Is this a good bator for $46.39 incl shipping

[Bock_Bock]

Quote:
im sure once i save up money get my own house and have the room i will eventually go full scale with incubating eggs, but i am only 21 living at the inlaws and will prob get a small apartment soon which there will be no place for chicks or chickens


and thanks for the advic eon the thermometer i read alot about peoples hatchings going hay wayer because their thermometer was reading right, cuz they opted out for a cheap one

 

[Akane]

A hovabator 1602n is the same price. That's what I have.

 

[Bock_Bock]

Quote:
ok thanks i will look into that

 

[kick'n chick'n]

i have both & have great hatches out of both. since this is your first bator you will be able to learn the ins & outs of the LG. just be patient get your temp stable & then buy your eggs!!!! if you learn your bator you'll have good hatches.

Good luck & happy hatching!!

 

[Bock_Bock]

i hope so but im not sure what to hatch first any ideas?

 

[Akane]

Start with the cheapest, easiest eggs to get of the breeds you want. Something local is best if possible. It usually takes a hatch or 2 for people to figure out not only the basics of hatching but your individual incubator and local climate. What temp and humidity works for one person doesn't always work for another. You have to experiment with a couple hatches and find your own numbers.

 

[Bock_Bock]

thank you akane thats the thing around the bay area our temps are all over the place like a kid in a fun house lol it will be hard to regulate temps but once i learn im sure i will just keep getting more and bigger bators as space and money permits thanks

 

[Akane]

I realized climate makes more difference than I thought when I nearly lost some button eggs because of the temp changes here and it wasn't the temp that did it. My house stayed the exact same but because it's winter everything went from frozen solid to melting and making ponds. The humidity in my bator went from 43% to 78% overnight with water dripping off the top and the carton I had the eggs in to turn them was soaked. Luckily I must have caught it soon enough and soaked all the water out with paper towels until the incubator didn't have a drop in it before I got the humidity below 50 again. Only 1 egg didn't hatch and when I cracked it later it was full of water. It takes a different approach to things like humidity when your incubating in dry versus wetter climates.

 

[Suellyn]

I have an LG still air and am on day 17 of my first hatch. Had 12 eggs (4 Silkies, 7 standard egg-laying "mixes", and 1 Serama) but 2 of the "mixes" were "clear" so now down to 10. All 10 doing great so far; active, air cell size very good, etc.

The things that are "tricky" about this 'bator are: Is sensitive to temp changes in the room, and the thermostat is REALLY touchy- can cause a HUGE increase or decrease by turning it too much!.

Soooo.... put it in a room with stable temps, away from drafts, heating vents, direct sunlight (I have mine in the guest bedroom with door closed), and run the incubator for a few days to get the "feel" of the temp control knob (use teeny tiny adjustments!!!).

I purchased a good thermometer/hygrometer, throw away the one that comes with it.

I also took the advice of experienced hatchers who told me that since I was doing such a small hatch, to put in a couple of full water bottles (lids on), to increase the "mass" in there & help keep temps stable.

I understand what you mean about not wanting to make a big investment, my original goal was a REALLY SMALL backyard flock, so figured I would only be using it once or twice.

And anyway, if you learn to get decent results with THIS model, and decide you like hatching & want to keep doing it.... just think how GREAT you will do with an easier/bigger/better incubator!!!

 

[LilRalphieRoosmama]

I have two LG's and one Hovabator - all still airs. I've had better hatches in my LG's than I have in the Hovabator, although they both have their good and bad points. They are all a little tricky to adjust but once you learn how to do it, it's easy. I've also seen the LG's for $39 at the local feedstore. For hatching small amounts a few times a year, it's well worth it. I hatch almost every month and have pretty good hatch rates. Alot also depends on the eggs.