Which Incubator to buy?

[TattooedMama]

Quick update on the new Brinsea. I put my miserable shipped eggs with all their scrambled/loose air cells in on Sunday night. I'm not using the auto turn cradle for this hatch since the air cells are all a mess. I have to say I am so far impressed with the Brinsea's ability to quickly reheat after opening. That is a definite plus with all the hand turning I'll be doing! I don't think I'm going to like hatching in it though. It seems so cramped. I guess we shall see!

I just turned mine on last night to let it get going and like it so far. I agree though that for hatching it looks like right quarters compared to almost any other model. I am on my way to get my eggs from the post office here soon. They came from Tennessee to California so here's to hoping they did ok

What humidity do you incubate and hatch with? I haven't decided what to do yet; I will be soaking up all the info on humidity like a madwoman while I let my eggs sit for a few hours. Also, will you begin to use the cradle after a few days? I had read somewhere on BYC that you can just not turn for a day to give air cells a chance to reattach and then resume turning after. It may have been the incubation 101 page in the learning center. Just a thought.

 

[brandy00]

I just turned mine on last night to let it get going and like it so far. I agree though that for hatching it looks like right quarters compared to almost any other model. I am on my way to get my eggs from the post office here soon. They came from Tennessee to California so here's to hoping they did ok

What humidity do you incubate and hatch with? I haven't decided what to do yet; I will be soaking up all the info on humidity like a madwoman while I let my eggs sit for a few hours. Also, will you begin to use the cradle after a few days? I had read somewhere on BYC that you can just not turn for a day to give air cells a chance to reattach and then resume turning after. It may have been the incubation 101 page in the learning center. Just a thought.

I'm doing the dry method in all three of the bators I have going. My LG is on day 14 and so far the air cells seem to be doing just what they should. The humidity has varied between about 32-45% staying mostly around 35. I'm going to bump it up to 65-70% for lockdown. I have 22 shipped Polish eggs in that one. The air cells were in pretty good shape with those eggs. When I got them I let them sit for 24 hours and then put them in the incubator for 24 hours with no turning. After 24 hours I put them in the auto turner. All 22 are developing!! The newer set of eggs in the Brinsea came from Cali to Oklahoma and every single one of them is a mess! The air cells are all completely detached, some are mishapen, etc. I really think it will be a miracle if a single one hatches. I'm not going to use the auto turner at all. If an air cell that is really a mess is going to reattach it takes about 2 weeks and if they are really bad they may not reattach at all. I'm keeping them in an egg carton the whole 21 days. I hope you have better luck with your shipped eggs!

Edited to add: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/704328/diary-notes-air-cell-detatched-shipped-eggs
Here is a lot of good info on dealing with shipped eggs

 

[victoriagoodrch]

i suggest to get an incubator for no less than $150 - $200. we have two incubators and they both work great, but were expensive.

 

[Sydney Acres]

i suggest to get an incubator for no less than $150 - $200. we have two incubators and they both work great, but were expensive.

What did you buy?

I like the reputation of the Brinsea but am not sure I like the design. Too much external movement, rocking in the cradle, a bit too small, and the water pump and tubing seems like it might be problematic. I'm really debating between the Incuview made by Incubator Wearhouse, and the Rcom 20 Max. This will be my first incubator, other than a borrowed Little Giant still air styrofoam incubator that had a 0% hatch (probably my fault, but still don't think styrofoam is an appropriate incubator case). My main concern with the Rcom 20 Max is that, while most of the reviews are excellent, best-incubator-ever type recommendations, there are enough reviews of the unit having problems AND the U.S. distributor not standing behind the product to make me concerned. I understand that not every unit off the line will be perfect -- some of us will get machines that need to be sent back for repair or replacement. But that process should be easy, quick, and it shouldn't cost the buyer anything additional. But apparently several people have not found that level of customer service, and are stuck with $400 machines that don't work, and no way to readily fix them in the U.S. Maybe these people didn't work with the company hard enough for a successful outcome, and were quick to go to their computers to leave negative comments, I don't know. I hate to pass on negative feedback if it wasn't deserved, but I do have some concerns. Does anyone have any opinions on this issue?

 

[TattooedMama]

I'm doing the dry method in all three of the bators I have going. My LG is on day 14 and so far the air cells seem to be doing just what they should. The humidity has varied between about 32-45% staying mostly around 35. I'm going to bump it up to 65-70% for lockdown. I have 22 shipped Polish eggs in that one. The air cells were in pretty good shape with those eggs. When I got them I let them sit for 24 hours and then put them in the incubator for 24 hours with no turning. After 24 hours I put them in the auto turner. All 22 are developing!! The newer set of eggs in the Brinsea came from Cali to Oklahoma and every single one of them is a mess! The air cells are all completely detached, some are mishapen, etc. I really think it will be a miracle if a single one hatches. I'm not going to use the auto turner at all. If an air cell that is really a mess is going to reattach it takes about 2 weeks and if they are really bad they may not reattach at all. I'm keeping them in an egg carton the whole 21 days. I hope you have better luck with your shipped eggs!

Edited to add: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/704328/diary-notes-air-cell-detatched-shipped-eggs
Here is a lot of good info on dealing with shipped eggs

I'm glad at least your Polish eggs worked out and good luck with the others!! I just got home from the post office not too long ago and what a frickin nightmare!!!

I was ready to

people all over that place!!


I went to USPS because the tracking info showed that my eggs were there but they had not called me yet. Come to find out they put my eggs on a truck and the truck supposedly had just recently left (this was at 11, mail usually gets delivered here about 2:30). The woman understood the issue with this and told who I believe was her manager in the back room but I could hear everything. You could hear the guy being a total jerk telling her too bad, so what, they're gone, they aren't going to bring the package back. He was a complete Ahole and wouldn't listen to her. Then he walks from behind the back room and asks me what's the problem and won't I just be home later to have them delivered...

I explained to him that he was entirely missing the point and that he had compromised the hatchability of the eggs and did not follow the mailing instructions that explicitly state the package is to be held for pickup and he may as well point me to the form to file a claim. He made them bring it back but he was still a frickin royal Ahole. He told me they don't hold items and it doesn't matter that it said it because they don't look at that, only the address. Also he complained the box should say fragile and perishable-which I can understand but at the same time there was a fairly large sticker on every side except the top that says, "Hatching Eggs from Hardin Poultry. Please do not X-ray." It's hard to understand how the word EGG doesn't translate to perishable and fragile to some people. essentially he told me good luck filing a claim in a sarcastic tone.

I may just send items to my friend's in the future to use her post office instead of my own. I just hope they are ok, they aren't cracked and were all still fat end up in box. I'm letting them sit for a bit and will candle later on.

 

[TattooedMama]

What did you buy?

I like the reputation of the Brinsea but am not sure I like the design. Too much external movement, rocking in the cradle, a bit too small, and the water pump and tubing seems like it might be problematic. I'm really debating between the Incuview made by Incubator Wearhouse, and the Rcom 20 Max. This will be my first incubator, other than a borrowed Little Giant still air styrofoam incubator that had a 0% hatch (probably my fault, but still don't think styrofoam is an appropriate incubator case). My main concern with the Rcom 20 Max is that, while most of the reviews are excellent, best-incubator-ever type recommendations, there are enough reviews of the unit having problems AND the U.S. distributor not standing behind the product to make me concerned. I understand that not every unit off the line will be perfect -- some of us will get machines that need to be sent back for repair or replacement. But that process should be easy, quick, and it shouldn't cost the buyer anything additional. But apparently several people have not found that level of customer service, and are stuck with $400 machines that don't work, and no way to readily fix them in the U.S. Maybe these people didn't work with the company hard enough for a successful outcome, and were quick to go to their computers to leave negative comments, I don't know. I hate to pass on negative feedback if it wasn't deserved, but I do have some concerns. Does anyone have any opinions on this issue?

Incubator warehouse is currently having a giveaway for their Incuview. Check their Facebook for details. I believe you ahve to like them on Facebook and then leave a review for any product on their website. Worth a shot

 

[TattooedMama]

What did you buy?

I like the reputation of the Brinsea but am not sure I like the design. Too much external movement, rocking in the cradle, a bit too small, and the water pump and tubing seems like it might be problematic. I'm really debating between the Incuview made by Incubator Wearhouse, and the Rcom 20 Max. This will be my first incubator, other than a borrowed Little Giant still air styrofoam incubator that had a 0% hatch (probably my fault, but still don't think styrofoam is an appropriate incubator case). My main concern with the Rcom 20 Max is that, while most of the reviews are excellent, best-incubator-ever type recommendations, there are enough reviews of the unit having problems AND the U.S. distributor not standing behind the product to make me concerned. I understand that not every unit off the line will be perfect -- some of us will get machines that need to be sent back for repair or replacement. But that process should be easy, quick, and it shouldn't cost the buyer anything additional. But apparently several people have not found that level of customer service, and are stuck with $400 machines that don't work, and no way to readily fix them in the U.S. Maybe these people didn't work with the company hard enough for a successful outcome, and were quick to go to their computers to leave negative comments, I don't know. I hate to pass on negative feedback if it wasn't deserved, but I do have some concerns. Does anyone have any opinions on this issue?

Also, I don't know anything about the Rcoms BUT when I see reviews about Customer Service being unhelpful and uncooperative with customers about faulty products-especially when concerning such high priced items- that really concerns me. Thats why I won't buy a Nikon camera, they may have some nice cameras but they also have a pretty high incidence of issues and are notorious for crappy customer service. Its a personal decision about how comfortable you are with that. I just registered my brinsea and it has a 2 year guarantee but even they seem to have some loopholes with it. If you forget to register within 30 days its only a one year guarantee and basically the guarantee to fix or replace products is completely at their discretion. So if I have an issue later down the road they could blame it on user error and refuse to fix.replace anything. Hopefully I won't need the warranty and/or if I do they will be honest when working with me. Picking an incubator has many variables and it's a pain in the butt =/

 

[GregClark38]

I did a lot of looking myself before chirstmas this past year and settled on a Chinese incubator. I spent days looking and each time I started to settle in on anything I would find less then favorable reviews. There was a review on YouTube of a guy who works at an animal sanctuary and said this was hands down the best incubator he had ever owned. 100% hatches every time. That pretty much sealed the deal for me. The price was great too. I got mine through an E-bay vendor but here is a link to see it.
http://incubator.china-direct-buy.c...matic_Mini_Egg_Incubator_For_Family_Type.html

It has all the bells and whistles you would want. holds 48 eggs and has a turner that turns the eggs every 2 hours and a count down timer that lets you know the next time it is going to turn the eggs. The turner of course is removable. It has alarms for temperature and humidity if they go out of range and they are adjustable but mine arrived spot on. There is a fan and channels below a plastic grid that holds different amounts of water. There are filler ports from the sides of the tub. It is all plastic so it is easy to clean. The top is semi clear so you can peek in. It would have been nice if it was a little easier to see in but it does offer you a glimpse of what's going on. I did have to get the bubbly shelf liner the one that has tiny holes in it cause the plastic grid on its own is too slippery when they start hatching and there is all that liquid and gue. I got 1 case of spradle leg on my first hatch but the perforated shelf liner solved future problems.
First hatch I had 3 fertile eggs and all went great, hatched on day 21
2nd hatch only one fertile egg and hatched beautiful on day 21
3rd hatch this time I had 9 fertile eggs and all but one has hatched. I got one Texas hold out... It's still hanging out in the egg........ need to do some research to find out what to do for this little guy.
two hatched on day 20 most day 21 and I got one struggling to get out on day 22.
I believe this has more to do with my hens maybe starting to sit on my eggs a bit before I gathered them and incubated them. Not sure. We were busy that week getting ready for a vacation. Anyway I am an complete newbie in this world and thought I would let you know about this great little incubator.

Is this the one you have? http://www.ebay.com/itm/48-Digital-...1606&clkid=6940329718424725158&_qi=RTM1562571

 

[jjaazzy]

Gregclark38, Yes, that is the one. Do you see how the front panel is tilted back. That is the newer model the older one is flat up and down. The tilt makes it easier to read while on the counter. That is a great price I think I paid 189.00 but it was right before Christmas and I was anxious to get to hatching. Mine came with a free egg chandler = flashlight : ) but it was a nice one.

 

[TattooedMama]

I'm doing the dry method in all three of the bators I have going. My LG is on day 14 and so far the air cells seem to be doing just what they should. The humidity has varied between about 32-45% staying mostly around 35. I'm going to bump it up to 65-70% for lockdown. I have 22 shipped Polish eggs in that one. The air cells were in pretty good shape with those eggs. When I got them I let them sit for 24 hours and then put them in the incubator for 24 hours with no turning. After 24 hours I put them in the auto turner. All 22 are developing!! The newer set of eggs in the Brinsea came from Cali to Oklahoma and every single one of them is a mess! The air cells are all completely detached, some are mishapen, etc. I really think it will be a miracle if a single one hatches. I'm not going to use the auto turner at all. If an air cell that is really a mess is going to reattach it takes about 2 weeks and if they are really bad they may not reattach at all. I'm keeping them in an egg carton the whole 21 days. I hope you have better luck with your shipped eggs!

Edited to add: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/704328/diary-notes-air-cell-detatched-shipped-eggs
Here is a lot of good info on dealing with shipped eggs

How are your eggs doing? I peeked at mine prematurely on Saturday night. they went in Wednesday at 6:45pm so it was just about 3 days then. I could already see 5 starting to vein. I am very excited. Oddly enough all 3 lavender cuckoo orpington eggs were all clear (super translucent eggs, easy to see in) but I'm hoping they will have something going on day 7. They came in a bundle so I wasn't really too concerned with those 3 but it would have been cool I think to have some, even if only for a bit before selling them.