What is the best bator to buy??

[jen5680]

Ok I am looking to buy my first bator and i am wondeirng what is everyones favorite, there are soooo many different ones!!
Please let me know what yall think. Also I am talking under $200.
thanks!!

 

[kartking22]

Jen,
The saying, " You only get what you pay for." applies to purchasing an incubator. Your decision depends totally on what you can afford, how many eggs you decide to hatch, and how long you will need your first before you need a bigger one. LOL There are many first time incubators out there for about $100 and more if you want the automatic turner. Check craigslist for a vintage one if possible or post your own wanted add. I have seen the new styrafoam bators offered and wasn't very impressed with cost versus what you can find locally from older farmers looking to pass on the vintage bators that they no longer use. Well built incubators that still work better and have been tested over a lifetime of hatching chicks. Look for the old redwood cabinet style incubators. They were very good at holding a constant heat on the eggs.

 

[shelleyd2008]

Under $200, I would go with the hovabator. I've had mine for about 6 months and I love it! I've got the 1583 model, the one with the picture window and the wafer thermostat. It was free shipping, and came with a turner with universal and quail egg turner racks, all for about $150.

 

[jen5680]

Quote:
how did you get the free shipping?

 

[shelleyd2008]

It was through flemingoutdoors, I think, and I believe it was free shipping on orders over $xxxx, though I'm not sure.

 

[steve2495]

brinsea eco 20. $100 by far the best quality

 

[EAST TEXAROO]

Build your own, Lots of good threads on here how to do it. I used Speckled hens plans and my bator is great. Lot more rewarding than a store bought one. I have about next to nothing invested in mine.

 

[kartking22]

I forgot to mention in my first post that I bought a vintage Leahy model 624 redwood incubator from my ad on craigslist for $100. Everything original was there except for the instruction manual which I found on-line. This was a great buy for me but there are still alot of these old bators taking up room in someones garage. It doesn't cost anything to place an ad and you never know what you will find out there. New isn't always better. Leahy built thier bators to last forever and so far, mine has been time tested and still works great. Heating element, fan motor, and duel wafers are all still in perfect working condition. I don't know of any new bators that offer a duel wafer just in case that the one fails and either cooks your eggs or shuts off your heat.
These new bators do work good for someone just starting out and will hatch your eggs. Only problem is that once you get that hatching bug, you're gonna need a bigger bator. Your hobavator won't be big enough anymore. Just ask anyone here. Heck, I have upgraded twice since starting to incubate eggs. I hope that my newest puchase will be enough. This one holds up to 1400 eggs at a time. LOL.

 

[Kennyog]

Quote:
Agreed.Go to Brinsea's website.They usually have a internet sale on some of their incubators.

www.brinsea.com

 

[jen5680]

It just amazes me that so many i look at are styrafoam!!
I mean I can't believe they cost that much. I feel like i could use my cooler and make one myself but i'm not up to that.
thanks for the input so far!!
there are just so many to choose from!