Before you get one if you are like i was you arent sure what is imperitive to have in a incubator . i would suggest HOVABATOR 1588 "GENESIS" (Ebay) and you can get a turner with it but... extra. .It isnt the cheapest model but will save you a lot of heartache and frustration with the auto heat ajust that keeps the temp at 99.5-100 Such a stress reliever i love MINE! The cheaper models temps will vary a lot and you have to use heat sincs(rock) and putting it in a closet etc and even then youre not assured of the temp staying where you need it Wild swings hurt the eggs.especially if it spikes which they do sometimes.. The temp is the most important part of their first 18 days of incubation and can mean very low hatch or none compared to a better higher hatch rate The turner is nice but not really critical unless you work odd hours or arent home much .If ihad $50 to spend on turner or auto heat ajust er ...I would pick the auto heat ajust every time I bought the cheaper bator with the turner and was constantly checking and ajusting the temp and had 2 zero hatches Discusted 2 months later got the Genesis Turned out ok as once youhatch some yo uget addicted to it and i use both nowThe cheaper for the last 4 days lockdown where heat doesnt mean as much... Turning by hand only is 3 time a day, morning dinner and bedtime .Not really too difficult.Some ppl do it just twice a day even. but most 3 times The Genesis is about $154 without the turner cheaper Hovabators are about $106 with the turner.I would get one wiith a fan too. as it keeps the heat even in the bator no hot spots. Good luck on your ques!t Genesis has it and so does some cheaper models... I would not get the Little Giant as i have heard so many ppl on here complain about it Others bators i havent heard how ppl like them but i havent heard anything bad about the Genesis Good luck
I would say it all depends on what you want and what you can aford, remmber though you get what you pay for . What do you want to incubate? How many of what kinds of eggs do you want to incubate at one time? How often would you like to incubate? How much time do you have to moniter the incubator? Small batches I would suggest Brinsea mini eco or advanced or Brinsea octo 20 eco or advanced Larger batches I would suggest the Hoverbator Genises or Brinsea octo 40 eco or advanced or Lots of people Im sure will have lots of ideas.
I have this one and I'm surprised. I don't need to adjust temperature and I have auto turner too my turner is a Little Giant 6300 and also quail racks.
i would prefer the brinsea octo 20 eco because i use this one and i am most familiar with it , also it is more simpler (easy) to me
Roxannemc, this one?? http://item.mobileweb.ebay.com/viewitem?itemId=330447316330&index=0&nav=SEARCH&nid=22003996488
http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog/reptile-supplies/reptile-incubators/ This reptile supply sells the Hovabator 1583R for $89. You'd have to contact them for shipping price. This is the picture window Hovabator with fan, the model I have and love. If you think you really need the auto turner you can pick one up for $40.
Looking at the G.Q.F. site you can purchase the auto turner and 1588 Genesis separately to save some money. The combo package comes with quail racks and universal egg racks so purchasing the universal auto turner and incubator separately you save $21. G.F.Q. are the manufactures and distributors of Hovabators. https://www.gqfmfg.com/store/comersus_listItems.asp?idCategory=30&orderBy=sku# Thinking they discontinued the 1583 model and with some adjustments call it 1586 for $20 more. All models excepting the Genesis have the wafer thermostat. They are easy to use, have large movement for adjustments so you don't over adjust temp and simply a great unit. We have a picture window model because of four kids (1583 model in above post) but to save even more money the 2362 model is the still air with turbo fan added. Seems G.F.Q. updated and discontinued this model too but can still be purchased new for $83 including shipping on eBay right now. http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Hova-Ba...493?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2ec45f6415 On a side note I don't use an auto turner. Have 90% success rate with my own eggs turning them by hand in egg cartoons twice a day. Once in morning before work and once after dinner (12 hours later). By putting a small block of wood or what have you under one side (long side) of carton to tilt the eggs 30 degrees or so then either turn the carton around or move your block to other side 12 hours later your egg turning is made easy. Another plug for the less exspensive wafer models: They are awesome. Once you get the adjustment to your desired temp you leave it alone. To get there on a new model it took me all of an hour waiting for the adjustments to bring steady temp (use a few rocks as heat sinks to get temp right before adding eggs). With brand new wafers they need another small tweak about two weeks into use, you'll note the temp ever so slowly dropping. It's the metal on wafer getting worked in, after this adjustment it's set.
I have the Little Giant with the fan and turner and I have to agree with what others have posted. For the cost if you are hatching your own eggs it's a good little bator but you definitely have to be home more to keep an eye on the temp because it will fluctuate. I have heard people talk about putting it in a closet or wrapping it in a towel to keep the temp more stable. I actually put mine in my little mini greenhouse and it stays pretty stable as long as I keep it away from windows. I also have the Hovabator 1588 and I agree with the posts on that as well. The digital readout is very stable. I have had no issues with temps with this bator. One issue that I have seen and I have seen others talk about is when you set the humidity for lockdown if it gets to high it can cause condensation in the digital screen. The one time I had this happen I called GQF and they actually sent me out a new top. I used some hot glue and sealed around the digital readout and haven't had the problem since. It has been spot on for temp the whole time I owned it. One suggestion for the humidity. I use aquarium tubing through the spot where you put the turner cord and put one piece of tubing in each channel for water. Then I use a syringe to fill the water without having to open it. Makes it easier to keep the humidity up without opening the lid and bothering the chicks while they are hatching.
