What's the best Incubator?

[andischickenfarm]

I was wandering what you all think is the best incubator out there? And should I get the still air or forced air?

Thanks,
Andi

 

[BeckyLa]

A good reliable broody hen. Professionals born and bred for the job.

I haven't had very good luck with bators......

 

[andischickenfarm]

I totally agree with that! But, I've only got 2 hens setting and you can only put so many eggs under them.

I want alot of chicks. I love them!

Andi

 

[BeckyLa]

Well, if you want a lot of chicks, I have heard a lot of good things about the Sportsman cabinet model. It's kinda pricy for my blood (or I'd have one for sure) but they say it practically runs itself with great results.

 

[eldorado]

Andi,

As others have stated, a hen is the ultimate, but their are still a few reasonable alternatives. A styrofoam incubator with a turner and forced air can actually give good results, and will cost a little over $100.

They are best used indoors with the room temperature kept fairly constant.

I have hatched as many as 36 with ours before. Hope this helps.



Good Luck!

 

[Smoky73]

If you want the best incubators, you need to go with either a Brinsea or Lyon for the tabletop models or the Sportsman for a cabinet incubator.
You can usually find Lyon or Brinsea Incubators used on Ebay. Well worth the money as the brand new ones can be pricey. Of course, knowing what I know now, I would not have hesitated to buy a Lyon one full price new.

 

[Poison Ivy]

I was thinking of buying one a few months ago. But after seeing the ones you can make yourself and being alot cheaper. I decided to make my own and it works great. Matter of fact I just got finished about 2 hours ago making a larger one. I have 18+ eggs coming any day and needed a larger incubator. I followed the instructions from Missprissy and ask Aran for some extra info on the wiring. Its running at 99.0 as I type this. So I would give it some thought and try making your own and spend that extra money you save and buy yourself lots of eggs to hatch!

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

Hi Andi,

i have gone through two batches of eggs now using a Little Giant still air incubator. i absolutely do not like them at all. The temperature fluctuations are very frustrating. No matter how careful i was, the temps would always drop during the evening (and the room temperature was kept painstakingly level). And the adjustment knob is so sensitive - i would just touch it ever so slightly and it would jump up to 103, another teeny touch and it would crash down to 98. My first batch of eggs - nothing. My second batch of eggs i got 7 hatches out of 29 eggs, and 3 of those chicks were stuck to the shell with 1 having to be put down.

During these frustrating hatching excursions, i bought a Hova Bator still air, and the temps on that are very easy to regulate. i then decided i don't have the time or energy to turn this final batch of eggs 3+ times a day and hover over the thermometer, so bought The Genius Hova Bator with thermostat, fan and egg turner from Murray McMurray, here is the link http://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/product/full_view_picture_window_incubator.html

i love not having to do anything but look in the window and check the humidity on my hygrometer. i will let you know how successful this hatch is.

i plan on keeping the Hova Bator still air and the fancy schmancy one, and selling the Little Giants on either craigslist or ebay. That's my two cents.

 

[MissPrissy]

Andi,

Several of us have made our own incubators for very little expense.

Here is mine

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=8510

Aran has chicks pipping and hatching now from the one he made.

Look around and see what you have on hand that you can cobble together to make your own. The do it yourself things is pretty rewarding!

 

[aran]

thats true...great fun to make with your kids and inexpensive and you get all the features of an expensive one...by the way 2 beautiful silkies hatched out over night...doing great...expect 3 more today/tomorrow.