With my Hatching issues, thinking of upgrading, Good Incubator???

[lockedhearts]

I have had numerous hatching issues using a Forced Air Hova Bator 1602 with turner for incubation and a Still Air for Hatching. I have bought more hygrometers and calibrated them, bought instant read thermometers.
I am frustrated.
Thinking of upgrading to an "intermediate" bator. I was thinking Brinsea, but what other models are out there in the under $500 range that are good, also easy to use.

 

[sandspoultry]

Last year we got a Brinsea Octogon 40 and I was not impressed with it at all. It's all plastic and doesn't have the thermal mass to hold temp very well. With ours it seemed like everytime I looked at it the temp was different.

Steve in NC

 

[lockedhearts]

Quote:
Thanks Steve, thats good to know. I may have to resort to begging hubby to build me a nice cabinet one, He would have time to do so if I would quit hatching and buying chicks.....

 

[MissPrissy]

I have 3 Hovabator genesis 1588 - preset electronic thermostat. Plug n' play. i wouldn't trade them for anything.

1602 isn't much beter than a LG. Save them for back up but get the 1588.

 

[lockedhearts]

Quote:
Thats an idea, I need something pretty much automatic, I stay way too busy to hand turn so I paid extra for turners when I bought mine. I just want to get better hatches, I know shipping is hard on them, but I am convinced that humidity issues are a big part of my problem. I think I am going to find a couple of seriously good hygrometers too.

 

[SGM]

I have the genesis 1588 too and it is a breeze. When I started in 2006 hatching I used the basic hovabator model. I think it was the 1602. Didn't have the egg turner or anything. I had ok results. 50/50. Sometimes it went super and sometimes it went poorly.

With this Genesis I've been having pretty good results. Only time I seem to have bad development is due to infertility where they don't develop at all or shipping scrambling. Those have the mobile air pockets. Eggs I set tend to nearly all develop. I haven't hatched any in mine yet. I plan to let my Cochin eggs that are in there hatch in it this go around.

 

[lockedhearts]

I went to GQF site and looked at them, I may go ahead and try one and use my others for hatchers. I figure that way if I stagger, Like usual a day or so apart I will be able ti have a couple different hatchers set up. Of Course I did look at the 1502 Cabinet style too, only 700, but think of all the eggs I could do.....

 

[greathorse]

If you spring for the GQF cabinet you will be able to build a hatcher so easy The hatcher simply requires the cabinet the fan the heating element and a thermostat. I built mine in a day, and another day to seal.

You can build the hatcher a nice one for under a 100 dollars the turner etc is so difficult in the incubator.