What Incubator is the best?

[yinepu]

What kind do you use now?

Reptipro 5000

They aren't like a normal "commercial" bator in that they do not have vents.. so you do have to open the door often.. there isn't a normal "lockdown" like you have to follow in most commercial bators either.

There are a few threads on the Reptipros
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/616987/reptipro-5000-hatch-a-long

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/666070/reptipro-5000-6000-hatch-a-long-thread

in the end you'll have to figure out what kind of bator fits in best with your lifestyle.. and how many problems dealing with them you are willing to put up with
you may find that you like the Brinseas.. however after my extended experience with several of them I no longer recommend them for anything other than the trash heap

 

[Newbee2012]

What kind do you use now?

I don't have one now. I borrowed a hovabator 1588 and had 8 chicks hatch out of 24. But I did not like the styrofoam. And it was my first hatch and I'm sure I messed up along the way. Thanks for all the info.

 

[WinklerFarms]

What kind do you use now?

Reptipro 5000

They aren't like a normal "commercial" bator in that they do not have vents.. so you do have to open the door often.. there isn't a normal "lockdown" like you have to follow in most commercial bators either.

There are a few threads on the Reptipros
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/616987/reptipro-5000-hatch-a-long

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/666070/reptipro-5000-6000-hatch-a-long-thread

in the end you'll have to figure out what kind of bator fits in best with your lifestyle.. and how many problems dealing with them you are willing to put up with
you may find that you like the Brinseas.. however after my extended experience with several of them I no longer recommend them for anything other than the trash heap

great info. I am looking to get a small one to hatch out some projects and such because it doesn't make sense to keep my sportsman running for only 2 dozen or less eggs. I have two lgs and have had great success with them but they require more babysitting than I have time for these days. A lot of people seem to like the brinseas but it is nice to hear on both sides.

 

[spatulagirl]

I am no expert and have only borrowed incubators to learn how to hatch before I actually bought one.

I used a cheap still air LG with no turner and killed more eggs than I hatched. But I persevered and researched and learned and now I get 100% hatches with the same incubator. I originally thought getting a fancier incubator would help me hatch better but it didn't. I had to learn about the science, the tops and tricks and how to hatch successfully in this environment.

A friend borrowed the Genesis Hova-Bator with picture window from another friend and that thing keeps the temp perfect and had an automatic turner. She was still not getting successful hatches because she hadn't figured out what works for her house yet. I borrowed it because I was hatching some eggs and was going out of town. I got a 100% hatch doing what I was doing with the LG.

Anyway, I really liked the Genesis Hova-Bator and am thinking about getting one.

I dry hatch BTW. And it took me five tries to get hatching right.

 

[WinklerFarms]

I agree with you spatulagirl. I am glad that I learned hor to hatch with an lg before I got my sportsman. Learning from your mistakes is important!

 

[lamoka]

I can only tell you about my results with my Brinsea Octagon Eco20 with turning cradle. I have just completed my 10th hatch with it and have never had any issues with it so far. I have had three hatches with 24/25 hatching, still have not got my 100% hatch yet but thats no fault of the incubators. Worst hatch I had with local eggs was 80 % and that was my first hatch and was still learning the humidity controls. I just hatched my first round of shipped eggs and got 10 out of 14 to hatch. The aircells where horrible due to poor handling by the post office so I was very pleased with that hatch rate. A friend has a Genesis Hovebator and has pretty good results with it but not as good as I have with my Brinsea. I can not vouch for Brinseas customer service as I have been fortunate to not have any issues with the incubator. I can easily get 24 xtra large eggs in it and around 28 small to medium size eggs. You are in the right place to find out about certain products as the members here used a large variety and they are super helpfull.