Incubators Anonymous

[tslaven]

I have a "Hovabator" but am still on my first attempted hatch. Today is day 21..and nothing yet. I bought mine because the price was ok. I did not purchase the fan..thought I'd see how it went without it. I think I paid about $45 for it.

 

[ki4got]

what would everyone recomend for an incubator? i dont really want to spennd 6-700 dollars but i cant seem to find any cheaper that are worth anything

The hovabators genesis with an auto turner is a great starting point...

I have 4 hovabators. 3 used strictly for incubation and 1 for hatching.

 

[Zootopia]

The hovabators genesis with an auto turner is a great starting point...

I have 4 hovabators. 3 used strictly for incubation and 1 for hatching.

I have an old style Hovabator w/ fan and turner. Tho my turner motor burnt out on me about a month or so ago. I have a ReptiPro 5000 that I use for lockdown/hatching and some of the duck eggs that need higher humidity. I also have a back up LG that I keep at temp at all times just in case. I have incubated in it a time or two for short periods of time when the Hova is full, I rotate the eggs when I turn in case there are any hot spots since there is no fan.

 

[Flowerbh]

The hovabators genesis with an auto turner is a great starting point...

I have 4 hovabators. 3 used strictly for incubation and 1 for hatching.

I have the same one. I think it is fine. Works well if you buy additional thermometer/hygrometer.

 

[swirler]

I'm happy with a secondhand hexabator incubator, dial thermostat, manual turn, wrapped in a fleece blanket. This style. Last batch I hatched 15 of 16 shipped eggs (the last was infertile) and they all grew up. After a 14-hour blackout during incubation.

 

[ki4got]

well, my most recent super broody momma has been fired. somewhat. i've taken all but 8 away from her now. she was ignoring the majority, leaving them outside when she went in, etc. overall not really being a good mother.

my other cochin broody is also somewhat of an indifferent free ranging momma... she just expects the chicks to keep up with her and when they roam doesn't call them back to her much. but she's got 9 still (as of this morning anyways). tho she almost lost 2 tonight. they went to bed where they usually do, but she changed her mind and has started going back to bed in the horse trailer. fortunately I found them and her and reunited them all.

no more active broodies right now (with chicks) just hopeful ones waiting for their wooden eggs to hatch.

 

[Arielle]

what would everyone recomend for an incubator? i dont really want to spennd 6-700 dollars but i cant seem to find any cheaper that are worth anything

welcome to BYC-- I use the LG and a homemade. All small incubators are effected by the ambient weather. You can work with that . . . . I paid $50 for my LG and far less for my homemade.

 

[Duck Drover]

I have four Little Giant incubtors with egg turners, one has a fan, one more for hatching and another one to move the chicks to so they can dry before going into the brooder. The most I paid was $40 for the new ones and another $40 for the new turners. I paid less for the used ones (the one with the fan I bought used since the fan kits cost as much as the incubator). Because I originally got them to hatch duck eggs, which need more humidity than chicken eggs, I wanted still air so the eggs did not get too dry from having air blow on them. Now that I am also hatching chicken eggs I want to find a few fan kits to have more capable of forced air incubation. I know there are more expensive incubators but these work so I don't feel I need to spend more money.

I like having separate incubators rather than one large one because then I don't have all my eggs in one incubator and I can more easily adjust the temperature and humidity as needed. I started out with lower hatching temperatures because I did not realize I needed to increase the temperature for still air but now I have the temperatures just right and I am having good hatches. I know there are problems with styrofoam incubators but other incubators seem to have problems too. I started out with Little Giant incubators years ago and I have always been satisfied with the results. As long as the room temperature is not fluctuating dramatically, the incubators perform well. I need my incubators to pay for themselves so for me cheaper is better.

 

[Tammy N]

what would everyone recomend for an incubator? i dont really want to spennd 6-700 dollars but i cant seem to find any cheaper that are worth anything

Have you tried a Red wood Incubator like Leahy ?
I love mine .
there are also the Brinsea you can get them with scratches and dents at a discount from the company just email them and ask .

 

[maryhysong]

what would everyone recomend for an incubator? i dont really want to spennd 6-700 dollars but i cant seem to find any cheaper that are worth anything

I only paid $200 for my David Bradley redwood on craigslist. Holds about 300 eggs but I have only have a little over 100 in it at any one time. The last owner replaced the old wafer thermostat system with a new one like they use in the GQF cabinets. Once I got it figured out and adjusted right it holds a very steady temp. I spent a little more money on a good hygrometer, thermometer and plastic trays and sponges to replace the original missing water pan. I have been running 90% on chicken eggs and some duck hatches have been 100%. I have been doing staggered hatches in it and it's working out fine.

The only draw back is not being able to see all the way to the back of the hatching tray through the window. Otherwise I"m very happy with it and the results I'm getting.