Sportsman for $300.... Should I do it?

[roostercruiser]

You made an excellent purchase. With all the options that would cost you over $900 new.

 

[kathyinmo]

Quote:
Oh, really? OMG, now I am even more excited! I love a great deal!

 

[walkswithdog]

Yay Kathy! That's as good a deal as my 75.00 antique redwood bator. Except yours is more plug and play then mine was... Smart buy!

 

[greathorse]

Quote:
Unless you really need the funds from the Hovabator you might regret selling them both. I am guessing there may be times that you want to hatch a very few eggs and that Hovabator might come in real handy.

You did get a very good deal and all of those trays and stuff are extra that is for sure. If I remember correctly those metal hatching trays are very close th 30 bucks each. Ya done good

 

[kathyinmo]

Quote:
OH, now that's a thought. I will consider that. Let me tell ya ... since I started on this chicken obsession, I have accumulated more junk than I had in my life. I have a yard full of salvaged lumber, and .... well, you know how it goes! I think I better sell those 2. I have too much "stuff," EVERYWHERE!

 

[feedstorechick]

I'd suggest you keep at least one Hovabator as a hatcher, unless you plan on setting all the eggs at once. If I am looking at it correctly, your model has three trays that all turn. Some models have a fourth tray at the bottom that doesn't turn for hatching.

If you have staggered batches of eggs, you'll need a hatcher. If your setting an incubator full at a time, you don't. Just shut off the turner the last few days.

My GQF cabinet incubator is extremely old and ugly, but works great!

 

[walkswithdog]

I have found that the big cabinets do small batches just as well as large, whether I set three trays or six eggs, it doesn't matter. But I can rig mine with a hatching tray, so that part is handier.

You might want a hovabator later.

Or you might need to just build a little wine cooler fridge bator for a hatcher. It's a LOT easier to see into a nice glass fronted, front opening wine cooler fridge one.

I have the cabinet bator but I still run my Darthbator next to the computer to watch eggs I anticipate trouble from. Ones that were cracked, or were shipped and are running way too dry, it's nice to be able to glance up and see... And it's small enough to quickly manipulate humidity when necessary.

Or if you'd like to go quietly insane now - have you seen Cbiblis's furniture quality hatcher and brooder???? Trade those hovabators for that hatcher and you'd be set for life

 

[kathyinmo]

Quote:
Are you reading my mind or what??? I sure have seen and drooled over that fine craftsmanship! I am just too far away, and shipping would be a bear.

 

[walkswithdog]

Dunno, really slow boat to china type shipping might not be too huge, you ought to at least find out how much..... (There really should be a little Devil smiley.)

 

[Junkmanme]

WalksWithDog,

Shipping by "dog-sled" really doesn't save any money !!!

(the dog-food cost offsets and negates any "apparent" savings.)

Them thar "Shep-hard" dogs can eat a "bunch" a round-steak !!!

(Boxers do too!)

Ha-Ha!

-Junkmanme-