TOP Hatch Incubators NOT?

[Josie]

In the cooler months, when it was unwrapped, the temps would fluctuate by 8 degrees, roughly. Once wrapped, in the same location, the temps were rock solid.

The placement of my Brower is and was by no means ideal. I have it on a cold wood floor, in a room that has a gap you can see daylight through (unfinished baseboard project), and under a single-pane window. I did put up the top of a box between the Brower and the gap wall, but have had no temp issues since bubble wrapping.

 

[joebryant]

I am now hatching eggs in my new HTI20. They began hatching yesterday at 5 P.M.; that's 21 days and one hour after I put the eggs in. Right now, 18 hours later, 12 have hatched. I started off with 12 fresh eggs and 12 eggs over a week old.
I have used nothing but the thermometer that came with the incubator, and it has stayed right at 99.5 with no interference from me since I first set it. Humidity? (?) Evidently the incubator fan takes care of humidity. All I've done is add a cup of water every other day, and all the babies are looking great; they're all still in the incubator and will be until 5 A.M. tomorrow morning (36 hours) to be sure whoever is going to hatch gets a chance to hatch without my disturbing the environment. The brooder is ready for them now, but... They and I can wait.
BTW, my incubator is on a table in the living room; that's where my brooder is/will be too.

 

[joebryant]

Quote:
Hmmm, it turned out that I couldn't wait. I had 13 in the incubator running around, climbing over eggs and shells. They were getting hurt. I took them out about 2 P.M. and put them in the brooder. The incubator quickly returned to 99.5 degrees, and about an hour later another baby hatched. As soon as he dried I put him with the others in the brooder. They're all happy as larks walking and lying on their towel, eating and drinking to their hearts' content; life's good.
I'm leaving the incubator on until tomorrow just in case one of the ten eggs hatch, but I'm not expecting any of them to; however, you never know if you don't know how to candle them. Guess I'll see tomorrow.

 

[banter]

I have had lots of temp fluctuations at first with mine-Try different brands of candelabra bulbs. It made a difference with mine!

 

[joebryant]

Quote:
Newbiecaroline, the model number is THI20, i.e., that's an I not a 1.

 

[Farmer Kitty]

Quote:
I'm glad to read this as I have had temp fluctuations and have wrapped it. I just came from putting a different brand of bulb in and then read this post!

 

[equus2]

I have to speak up. I was so excited when I received mine, and it turned out soooo bad. The tophatch didnt work for me, at all. When I inquired, initially, yes, the customer service rep was very nice.

The top turns on micro-ball bearings that are placed in "cups". If you happen to have the top off, and inadvertently tip the base, the bearings go everywhere, and are very very tiny.

There was no temp control knob. There is, however, a tiny little screw, sort of recessed, under the top, that requires two hands.....one holding a flashlight, the other to turn the screwdrive. It's a pain. There are no calibrations, just a screwhead.

It does require wrapping, and is very susceptible to the slightest temp fluctuations.

I went through 3 lightbulbs during the course of two hatches. Lost almost 30 eggs first time, and 36 the next. The rep said that this is just the way they are. If the bulb goes out and you happen to be away for 4-5 hours, temps plummet and you've lost a hatch. And, even if you put a new bulb in at the start of every hatch, per the rep, you're chances are "good but not great," that the bulb won't go bad before the end of the hatch.

And, lastly, to disassemble the top from the base for cleaning requires HUGE effort. I was afraid I'd break it, but the rep agreed that about the only way to disassemble is to wedge a screwdriver in there and hit it with a hammer, HARD, several times, "until you feel it start to give." Maybe the used ones are already "loosened up" but mine was equally as difficult all 3 times that I disassembled it.

Lastly, they are loud.

I can't say enough about the Genesis, however.

 

[newbiecaroline]

Banter what brand bulb worked best for you?
Wonder if it's even sold here anyways...

 

[Farmer Kitty]

Quote:
You wouldn't lose the hatch. Many people loose power during a hatch and manage, it would amount to the samething!

Info on power outages during Incubation.
From- A Guide to Raising Chickens by Gail Damerow

The more valuable your hatching eggs are, the more likely it is that the electricity will go out during incubation. If you have an uninterruptable power source (UPS) for your computer or other electronic equipment, consider disconnecting the usual equipment and using the UPS to power your incubator. If the outage comtinues beyond its capacity to keep your incubator running, or you don't have an UPS, open the incubator and let the eggs cool until the power goes back on.

Trying to keep the eggs warm is likely to cause abnormal embryo development. Furthermore, if you close the vents or wrap the incubator with blankets in your attempt to keep eggs warm, a greater danger than temperature loss is oxygen deprivation. Developing embryos use up oxygen rather rapidly, and the oxygen level may soon fall below that necessary to keep them alive.

As soon as the power goes back on, close the incubator and continue operating it as usual. The effect of the outage on your hatch will depend on how long the power was out and on how long the eggs had been incubated before the outage. A power failure of up to 12 hours may not significally affect the hatch (except to delay it somewhat), especially if the outage occurred during the early incubation, when cooled embryos naturally tend to go dormant. Embryos that are close to term generate enough heat to carry them through a short-term outage.

I have assembled and disasembled mine and didn't find it that bad. No need to use a hammer! It is new not used.

I like the screw-less chance of bumping it and messing up your temps! The screw is level with the outside of the base.

The noise does quite down once broke in. I have seen posts where others have asked about other forced air bators and the noise too.​

 

[jimnjay]

I had a Top Hatch and loved it. I did upgrade to a TX-6 and I miss many things about the Top Hatch. The space, ease in cleaning and the fact that when I have to open the TX-6, I basically don't have an incubator. The entire top which is plexiglass comes off the tray and you have to set it down to take the eggs out to candle. It heats up quickly and has not be a problem but I find that a bit awkward compared to the Top Hatch.

I had no problem with turning the temp control knob with my fingers. I never used a screwdriver. I still am uncertain about the temperature swings people refer to. I had huge temperature swings with the first Hova Bator I purchased as well and there was no solution such as a bubble wrap cozy to put on it. The thing with the temperature control is that it needs
VERY LITTLE movement to change the temperature.

I think some people have gotten defective units if they are seeing huge temperature swings and have not messed with the control knob and it is in a stable place as mentioned in the instructions.

The little ball bearings are a bit dicey. You should order a new set before you ever get going with it just in case. I used a little computer repair screwdriver that had a magnet on the end and I only made the mistake of turning it over with the ball bearings once.

All in all the Top Hatch is not top of the line but is a very reliable incubator. It is durable and you feel comfortable that it is sanitized when you have cleaned it. I got mine before the Genesis came out. I understand people are having very good results with it too. I personally did not like the thermal wafer type thermostats and that was the reason I chose the Top Hatch. You get a lot for the money and if you understand the principals of hatching and use good instruments you will have great hatching experiences with it. If you get something that is not working properly then you need to contact the mfgr and get it resolved.