The 6th Annual BYC Easter Hatch-a-long!

[adfields0609]

The best incubator for the price is the GQF Genesis Hova-Bator 1588 it is around $150 but has the best reviews.
On the cheaper side, TSC sells one for around $40 but it is a still air incubator. Regardless of its  50/50 reviews, I have had nothing but success with it as they made it better in the last year or so.

from what I read breed matters. For roos I will be using a pure buff orpington, a Jersey giant mix,and a blue marans mix. For the hens I will be using a game buff orpintong mix(from the last hatch I did with broodys) and red preductions(the lady I got them off of called them red rocks)

 

[adfields0609]

Still air incubators are more like having the eggs under a hen. The air on top of the eggs is warmer than on the bottom, and turning the eggs ensures that they will be warmed evenly. You need the temperature in a still air incubator a little higher than a circulated air one, so that the bottoms of the eggs are not too cold. Circulated air incubators have small fans that move the warm air around the eggs evenly.  Some types of birds do better in a still air incubator, but chickens do fine in either type. I would pick your first incubator based on how much time you have available to spend on it. If you are not ready to babysit your eggs all day and all night for nearly a month, go with a model with an automatic turner.  Look for models that are known to hold their temperature well, so that you will be less likely to need to adjust your temperature during you hatch.  If you are not familiar with how the incubator's temperature dial behaves when you adjust it, you could get some big shifts in temperature.  I would suggest getting your incubator as far in advance of the hatch a long as possible, so you can start it up, have it running for a while, and understand how it behaves - every brand runs slightly differently. I'm still calibrating one of my incubators, while the other is running exactly at temperature. Before you know it, you'll be hooked on incubating like the rest of us!

I know nothing about incubators

 

[ozexpat]

Quote:
@adfields0609 this statement may not apply to you so please dont take offence.

Many people spend 50 bucks on an incubator then get onto ebay and drop $200 on eggs to fill it. Then they are heart broken that they had a failed hatch or a couple of $100 chicks.

They would be much better off spending $200 on an incubator and sourcing local eggs untill they are proficient

 

[adfields0609]

I know nothing about incubators

last year was the first year we hatched and we used broodys and for beginners we had a really good hatch rate I bought 18 and had 13 hatch but only 10 survived due to new hens some not good for mama's and our second hatch was a 100% with my buff Orpington that was given to me

 

[ozexpat]

did you know:

Farm innovator egg turners will fit a hovabator but hovabator egg turners wont fit a farm innovator

 

[adfields0609]

@adfields0609
   this statement may not apply to you so please dont take offence.

Many people spend 50 bucks on an incubator then get onto ebay and drop $200 on eggs to fill it. Then they are heart broken that they had a failed hatch or a couple of $100 chicks. 

They would be much better off spending $200 on an incubator and sourcing local eggs untill they are proficient 

no offence taken. right now I am not looking to spend a lot of money until I get the hang of it and would be using eggs from my own already established flock

 

[Cynthia12]

my problem with the Little Giant and Farm Innovators is the dial on the thermostat. micro movements cause macro changes.

A trick to making them more stable is to increase the size of the nob. you can glue a kids plastic tea cup saucer to it and control the temp easier.

Going to try this..can I pass this along?

 

[ozexpat]

no offence taken. right now I am not looking to spend a lot of money until I get the hang of it and would be using eggs from my own already established flock

I would spend a few extra bucks above the little giant and get http://www.amazon.com/G-Q-F-Manufacturing-1602N-Hova-Bator-Incubator/dp/B0050I4H6A $58 with free hipping

 

[Cynthia12]

We're in. It will be our first hatch a long.

 

[ozexpat]

Going to try this..can I pass this along?

like anything posted, its yours to do what you wish