- Thread starter
- #11
CountryGirl1120
In the Brooder
Wow thank you for all that. I know Ive heard bad things about the ones TSC so thats why Im trying to stay away from an impulse purchase every time I am in that store. Im thinking the hovabator is the way to go. Its about the same price as the ones in TSC. One bad hatch thats amazing! So should you always have a spare thermometer on hand to check the bators accuracy? Note to self do not follow the manuals instructions. I will have to keep that in mind.Hatching is amazing. I know quite a few that use or have used the 1602 that highly praise them as well. I don't think I've heard a wide range of negative things about any of their models. Of course you have a hatcher here and there with any brand that have not had good "luck" with their incubator, but you never know how much is operator error or maybe a bad unit.
Now the new digital little Giants that TSC sells...oh boy, you're doing good when you find someone that has bought one and not regreted it...lol (There are a few but they are hard to find...lol) And the Farm Innovators, has a slightly better rep, but still no where near the Hovabators and Brinseas. I know a couple people that really love their Incuview incubators as well, but I don't see a lot of people with them.
I myself have an old Little Giant 9200 that I "borrowed" from my sister two years ago and she had it for at least 3 years before Istoleborrowed it. And they are not known for longevity, so I can't complain it's finally hitting the brocks. It's served me well. A lot more work than some of your other bators and a lot more babysitting, but I've only had one bad hatch and that was my very first one, and that was operator error not incubator error. I had bought a new thermometer for it and never checked it for accuracy, plus I had my humidity at the highly recommended 50-60% that is touted in manuals and books that is soooooo wrong. After a failed attempt with 1 chick hatching out of 17 that went into lockdown and hatching day 24 I was told to check my thermometer, and sure enough it was 6 degrees off!!! I fixed that problem, (bought three new ones and checked them,) and researched humidity and switched to low humidity incubations and have not had a bad hatch since. (Well, providing the bator don't kill the eggs...)
At some point we want to do quail, but I need an enclosed set up before that happens.
On the bright side I am supposed to be going and picking up three Ancona ducks this weekend. A blue male, a chocolate female, and a buff female to go with the lilac girl I already have. I may have to get a black female as well when I go because well, chicken/duck math!
I cannot wait to hatch out some eggs in the spring!