GOOD INCUBATOR??? Tell me about it

Chicken Ninja · Post by **Chicken Ninja** » Sat Apr 02, 2016 8:25 am

So the convo around still air vs forced air (fan) is that the still air can create "pockets" where the temperature is different, depending on where everything is in comparison to the element. The forced air is supposed to move the hot air around evenly, so you get a more uniform temperature. One thing about the hovabators: they have an exposed element - a rod that runs around the lid of the bator. DON'T touch :P Also, we've found fans to be hard to clean when used for a hatcher, as the chicks lose feather filaments, and where do they end up? In the fan.

Good thing to note: a fan kit can be installed in all of the hovabators being sold, that you can install yourself. The main thing you'll want to shop for in a hovabator is whether you want digital thermostat or a "wafer" or traditional thermostat, since you can add a fan to any model yourself.

Good luck with your hatches!!!!!

madison174 · Post by **madison174** » Sat Apr 02, 2016 9:42 am

Regular egg sized turners work fine for silkies. Not to worry.

I have a Brinsea Octagon 40, okay, I have 2. I love them. They're not digital, but I'm fully capable of reading a thermometer. Super easy to use, set and monitor. I have 2 older hovabators I use when the Brinsea's are full. They're older and not as reliable, but everyone takes a turn at checking them when we pass by and we do just fine.

I would definitely recommend getting the Spot-Check thermometer from Brinsea though. Well worth the money you spend on it. cbotkin.ca has them too.

Robbie · Post by **Robbie** » Sat Apr 02, 2016 9:49 am

I built an incubator with parts from the Incubator warehouse. I used the smaller incukit mini, it's a combo controller and heater and fan. But it failed and from what I have gathered from others on the Internet, those mini kits can't handle a tote sized incubator even though they are supposedly 40 watts. I was very happy with the plug and play hygrostat though. I was not able to find out anything about the bigger AC incukit. If you are handy it's fun to build your own incubator. I have a used Sportsman now, I'm going to be trying it out in the middle of April but apparently it was reliable. It was around the same price as a new desktop hovabator size incubator, so it might be worth keeping an eye out for a used cabinet incubator.

Poultryprincess · Post by **Poultryprincess** » Sat Apr 02, 2016 10:33 am

[ref]Fairsing farm[/ref],
HAPPY HAPPY Birthday Frances....how is your "Birthday Hatch" doing today????
Hope you get a LOT of little Showbabies (*o*)

Ontario Chick · Post by **Ontario Chick** » Sat Apr 02, 2016 10:54 am

I would stay away from "wafer" as they can fail and replacing a wafer in the middle of hatch,no joy, provided you have a spare one on hand.
I use "caned air" (spelling?) to clean the fan, works well, my oldest Hova is 9 years old.

Post by **Home Grown Poultry** » Sat Apr 02, 2016 10:58 am

:smiley-char026:

Robbie I never realized that was only 40 watts... that was definitely the problem... mine are both 200.

Iv put quail eggs inside chicken trays with no ill effect whatsoever. the big difference besides the size of the eggs is how many it will hold.

an incubator with a fan is definitely they way to go for incubation. but a fan blowing on hatching chicks can dry them out to fast and shrink wrap them. which doesn't always end very well. my recommendation is get one of each and only use the still air as a dedicated Hatcher. you wont have to clean the incubator very often if at all just the eggs trays, the hatcher should be cleaned after each hatch. I use paper towels in my hatcher and try to roll up the mess and dispose of it but the fluff n dust gets everywhere.