what brand and kind of incubator is best?

[krogen]

I have never had an incubator before and I want an easy one to use with a lid that is easy to close.

For that maticoopx, I wouldn’t say it’s difficult to close, you just have to align it properly when closing. I think it was more of a user issue, although some sensor would have been nice to detect broken seal and alert somehow.

Overall I think a lot of it depends how many eggs you’re planning to hatch in the batch. This will limit your choices by quite a lot. Unless of course you get a larger one and use it with fewer eggs if you do plan like that.

 

[ChickQueen77]

I only would hatch probably about 5-8 eggs at a time but for sure not more then 20

 

[Tex452]

I bought two NR 360 incubators, my first time incubating eggs, I had my first batch hatch out yesterday, I had 20 out of 21 eggs hatch, one died that I helped, so I have 19 healthy chicks.
I did a 100% dry hatch, no water added at any time, I did not open the incubator until day 18, that’s the only time I candled them.
I was very impressed with the results.

 

[ChickQueen77]

how much does that one cost?

 

[AshVau22]

My favorite would have to be the Nurture Right 360. Simply because of price and they are very easy to use I have very good hatch rates with them. But I absolutely love my Brinsea 56 Ex but anything Brinsea is $$$. I do have a Kebonnixs and use it regularly for incubating. With that said I do not like it for hatching. I definitely have to keep an eye on that the most for temperature and humidity. I also feel like it doesn't have enough space to hatch 12 eggs comfortably. Maybe small eggs. But my ducks and chickens always seemed cramped. So I normally move eggs from that to a Nurture Right 360 for lockdown and hatch. I am considering trying a Chickcozy but haven't committed to that yet. Maybe if I see a good sale on one. My set up.

 

[ChickQueen77]

I would only be hatching bantams

 

[AshVau22]

I would only be hatching bantams

They would be ok. The Kebonnixs hold 12 eggs. The Nurture Right 360 holds 22. https://a.co/d/ah6mo4i
https://a.co/d/cZaMchg

 

[ChickQueen77]

once they hatch do you leave them in the incubator? and if you do how long do you leave them in there

 

[ChickQueen77]

also do you need to put water in both the incubators?

 

[AshVau22]

once they hatch do you leave them in the incubator? and if you do how long do you leave them in there

Once they are dry and fluffy. I also never open if I see any pipped. When I see no active pipping I'll pull the fluffy ones, remove egg shells and leave the remaining ones to hatch. Takes about a day for them to dry and fluffy. But they can stay in incubator for couple days if need be for the safety of the ones pipping.