whats the best incubator

[ravenking]

i am planning on hatching some chicken eggs next month but i would like to know whats the best incubator to buy but not a crazy high price or is better to make your own.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

It's cheaper to make one yourself. The better incubators have preset thermostats, a no brianer that eliminates need for tweaking temp throughout incubation. The gas filled wafer thermostats are indistructable, inexpensive and proven. Only problem with them is the metal will relax with use requiring the temp to be nudged down in first week. Unused metal wafer at start takes more heat to expand and less as it's in use so your temp will rise slightly over the first few days to week of use then be rock solid.

Inexpensive models with metal wafers look no further than a Hovabator economy model.

Reasonable preset look no further than Hovabator Genesis.

DIY kit where you make the box and slap in a preset unit with fan included for $50: Add cost $50 for auto turner from local farm supply, wood and plexi from hardware store and that's a kick butt incubator for $120.

http://incubatorwarehouse.com/48-watt-incukit-dc.html

Note that this smaller unit is for desktop model size only, attempting to use it in larger space will result in it burning out. Make your box sized to fit an auto turner and your good. Drill some holes in bottom and top of box for air flow Easy to use plexi or two layers of plexi spaced for insulation as part of top view lid.

ETA: make the box slightly larger than auto turner so you have space to put cups of water for humidity control. Humidity is control.ed by surface area of water present. I get 35% RH with a double shot glass or tumbler and 65-70% RH for hatching days with two large mouth coffee cups sitting right in incubator.

 

[ravenking]

thanks il check those out

 

[dheltzel]

This is a frequently asked question on BYC, there are a lot of threads out there you can read. My "best value" in a great incubator goes to the Genesis by GQF. Don't get the lesser models, make sure it's the Genesis. Another frequent recommendation made by myself and others is the Brinsea Eco 20 with turner. This is slightly more expensive than the Genesis and only holds half as many eggs, but it is more durable and easier to keep clean.

You can't go wrong with either one.

 

[ravenking]

ok i think il check out the genisis