The best incubator?

[Lemon88]

My last hatch was done using a borrowed incubator, and id like to buy one for myself now. I know this is more of an opinion than a right/wrong answer but what do you guys think is the best incubator? I am really having trouble deciding.

 

[Pyxis]

What kind of capacity are you looking for? You can't go wrong with a Brinsea, and they have all kinds of sizes, but they are pricey. A Nurture Right 360 is a nice option; I have one a love it. I've also heard the Incuview is a good tabletop incubator.

 

[Lemon88]

What kind of capacity are you looking for? You can't go wrong with a Brinsea, and they have all kinds of sizes, but they are pricey. A Nurture Right 360 is a nice option; I have one a love it. I've also heard the Incuview is a good tabletop incubator.

I wont need too big of an incubator, ill probably only be hatching a dozen quail eggs at a time. I think the one i used last hatch was called a Janoel 12? Ill check those ones you recommended out!

 

[Lemon88]

I read somewhere that incubators with fans are better than those without? Is this true?

 

[Rose Quartz]

I read somewhere that incubators with fans are better than those without? Is this true?

In my opinion yes. (Im sure there are some who would disagree) the fan makes for a more consistent temperature throughout the entire incubator.

 

[CluckNDoodle]

I prefer the forced air (with fan) incubators over the still air (without fan) incubators as well. I also second the incubators that @Pyxis recommended. Brinsea, Nurture Right 360, and IncuView are all very reliable incubators, all have plastic body, and all are forced air incubators. I have 2 Nurture Right 360s and an IncuView, I typically recommend the Nurture Right as my favorite but the reason my IncuView is a close second is because of the flexibility when wanting to hatch different types of eggs. You mentioned quail eggs and while I have hatched quail eggs in the Nurture Right, I do feel the IncuView is better designed for assorted egg sizes.

Happy hatching!

 

[Hobbybreeder]

I just ordered the little giant deluxe ( fan and Turner included ) I was seeing some good things about it. Is it also a good incubator? It would be my first incubator. I'm hoping I didn't make a mistake

 

[CluckNDoodle]

I just ordered the little giant deluxe ( fan and Turner included ) I was seeing some good things about it. Is it also a good incubator? It would be my first incubator. I'm hoping I didn't make a mistake

Not a mistake, it's an ok incubator, not my favorite but I have had one and successfully hatched chicks. I ran my Little Giant all year last year and used it as a backup incubator for the others when I had assists or staggered hatches. I would highly recommend getting a secondary thermometer/hygrometer and make sure it's calibrated properly.

Here's a link on calibrating.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...incubator-thermometers-and-hygrometers.73634/

 

[Hobbybreeder]

Not a mistake, it's an ok incubator, not my favorite but I have had one and successfully hatched chicks. I ran my Little Giant all year last year and used it as a backup incubator for the others when I had assists or staggered hatches. I would highly recommend getting a secondary thermometer/hygrometer and make sure it's calibrated properly.

Here's a link on calibrating.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...incubator-thermometers-and-hygrometers.73634/

Yeah I was looking around and saw the 360 incubator mentioned many times. But it only holds 21 eggs. Sure i may not need something big now but I'd like to do more someday. The little giant seemed to have decent reviews so I thought it would be better. But I did just place the order a few minutes ago so it's not to late to cancel. I payed $160 total. I don't know if it was a good investment. I was actually looking around for a secondary therm/hydrometer. Should I order the nurture right instead?

 

[CluckNDoodle]

Yeah I was looking around and saw the 360 incubator mentioned many times. But it only holds 21 eggs. Sure i may not need something big now but I'd like to do more someday. The little giant seemed to have decent reviews so I thought it would be better. But I did just place the order a few minutes ago so it's not to late to cancel. I payed $160 total. I don't know if it was a good investment. I was actually looking around for a secondary therm/hydrometer. Should I order the nurture right instead?

That is totally up to you! It's not a "bad" incubator, you will be able to hatch chicks and that's the goal! If you said you ordered one of the yellow top cheapo incubators I would have told you to cancel. I have just been a hatch-a-holic and have tried several tabletop incubators now and I have my favorites. My honest opinion from favorite to least favorite of the incubators I have experience with are as follows, but it's just my opinion.

1. Nurture Right 360
2. IncuView
3. Hovabator
4. Farm Innovators
5. Little Giant
6. Yellow top China-bator (not worth a penny)

I purchased both of the Nurture Right 360s from Tractor Supply when I had a coupon, which they just emailed out 15% off coupons for this weekend so you could snag one for $120 if you have the coupon but yes, it only hold 22 eggs which is why I now have 2.