriel]

Thanks for the replys, I am leaning to the Octagon20, as I would like to hatch shipped eggs and I work 12 hour days 4 days a week so couldn't check it as often. Where is the best place to get one for a good price.

 

[gryeyes]

Quote:
Unless you find a used one on eBay, the best price I have found is directly from the manufacturer's site: http://www.brinsea.com

Look for the "web specials."