What is the best incubator? Suggestions Please!!

[starri33]

I have a little janeol incubator between 35 and 50 on ebay, with the size of duck eggs, I'd guess you might be able to get 4 in there, auto turner.. I get the large to extra large chicken eggs from my girls, 6 are all I can get in it at a time.

 

[CyndiD]

I will check those out. Is there really a big difference between still air and ones with fans in it?

My blind duck does lay eggs, but not at a specific time. Ive seen her lay at morning and evening. On another note, the most amazing thing about her is she uses echo location to maneuver around. She coos while moving her head slowing and methodically to learn her surroundings. Anytime there is a change in surroundings you see her do that a lot until she has committed it to her memory. Amazing.

Is her blindness hereditary?

 

[Trux]

The problem with still air incubators is that the heat can vary greatly from one spot in the incubator to another. The corners might be 95 and the middle right under the heat might be 102. No joke.

If you use a still air incubator take a week with a max/min thermometer and stick it in a different spot, 2 days in each spot to track spikes and dips... and figure out if there are spots in the incubator that just shouldn't have eggs.

What happens in a still air is that the heat rises to the top, and the outer edges of the incubator are cooler. If you plan to fill the bator to capacity then I would suggest getting the fan option which will circulate the air inside the bator and you will have a more consistent temp through out. The cost for a fan isn't that much. If you go to incubator warehouse it gives you the cost of still air, circulated air and turner options in package deals.

 

[Trux]

I've hatched ducklings twice, the first time I put in 20 eggs and one was not fertile, so out of 19 fertile eggs I ended up with 15 ducklings. The second time I put in 18 eggs and only 3 were fertile, I guess because it was only early March, and all three hatched. It is a styrofoam incubator. I have hatched a few chicks before but I have way less luck with chicken eggs, and I can't seem to figure out why

If your using a still air, I would venture to guess it is a consistency issue with temp in the bator. Now I am not sure of this but, maybe that chicken eggs are more sensitive to temp variances than duck eggs. With a still air the outer edges of the bator are cooler and the heat remains at the top. Just my thoughts

 

[Fairview01]

Convert an inexpensive still air inexpensively with a 12v mini computer fan. I started out by just hanging 2 in opposing corners then decided to put one inside the heating unit itself. Get the ones with guards as the first place the seem to want explore is that fan trying to stick their head in it.

Best incubator are these. The old redwoods. With patience and time you'll find them on craigslist for under $200. I picked one up recently for $100.