When my broody's decided to give up as soon as my hatching eggs arrived in the mail, I knew I had to get an incubator and quickly. I have been putting off getting one, not wanting to really cross into this dimension of chicken ownership, lol but I guess I did. Since an incubator wasn't in the budget and I really didn't have time to order something, I had to find something reasonable but reliable and local. My feed store had this one and everyone who was there yesterday (about 6 different people hatching a variety of birds) had nothing but good things to say about its use their hatches from it.
http://www.strombergschickens.com/products/basic_incubators.php
I ended up buying the forced air fan (still on the fence about installing it - what do you think?) but not the turner. The feedback on that item and online feedback hasn't really been stellar so I'm going to turn them the old fashioned way this time. The only thermometer I have is the one that came with the unit and a digital meat thermometer (someone said she had great results from using one) so measuring humidity accurately really isn't going to happen. Everyone in the store told me to follow the directions in the manual and use what I already know about hatching. I'm hatching Seramas so I already know I'm up against big hurdle (though I had great luck last time with a friend's incubator, 3 out of 4 eggs hatching) but I'm hoping for some success with this unit.
Has anyone else used this incubator? If so, what did you think? How did your hatch go and do you have any words of advice or tips?
http://www.strombergschickens.com/products/basic_incubators.php
I ended up buying the forced air fan (still on the fence about installing it - what do you think?) but not the turner. The feedback on that item and online feedback hasn't really been stellar so I'm going to turn them the old fashioned way this time. The only thermometer I have is the one that came with the unit and a digital meat thermometer (someone said she had great results from using one) so measuring humidity accurately really isn't going to happen. Everyone in the store told me to follow the directions in the manual and use what I already know about hatching. I'm hatching Seramas so I already know I'm up against big hurdle (though I had great luck last time with a friend's incubator, 3 out of 4 eggs hatching) but I'm hoping for some success with this unit.
Has anyone else used this incubator? If so, what did you think? How did your hatch go and do you have any words of advice or tips?