Opinions needed on the Sportsman 1502 please

[LilRalphieRoosmama]

I am seriously considering buying this because the 3 styrofoam bators I have just aren't working well for me with the quantities I need to hatch. I've read everything I can find but am not sure if you can incubate chicken eggs and quail eggs at the same time (staggered for hatching of course). Anybody know?

Please give me your honest opinions and feedback. Thanks -

 

[B. Saffles Farms]

No complaints with ours. Great hatch rates. We love them.

 

[LilRalphieRoosmama]

Reading through the list of accessories is confusing - do you really need the racks or can you use egg cartons on the shelves? What about the auto humidity system - is that a necessity? Easy to make yourself? Trying to cut down on the cost but don't want to skimp on the necessities.

 

[B. Saffles Farms]

Im not really sure I can help you there, we got both with ours. But I would think you could use egg cartons with them instead of the racks. But dont take my word for it. Maybe some one else can help you on that.

 

[twigg]

Quote:
Get the racks.

The auto-humidity isn't anything of the sort. It's a reservoir that means you don't have to top up the water tray.

If you want auto-humidity, look elsewhere.

(I'd start by looking at Brinsea)

 

[hinkjc]

I love my 1502 and have no complaints. I bought generic plastic egg trays thru Cutler..they were cheaper and I could pick and choose which ones I wanted in quantity due to the various species we hatch here. I do not use the humidity system and do just fine with the humidity tray that comes with it standard. I routinely have 100% hatches.

 

[LilRalphieRoosmama]

I've looked at the Brinsea's before but there are no prices. I've emailed and never rec'd a response.

I know how fast the humidity (and temps) are sucked out when you open the styrofoam bator; I can only imagine it would be worse in these bigger units. I would assume that the auto-humidity is nothing more than a 5 gal bucket that somebody with a brain could make (except me LOL).

I think the racks would be a necessity because it looks like the egg cartons would slide right off or move around. Am I assuming correctly?

 

[LilRalphieRoosmama]

Quote:
Oh thank you - I value your opinion and I do love Cutler. Can you put quail and chicken eggs in there together or is it a one-or-the-other kind of thing?

 

[hinkjc]

I set whatever species I feel like. That's the nice thing about the hatching tray at the bottom. I usually use separate hatchers though to keep my Sportsman clean.

I fill the humidity tray every 2-3 days and don't have any problems with it holding steady temps/humidity. I think you'll do fine with it.

 

[timbofarms]

I have the 1502 with humidity kit and the trays. You can make the humidity kit yourself for about $10. The bator is great i have a 95-98% hatch rate. I fill my humidity reserve once a month and let'm hatch.