Livestock Incubator Suggestions Needed

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I have a decent incubator, a Kemanner 48 egg version, but it is apparently no longer available, at least not through Amazon. I'm going to be running a continuous circuit of eggs through it for a while, and want to get another one just for hatching. I'd prefer without the turner, which isn't needed for hatching, but can just take the turner out. The incubator I have is plastic (easily cleaned) inserted into Styrofoam insulation. I'd prefer one like it - the all-styrofoam incubators are really only good for a few uses because it's impossible to get them really clean. Any suggestions for a brand?

Kathleen

 

[summerthyme]

8ve been using the same Hovabator styrofoam incubator for 10 years now... have hatched several hundred chicks, and a gentle scrub with dish soap and then letting it sit in the sun for a couple of days has cleaned it well enough that it's odor free...

The issue with almost every one of the hard plastic incubators on Amazon is lousy reviews... they have problems with consistency in holding temp and humidity.

Summerthyme

 

[Freeholder]

8ve been using the same Hovabator styrofoam incubator for 10 years now... have hatched several hundred chicks, and a gentle scrub with dish soap and then letting it sit in the sun for a couple of days has cleaned it well enough that it's odor free...

The issue with almost every one of the hard plastic incubators on Amazon is lousy reviews... they have problems with consistency in holding temp and humidity.

Summerthyme

Yes, that's why I like the one I have -- easy to clean plastic inside, Styrofoam insulation outside. Too bad it's not available anymore.

Kathleen

 

[summerthyme]

Yes, that's why I like the one I have -- easy to clean plastic inside, Styrofoam insulation outside. Too bad it's not available anymore.

Kathleen

Look on Amazon... they have a bunch. But the hard plastic ones have jediocre to awful reviews...

Summerthyme

 

[Marie]

We have a hovabator knockoff and one of those little jobbers. They are both crap

 

[shepherdess]

The Hovabators are good. The Little Giant styrofoam incubators are junk. If you want a step up, the hard plastic Brinsea incubators are great. For more capacity and $$$ you can go to a GQF cabinet with a bottom Hatcher.

 

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I'd love to have a cabinet incubator! Maybe one of these years, though I'm hoping to have enough broody hens eventually so I don't need the incubators anymore. As another step in that direction, we added some Silkie chicks today. Accidentally got a Porcelain D'Uccle in with them (the Silkies are all white). Not sure what use that will be, although they are pretty.

Kathleen

ETA: Chicken math is a thing. In addition to the Silkies, I also got 4 New Hampshire pullets and 4 Welsummer pullets. Been wanting both, just didn't want to order 25 chicks. It's a good thing I wasn't actually at the store - my friend knew I wanted some Silkies and texted me when she saw there were some. Apparently they had other tempting breeds, too, lol! I was surprised there were Welsummers in a feed store - they must be getting fairly common.

 

[Barry Natchitoches]

I have a 14 egg count, plastic Brinsea incubator. It turns the eggs, keeps a day countdown for me, lets me add water without opening it up, and I can watch the babies while they hatch. It is really so simple to use that alot of elementary schools hatch eggs with it.

The only problem is that it is pricey. I think it cost me nearly $300 a few years back when I bought it.

i wipe it down with Lysol between hatchings. That seems to take care of potential problems.

 

[ioujc]

A lot of the hatcheries have incubators too. I bought a big one last summer, however have not been able to use it, as I haven't had a rooster since a year ago. I have no experience with incubators and hope this is a decent one!! It is a Farm Innovator's 4250, I think that is right....

I really hope it is a good one, because I want to hatch out some geese!! Would go for ducks too, but I live about 1/4th of a mile from a big lake and I believe they would just leave with the first flock of wild ducks that came by. Geese will be probably just as bad.....I have zero experience in that too!!

 

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Most domestic ducks don't fly well enough to fly away with the wild ones, but they will decamp for any open water they can find. If you get a heavy breed that can't fly, you should be able to keep them home with even a low fence, though.

Kathleen

 

[Babs]

The Hovabators are good. The Little Giant styrofoam incubators are junk. If you want a step up, the hard plastic Brinsea incubators are great. For more capacity and $$$ you can go to a GQF cabinet with a bottom Hatcher.

I have a little giant that I've used to hatch hundreds of chicks.