Incubator Poll and Opinions

[Three Cedars Silkies]

It's time to do a poll about who uses which incubator, why you like it, what you don't like about it and your hatch percentages in it (shipped or not shipped eggs)

 

[Sweetfolly]

Well, I use a Brinsea Octagon 20 Eco (actually, I have two of them now, and one auto-turner). I LOVE it! It holds it's temperature flawlessly (I've never had more than a +/- .2 degree variance in in throughout the entire incubation period), controlling humidity in the water channels is relatively easy if you have a good hygrometer to monitor it, and it holds the perfect number of eggs for a hobbyist like me.

No complaints about it, really. I have a batch of duck eggs from my flock in one of them right now, and I set some shipped Bantam Cochin eggs (that were packaged beautifully) in the other this morning. I'll get back to you on hatch rates!

 

[Woods_Woman]

Hova-bater 1583 forced air- Works great started with this bator w/ egg turner. I always use shipped eggs and get about 70-80% hatch rate. I don't like that it's old and a used bator, but it was free.

Little Giant- Still air, I get good hatches from this to in the 60-80% rate. Once again I always used shipped egg's since I have no rooster to use my own. This was another free bator with turner. I cant say I like it better then the hova-bator, but I will say since it's still air it's quieter, doesn't make noise when cycling on & off.

I've noticed that both my Styrofoam baters hold heat pretty well, but getting humidity up on day 18 and beyond can be a challenge. I use both these bators side by side.

Brinsea Mini Advance- I purchased this one, and it's my favorite. It regulates it's own temp, viewing is excellent, it's little and sits on my kitchen counter top. I like the fact that it's small and only incubates 7 eggs, the con is it's small and humidity get's very high during hatching.

I do a lot of staggered hatches, so many time's I will have all three going at one time.

 

[CoopCrazy]

I lovemy Hobator Forced Air but hate my LG still air .. I tried twice to hatch in my LG and never had a single egg make it ..but my hovabotor rocks its not nearly as hard to adjust the temps and keeps an awesome humidity.. I did use me LG for a hatcher but the sides are so low that my quail chicks run out from all directions when i open it up..

 

[Daidohead]

I use a RubberMaid..er..bator. Home built Ice chest. I like it because it was fun to put together and very cheap. It doesn't have a hatch % yet, It's halfway through it's first bunch. Doing very well so far.

 

[Barred Rocker]

Mines homemade. On day 15 and 30 out of 32 are developing, so we'll see how successful the hatch is this coming weekend.

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

I have 2 genesis 1588's, and I love them. They hold the temp great, and I get great hatches. I have a hovabator 1602n still air and I only use it for hatching since I cant get the temp above 97 or 98 degrees, and it doesnt hold the temps well, but works great as a hatcher. I also have a Brinsea Octagon 40, and love it. The temps stay stable, and its very easy to use, and I get great hatches with it.

 

[sgtmom52]

I just bought a Genesis 1588 with turner & have eggs set for an Easter hatch. So far ~ it is working well.

 

[poultryhaven]

I have 3 bators. All three running. 2 are full of eggs and the other one has 8 turkey eggs in it and im adding 34 chicken eggs in a few days.
I have 1 Hovabator Forced Air and 2 Little Giants (still air). All three have turners and OldTimeGator, The 3 silkie eggs I got from you are on lockdown

 

[ADozenGirlz]

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my Brinsea Mini Advance incubator. It's totally plug-and-play. It holds temperatures perfectly and gets the temps back up quickly when you need to candle or add water to the reservoir. I asked for my for my birthday present this year

and we paid $140.00 for it. It's been worth EVERY SINGLE PENNY!
I've only hatched twice now, but the first batch hatched 3 of 3 and the second batch was 100% successful (5 of 5)! All of my eggs were from my own flock and were set within 24 hours of being laid. It doesn't get any fresher than that!

On my second hatch, we lost power for about an hour on day 12. I wrapped my Brinsea in tin foil and put it in a Rubbermaid container surrounded by towels and rushed it off to my friend's house. The temperature read 79 degrees when it was plugged back in and in the end, every single egg hatched successfully!
I'm looking forward to hatching my first Splash Maran eggs in two weeks!!! Brinsea rocks!