Question re size of incubators...

[panner123]

I don't see why anyone thinks a bator is stored in the winter. Chickens lay eggs year round and chicks are hatched year round. Just ask anyone on this site.

Incubating is not just a spring/summer thing, it is a year round thing.

 

[greathorse]

I am with Pascapol on this one. I know there are a lot of chicks hatched every day in styrofoam bators, no argument. They hold temp etc etc.. I too have a styrofoam bias that is based somewhere deep within me. I can start with the inherent squeak you get every time you open and close the lid. It gives me chills much like fingers on a chalk board. I dont drink coffee from stryo cups and I dont eat picinic food from it either. I just dont like the absolute disposable nature of the stuff.

For 150.00 one can buy professional elements great wood and build something you can give to grand kids and hatch for a life time.

That is just my view of the styrofoam bator. No insult to the literally thousands that have them and hatch very successfully with them. I simply decided early on it would not be my choice. I am not a fine wood worker by any means but managed to make something I am quite proud of and works great.

 

[IggiMom]

Well, I don't plan to hatch year round, just because it would be hard, I think, to keep the babies warm in very cold weather.

However, I can probably store it ok.

I am not handy at all and I am in awe of you people who can make an incubator yourselves. Clap, clap, clap...

I am good with little living things, though, generally, so I have great hopes for my present eggs in the LG. I plan to use it in future for a hatcher.

I have really appreciated all the ideas and thoughts about the incubator. I do not have a lot of money and need to spend what I have as wisely as possible.

Although I keep thinking maybe I made the wrong decision.

 

[Intheswamp]

Quote:
Howdy greathorse. I have to agree that a well built wooden (or plastic for that matter) DIY incubator is a very nice piece of equipment. I definitely don't argue that point. No insult is taken from your post and I hope none is taken from mine.

Some people aren't that handy at building things and for them it is either a styrofoam incubator or not getting into the hobby of hatching eggs at all. If this hobby is like other hobbies it needs all the participants that it can garner...and an entry level incubator I would think is a must.

I opted for a 1588 w/turner (yet to be operated

)...after adding up the cost of the parts included in the incubator it wasn't far from the cost of the completed incubator. For me, time is very scarce right now...my mother is having some serious delirium/dementia issues. I've built ham radios, rc airplanes, etc., and like to tinker, so one day I will probably move the equipment from the 1588 into a more substantial housing. I am also eyeballing MissPrissy's incubator with the possible exception of using the string of Christmas tree lights rather than a single bulb (I like the redundancy).

The styrofoam incubators don't necessarily have to be an "end all" to incubator needs, but it sure seems like a good place to get started.

One thing I do wish they would include with the incubators is more complete instructions and maybe some "whys" to better educate the folks buying new incubators.

Fingernails on a chalkboard, eh? Not my favorite item, either.

Take care,
Ed

 

[greathorse]

Well said Ed, and good luck with your hatching. The biggest problem with the whole darn thing is once you start its very hard to stop.

I get some kind of anxiety if my incubator is not running. I have given more chicks to freinds and neighbors this year than I have sold.

If they can convince me they have a decent brooder and coop and a bit of basic knowledge I love hatchign a few eggs for others.


Take care.

 

[pascopol]

Quote:
pascopol, I can't help but get tickled at your constant bashing of styrofoam incubators. Many people apparently are happily and successfully using them...did you choke on a piece of styrofoam or something when you were a kid??

No, I did not choke on piece of styrofoam when I was a kid.

In those happy times there was no styrofoam and many other materials polluting the environment.

That's one of the reasons I had a happy childhood.

By the way my first bator was "Little Monster" (LG) styrobator.

It killed more chicks than it hatched.

 

[Intheswamp]

Quote:

My biggest problem right now is actually getting started... I told myself that until I have my coop built I won't start incubating. My mother is having some heavy health issues and I'm the closest kid (51yo)...the others live in Georgia but are good about coming down. Time just isn't working out for me right now so in my free time I read, read, read, read...re-read. At least I'm learning some things...just need to get some experience now...it'll come.

I like your requirements for adoption that you have...insures some good experiences for the owners and chicks. I've really stressed over which breed I want to raise. The big three for me currently are Australorps or Orpingtons. I really like the big birds and there personalities...my "ranch foreman" will be my wee little granddaughter...28 months old and 24 pounds but fiesty as they come.

I'm on a list for some BBS Orp eggs from a nice lady...I've got my fingers crossed that it works out...that will hopefully happen the last week of this month, which means I've gotta get on the ball!

Take care,
Ed

 

[panner123]

Quote:
pascopol, I can't help but get tickled at your constant bashing of styrofoam incubators. Many people apparently are happily and successfully using them...did you choke on a piece of styrofoam or something when you were a kid??

No, I did not choke on piece of styrofoam when I was a kid.

In those happy times there was no styrofoam and many other materials polluting the environment.

That's one of the reasons I had a happy childhood.

By the way my first bator was "Little Monster" (LG) styrobator.

It killed more chicks than it hatched.

Could it be that you killed all those chicks because you never learned to use the bator properly?

 

[greathorse]

Ed I have had both of those birds and I dont think you would regret either of them. The Austrolorps will likely out lay the Orps. But the orpingtons are very nice gentle easy going birds. Take your pick.

 

[Darin115]

I have a 20 year old styrobator. It is currently hatching chicks as I type. Works like a charm. I also have a LG full of eggs at the moment. It holds temps steady as well.

I really can't see why everyone hates them so much. THe only fluctuation I have ever had was when my son tried to turn the light on in the bator using the little round knob on top. Temp fell down to 90 before I found out. He asked me howto turn on the light and I told him that it didn;t have one. He stopped and moved on.

I think people like to play with them too much. I fill it full of eggs and only mess with it when I turn them. I don't ever recall having to adjust it.

I may have the only good one that LG has made in recent years but I can't compalin.

Darin