Incubators

A_nomad · **Joined:** Mon Jan 23, 2012 8:59 am **Posts:** 32

Hi, I am looking at purchasing an incubator and was wondering where the best place to buy one, and is there anything I should be looking for specifically in a incubator.
Thanks

LOOLOO · **Posted:** Mon Apr 01, 2013 4:32 pm

Bellsouth have good cheap ones that are good for a first timer or hoverbator is another

LooLoo

A_nomad · **Joined:** Mon Jan 23, 2012 8:59 am **Posts:** 32

Thanks LooLoo, will have a look.

originbreed · **Posted:** Mon Apr 01, 2013 7:55 pm

A_nomad, as a first time user its good to get a manual turn incubator to start with.
it will help you get a feel for incubating and it keeps you in touch with whats happening with each egg.
we have had great success with the janoel hexagon incubator. when we found we needed a second 'bator'
we bought another janoel 56 egg manual turn. again giving us 90% hatch rates.
what ever you decide to buy, make sure you get a 2nd thermometer. you can buy a separate digital one from any pet store that has reptile stocks. set this 2nd thermometer up in a different part of the incubator from where the supplied one is located.
you will be able to see where this is situated in the lid of the incubator. this enables you to get a more accurate reading of the actual temp in the incubator. some of the supplied thermometers do not read accurately. wrong temps can have severe effects on hatchlings and hatch rate.
you will find all the info on incubating on this forum.
the more you read, the better your chances of getting a successful hatch happening.
DO NOT FORGET.........after your first egg hatches and you are mesmerised with the little ball of fluff in your hand,
you will hooked on chickens. you will not be able to get enough.
GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!! & may the fowl be with you( or is that the force)

oozcorpse · **Joined:** Sun Nov 04, 2007 8:15 am **Posts:** 2715

Very well answered originbreed :-D

One other piece of advise (not to put you off but to keep you on the straight and narrow)
A_nomad = DO NOT allow yourself to just keep incubating and hatching = limit yourself to a time frame for incubating and hatching each year (2 to 3months would be best) – then spend the rest of the year growing the birds out

I say this as many get caught up in the hatching of these fluffy little things and before they know it they are swamped with chicks of varying ages then problems start to arise as too large a variance in ages brings its own problems = info regards this can be found on the forum

And then you start to realise just how much you are actually spending on feed. This amount is never re-couped.
And then one day you realise you have absolutely no time for anything other than these chicks and their maintenance and other activities go by the way side = like cleaning the house or getting the kids to school on time or doing the grocery shopping etc

Other than that tho = enjoy your chicks and watching them grow :-D

LOOLOO · **Posted:** Tue Apr 02, 2013 8:28 am

Also keep them in the incubator for 24 hours after they hatch so they are strong and totally dry

LooLoo

A_nomad · **Joined:** Mon Jan 23, 2012 8:59 am **Posts:** 32

Thanks for the great info guys, some great tips, i will certainly do some reading to get my head around it all, there seems to be plenty of it on the forum.

LOOLOO · **Posted:** Tue Apr 02, 2013 3:12 pm

Let us know what you buy and if you need any more help

LooLoo

Under Hens · **Joined:** Tue Apr 02, 2013 4:29 pm **Posts:** 3

I went with an auto incubator and I have hatched lots of eggs because I did not have the time to fiddle with turning eggs 2 or 3 times a day. If you do not have the time to do that buy an auto like I did best discission for me

oozcorpse · **Joined:** Sun Nov 04, 2007 8:15 am **Posts:** 2715

welcome to the forum Under Hens ^ I see this is your first post

for some an auto is a much better alternative

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