I really HATE hova bators!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[speckledhen]

I have two different model styro-Hovas and have hatched many chicks in each one. They seem to work as well as any other incubator. Both mine have wafers and do need some babysitting, but for the price, they're okay. My Fridge-a-Bator holds steadier than any other bator I own, but won't hold a turner so I only use it to hatch on occcasion.

The older square one has a design flaw, some air holes in the bottom of the base of it. That one didn't come with a plastic water tray (was a yard sale find) and it will leak if the water isn't put into the proper channel in the base. We plugged those holes with silicone and burned some holes up the sides instead.

 

[onthespot]

The hovabators need babysitting, period. I check in on mine probably ten times a day. I pack way too many eggs in there, to make up for the ones that won't hatch. When they develop more they start to throw off heat of their own, and I think they cause the temp spikes that happen at around day fifteen. Then if you don't correct, the chicks stress and kick around in the shell and throw off more heat, etc... so I just keep checking when I think of it, fiddle with the temp, check the humidity. I still usually manage to hatch way too many chicks, and toss a lot of eggs too usually out of every hatch.

 

[Poulets De Cajun]

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I've said this for years. If you can learn how to properly incubate eggs in a styrofoam incubator, and overcome all of their quirks, and quams, you'll be a better breeder for it. It may be troublesome now, but think of the experience your gaining for future hatches!

 

[goldnchocolate]

I have a Hovabator Genisis 1588 and so far I really like it. This is my first year hatching so I don't know about the older models but my bator came with a plastic liner that has various wells to put the water into it. It also came with "owl clips" to hold the wire nice and tight against the liner so it doesn't curl. When the hatch is over all of the gross water is in the liner, which is very easy to clean out.

I have 2 of the 1588's. I'm using one with a turner for the first 18 days and then I have been switching the eggs to the second bator for the hatching!! I'm on my 3rd hatch, in a row, right now and have 43 more eggs that I just set the other day.

 

[Junglebob]

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I've got one with the square corners, and a fan I installed, I put a new wafer in it been going 10 days and the temperatures have varied from 93 degrees to 104.2 It was going for a couple days before I put eggs in it. I probably check the temperature 6 times a day and keep making small adjustments, it doesn't seem to want to stay at 99.5 to 100 degrees. I try to keep the humidity fairly constant and room temperature as well. Does the thermostat switch need to be replaced as well?

I use a medical digital thermometer that says it is accurate to .2 degree.

 

[loopy12]

I hate that it can take a full day to warm back up if you open it, and it has hotspots and open it a squeak and everything shrinkwraps, and I burnt my hand on the element and I'm sure one of my ducklings burnt its tongue when it mouthed at the element

, it needs to be enclosed. And yeah, I check on it like 5-10 times a day and I'm sure its not very energy efficient and it doesn't scrub up too well. I've been using it as a hatcher - incubate in my brinsea then hatch in the hovabator and that worked really well for that. The temps didn't seem so critical for hatching and my hatch rate was way better like this than in the hovabator alone.
That said, this time I have so many eggs I have risked packing both incubators to the rafters...we shall see

 

[jerseygirl1]

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Not everyone is having the same experiences as you - it happens

 

[Redcatcher]

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I was wondering the same thing

.

 

[Hennypen]

My Hova-bator Genisis 1588 is working flawlessly.

Temperature has been steady as can be except when I open it. Then it heats right back up. I couldn't be happier with it. Turner is working great to.

I'm going to get a second one.

 

[dak]

Love my 1588!

Hate my 2362!

I think they make them that way so you want to upgrade.