Incubators: finding the right one

[VolailleAmant]

Sorry I was not putting down anyone for there choice in incubators the incuview seems to be a fine incubator I though about one my self I had over $400 in my 3 little giants and was not satisfied
I decided to cut my losses and get the Cadillac normally to pricey for me but I had a nice tax return so I treated myself. The antibacterial plastic and ease of cleaning was also a factor
Have a nice hatch
harry

You shouldn't be sorry! I thank you very much for your advice!!! This is a post open to anyone to share their thoughts on their choice of incubator. We all have our own opinions, but I am probably looking at each choice a little more detailed just so that I can choose my purchase

Thank you for your advice!
-VA

 

[VolailleAmant]

There is an option to get a very solid setup for ~$100. Just takes a little bit of setup to get the rig properly setup and configured. The upside of this is you can start really cheap w/ just the incubator, then add the fan and turner later.

My setup was a Hova-bator incubator ($60). I added a $8 USB computer fan. Then added the little giant egg turner ($40). The PC fan's bolt holes line up perfectly w/ the holes in the hova-bator - just get 4 2" bolts/nuts from the hardware store and hang it about an inch from the top. The cord's for both the fan and the turner fit where the notch is in the incubator. Throw in a basic thermometer w/ humidity and you are all set.

Not much setup and you have a good incubator w/ moving air and egg turner for ~$110 all in. Biggest downside is you have 3 plugs to plug in.

I've hatched 5 or 6 batches of eggs in this setup and its been great.

Pick List on Amazon:
-Egg Turner: https://www.amazon.com/Little-Giant...TF8&qid=1489673424&sr=1-2&keywords=egg+turner
-Incubator: https://www.amazon.com/G-Q-F-Manufa...TF8&qid=1489673346&sr=1-1&keywords=hova-bator
-PC Fan: https://www.amazon.com/25mm-Brushle...F8&qid=1489673658&sr=1-12&keywords=usb+5v+fan

Thank you!
Could I buy an incubator that is ready with a turner? I know that that'd cost a bit more though I would probably like to start with a auto-turner so that I won't need to stop what I am doing every so often to go an turn them. I keep finding that my Silkies eggs are fertile, so hey, why should I waste a life?

 

[ShrekDawg]

The Incuview turner is built in

 

[dheltzel]

Here are my recommendations: https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/incubator-recommendations
I have 315 eggs in lockdown right now, and about 1000 in the other incubators, so I've tried a few things.

 

[VolailleAmant]

Here are my recommendations: https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/incubator-recommendations
I have 315 eggs in lockdown right now, and about 1000 in the other incubators, so I've tried a few things.

So do you have a cabinet incubator?

 

[dheltzel]

So do you have a cabinet incubator?

5 of them !!

It can be an addiction.

2 Dickeys I bought new
2 GQF 1202's and 1 GQF 1502 that I bought used.

 

[VolailleAmant]

5 of them !!

It can be an addiction.

2 Dickeys I bought new
2 GQF 1202's and 1 GQF 1502 that I bought used.

Whoa! Do you have a business? Hatching eggs I mean....

 

[dheltzel]

Whoa! Do you have a business? Hatching eggs I mean....

More of a part-time hobby that grew out of control. I have a number of autosexing breeds and standard bred (show type) Ameraucanas and there is a good market for chicks in the spring. My chicks are a "cut above" the hatchery chicks that TSC and the feed stores sell.

 

[JoshFig]

Thank you!
Could I buy an incubator that is ready with a turner? I know that that'd cost a bit more though I would probably like to start with a auto-turner so that I won't need to stop what I am doing every so often to go an turn them. I keep finding that my Silkies eggs are fertile, so hey, why should I waste a life?

The egg turner referenced in my post is fully automatic. You can definitely buy a complete package as a single unit - just quite a bit more expensive. The egg turner just drops into the incubator and plugs in - no setup required.

 

[VolailleAmant]

More of a part-time hobby that grew out of control. I have a number of autosexing breeds and standard bred (show type) Ameraucanas and there is a good market for chicks in the spring. My chicks are a "cut above" the hatchery chicks that TSC and the feed stores sell.

Cool! I would LOVE that, this is one of my dreams.....Obsessed dreams that is