EGG INCUBATORS HAVE MANY BENEFITS including the ability to involve a hobbyist or chicken farmer in the hatching process from start to finish.
Whether you're new at hatching eggs or you've been doing it for years, you're sure to learn something new about egg hatching when you look over these incubator reviews.
Whether you're concerned about small spaces or you want a top of the line operation, you're sure to find the right incubator for the job here.
If you've always wanted to be more involved in the process of hatching your own eggs, this is your opportunity to get started.
High Quality And Convenience All In One
Ideal for the small spaces, this mini egg incubator will hold 7 eggs and allow you to see all 7 of them at one time. High quality ensures that your eggs will be given tender loving care from the moment you place them in the incubator.
With a fully automated egg turner you can rest assured that your little fluff balls are going to be in optimum health when they hatch. Hands on without having to touch your eggs.
The micro controller allows you to set the temperature and not stress about it. You'll appreciate being able to watch your eggs as they are turned and as they hatch.
Overall
The Brinsea Mini Advance Hatching Egg Incubator is a high quality incubator that is ideal for small spaces.
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Hatch A Full Flock Of 41 Eggs And Automatic Egg Turner
Hatch your entire flock all at once with an automatic egg turner, you can rest assured that your eggs will be turned every four hours which means there is no reason to be concerned and worry that you forgot to turn them in a timely fashion. Ideal for the busy person who wants to be involved in hatching eggs, but has a busy schedule.
The fan pulls the air in and helps to circulate it in between your eggs to help maintain the air temperature. It also helps to improve the hatch rate. This egg incubator saves both time and money since you don't have to turn the eggs manually and can hatch up to 41 eggs at a time.
Temperature notification light will flash if the temperature falls below 97 Fahrenheit or above 103 Fahrenheit. Humidity is easy to monitor thanks to a display.
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This is ideal for the person who is a serious hobbyist and wants to hatch a large number of eggs at one time without having to watch the eggs constantly.
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Very Reasonably Priced And Holds 96 Eggs
Ideal for someone who wants to hatch more than chicken eggs. It can hatch nearly any type of egg including turkey, duck and goose. Ideal for the large production egg farmer who wants to hatch more than just chicken eggs for the farm.
Easy to read LED display will show current temperature as well as the humidity level. It will also give a tentative hatch date which can be ideal for anyone who is trying to pre plan.
Automatic egg tuner turns eggs every two hours to keep them evenly warm. Perfect for the busy person who may not be home to turn the eggs but still wants to have a hands on experience.
Easy to set up and get it started.
Overall
Excellent for the person who wants to have a lot of eggs hatched at one time without having to watch the incubator constantly thanks to the egg turner.
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Automatic Egg Turning And Holds 2 Dozen Chicken Eggs
The Set and Forget Solution
Too busy to turn your eggs regularly? Then this is the ideal egg incubator for your needs. The brinsea automatic egg incubator is as hands off as it gets.
If you're seeking a moderate sized solution, you can hatch up to 2 dozen chicken eggs at one time with this egg incubator. You can also hatch other types of eggs however, keep in mind that the amount will be dependent upon the size of the eggs.
Not only does it basically hatch the eggs itself, it is very easy to clean and the air circulation is fan assisted. The Brinsea Automatic Egg incubator (includes egg turner) is ideal for those who are just starting and want some experienced help, or if your just lead a busy life.
Overall
Overall this is a great egg incubator with many 5 star reviews, if you are willing to pay for it.
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Excellent Viewing Capability At A Reasonable Price
Lightweight and made out of polystyrene foam, this is an ideal portable egg incubator for anyone who wants to be able to move the incubator around frequently. It offers plenty of viewing capability to watch your eggs during the entire hatching process.
The built in hygrometer measures the internal temperature as well as the humidity levels so you don't have to stress about them.
Ideal for the person who wants to have something lightweight that works well and is easy to store when not in use.
Red light indicates that the heater is on and operational so you can rest assured that your eggs are getting the warmth that they need to hatch out properly.
Overall
This unit is ideal for those who want a lot of eggs and are willing to take a step down from the fancier models and do more of the work themselves while still using an incubator, if you're more of a hands on person, this is the incubator for you.
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Ideal For Homeschoolers and Classrooms As Well As The Hobbyist
Perfect for the person who wants to see the entire hatching process from start to finish as the window gives a full view of the eggs. This is an ideal hands on incubator. You'll turn your eggs manually and if you've got the time this is a great way to learn about your egg hatching process.
With an easy to read LED digital temperature you'll be able to see the full display and it has an alarm system should the temperature drop or raise out of the proper settings.
Built in fan keeps the air in full circulation which means that your eggs are getting plenty of air circulation. Easy to maintain and set up as the set includes the manual and power plugs all in one easy to use kit.
Portable and very easy to set up this is perfect for a small family, beginner or classroom.
Overall
Ideal for the beginner or someone who only wants to hatch a few eggs at a time.
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Eggceptional Deal For A Reasonable Price
Perfect for the person who wants to incubate a lot of eggs at a time. Automatic egg turner ensures that the eggs are turned properly at proper intervals so that you don't have to guess how often the eggs need to be turned.
A fan helps to stabilize and maintain the temperature which helps to improve the hatch rate. A built in hygrometer helps to maintain the humidity level as well as maintain the internal temperature.
Easy to set up and get started with this unit simply unpack the kit and set it up in moments. Perfect for someone who wants to be hands on and involved in egg hatching as a hobby or small business.
Overall
Ideal for the more serious hobbyist or person who wants to hatch a lot of eggs at a time.
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Whether you're looking for a small set up, a new hobby or a more serious egg hatching incubator, one of these will certainly do the trick.
Thanks for reading our guide to selecting the best incubator for chicken eggs. I hope that we've answered all of your questions about which egg incubator is right for you and your specific needs.
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Does it make more sense to you, to raise your own chickens from egg to layer. If you're a chicken husband that does then take heart, you're not alone.
However, first getting acquainted with chicken egg incubators can be a little overwhelming and can leave you with quite a few questions...
To help alleviate any stress when it comes to chicken egg incubators, we've put all the details here
This egg incubator review will help you to answer your questions and make the right decision about egg incubators for your eggs.
Chicken incubators offer eggs a safe environment in which to hatch fertile eggs.
As long as the eggs are being turned properly and kept in a humid and warm environment most of the eggs should hatch. Incubators are the ideal replacement if there aren't hens at the ready to sit on the eggs and maintain the nest temperature.
This is an egg incubator with a wire floor for automatic turning of eggs, and an easy to read LCD screen to check temperature and humidity
This is a great attribute to have. You will save a lot of time when you don't have to turn your eggs manually.
This is ideal if you're going to have times that you're not at home and the eggs need to be turned. You'll be able to set how frequently eggs are turned on some models and on other models you can choose various settings.
The main drawback to incubators that have egg turners included is that they are more expensive than models that don't have egg turners installed. Some models will have an optional egg turner but this too can be pricey.
Maintaining the temperature and humidity around your eggs is vital to hatching success.
Circulated air is an easy way to keep this in check. Some incubators have circulated air and others don't. Read the fine print and be sure you're getting what you pay for.
In most of the egg incubators the egg candler is sold separately.
Even if you decide to make an incubator yourself, the egg candler is an essential piece of equipment.
It will show you how the chick is developing inside of the egg, or if there is no chick inside at all.
If it comes with the egg incubator it may make the incubator more expensive.
There are a few different egg candlers available online that are stand alone and don't come with incubators.
Many experienced chicken husbands prefer an egg incubator that offers a built-in temperature controller/reader as well as a humidity dial and a large view window.
This is an ideal way to monitor the temperature and humidity within the incubator and focus on your eggs. You can also purchase such components separately however, you'll have to ensure that they are compatible with the egg incubator that you have purchased.
Getting an incubator that has both of these included can save some headaches down the track
For the most part, most of the incubators have some sort of view windows in which you can watch your eggs.
Some are large and some are small. A few of them will show the entire inside of the incubator and others will only show a portion. If you want to see everything that is going on be sure that you take this into consideration when you're shopping for your incubator.
Although aftermarket thermostats are inexpensive, it is still worth buying an incubator with the thermostat built in
Egg incubators come with and without thermostats
Some chicken husbands like to have a built in thermostat and a separate one to ensure that they are maintaining a specific temperature
When it comes to ease of use, most chicken husbands prefer the built in thermostats because they tend to be easier to adjust.
Many keep an extra thermostat (external) one on hand to verify that the built in one is accurate
Some egg incubators are as easy to use as simply plugging them in, others require more set up than that. Be sure to read the fine print and understand how the egg incubator you select works before you purchase it. You want it to be fairly easy to use.
For example: In order to maintain the proper humidity level you're going to have to add water to your egg incubator. The water doesn't have to be sterile as long as it's clean and free from debris.
But you don't want to be opening your incubator all the time to check the water level and add water. This is where a humidity reading on an LCD screen can make your chicken egg incubator easy to use
This big glass window makes it easy to keep track of incubating eggs
Every incubator will require some form of minding it each and every day. Some (typically the cheaper models) will require more than others.
If you have an automatic egg turner you're going to have less minding than if you have to turn your eggs manually. It's all up to you, how much time do you wish to put into incubating eggs?
Don't forget that you'll also have to maintain the proper humidity and the proper temperature at all times for your eggs. Without the proper humidity and temperature your baby chicks won't hatch.
Some units will monitor this and have a large display while other units will have to be checked throughout the day.
Many people wonder if they should buy an egg incubator or make their own.
The positives of buying is primarily convenience. Not only getting the egg incubator delivered to your door, but also you can buy one with the features you want which you can't build yourself (like an automatic egg turner)
There are other pros of buying an incubator. You know that it works. It comes with the benefit of manufacturing experience
The positives of building it yourself is that It is possible to make your own for about $20 to $30 dollars. This way, you can build it to suit your own specific needs. You may even have most of what you need on hand already which would make doing it yourself virtually free.
There are many great instructions online that can help you In creating an egg incubator (like the video below). You can also see this page which has more detailed information how to build your own egg incubator.
The video explains how you can make a cheap chicken egg incubator yourself, from items you can purchase at the local stores such as Wal-Mart and Lowes/Home Depot
All of the below models will hatch just about any kind of eggs. In most cases, the larger the egg the fewer will fit into the incubator.
Other eggs that have been hatched include bird eggs (nuthatch, lovebirds, parrots, parakeets and turkey eggs).
brand | stars | Cost | egg turner | View window | egg capacity |
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Farm Innovators Model 4250 Digital Circulated Air Incubator with Automatic Egg Turner | 3.5 | $$$$ | YES | YES | 41 |
Brinsea Mini Advance Hatching Egg Incubator | 4.5 | $$$$$ | YES | YES | 6 to 8 depending on size |
Yosoo 10 Chicken Eggs Mini LED Digital Incubator Poultry Hatcher Fan Temperature | 4 | $$ | NO | YES | 10 |
G.Q.F. Manufacturing 1602N Hova-Bator Incubator | 4 | $$ | Sold Separately | YES | 30+ |
Brinsea Products Manual Egg Incubator for Hatching 24 Chicken Eggs or Equivalent | 4.5 | $$$$$ | Optional | YES | 24 depending on size |
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Clearly when it comes to choosing the right egg incubator for your needs you'll have to do a bit of homework.
If you like more hands-on experience then choose one where you maintain and manage all of the fine details such as turning your eggs manually and monitoring the temperature. If you're a busier person (and many of us are) you may wish to consider a model that is less hands-on and will turn the eggs and monitor the temperature more closely for you.
With these options, there is something for everyone who wants to raise their chicks from egg to chicken.
All the best to you in your chicken husbandry endeavors
If you liked the post, why not share it with some friends and start a conversation about your flock!
A lot of things are going on in a chicken incubator...
And while your chicks are developing inside of their safe little eggs you won't see a lot of progress
But make no mistake... Your new chicks will be dependent upon proper incubation for their survival. If your incubator is too hot or too cold your eggs won't hatch.
The wait is nerve-wracking... You may find yourself checking your eggs time and again for any progress
But it is worth it. There's nothing more satisfying than seeing your little eggs become chicks and your little chicks grow up and become brooders
Starting your chicks in an incubator is a great way to add to your flock or start your flock from scratch
It does take some time and effort to provide the optimal condition for your eggs. However, if you're properly prepared you'll be able to successfully hatch your eggs
**TIP read below carefully to learn the tricks you can use to to help speed the process along
Keep warm water in the humidity pan. Adjust your heat source to 99.5 Fahrenheit up to 102 Fahrenheit.
Keep a close eye on this and make sure that the incubator stays at 99.5 Fahrenheit at all times.
Allow it to settle on this for 24 hours prior to putting the eggs in the incubator.
Note: Many chicken farmers mistakenly think that the temperature has something to do with the gender of the hatchlings, this is not true.
Note - Using a LCD display like the incubator above will make it a lot easier to stabilize the temperature and humidity in the incubator
It's vital to keep the door to your incubator closed as much as possible. Obviously, you're going to have to open it to turn your eggs, however, be sure that the rest of the time it remains closed.
Your little chicks require the proper humidity at all times to keep them from sticking to their shells and help them properly hatch.
Too little humidity and they won't be able to separate from their shell easily. Too much and they will be too wet. Keep the proper balance and follow the guidelines for turning closely.
To maintain your humidity in your incubator you're going to need to add water to the water system.
You'll want to maintain a level of 40 to 50 percent humidity through day 18 of the incubation period. After that, you'll need to increase the humidity to 70 percent through the hatching period.
Use a hygrometer to check your humidity level and maintain it.
Stand alone Hygrometers typically cost $10 to $30
When it comes to chicken incubators, there are two ways to go. You can purchase an incubator or you can build your own. It's important to keep in mind that building your own will take a bit of skill. If you're in doubt of your skills you may opt to buy a ready made incubator.
Some people choose to build their own incubator. There's a sense of satisfaction of doing it all yourself.
You build the incubator, get your eggs, place them in the incubator and await the arrival of your new chicks. It's very satisfying and a great experience for everyone including kids if you have them.
If you do choose to build your own here are some guidelines and a list of what you'll require.
If you haven't had much or any experience with incubators before, then please take note:
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This is what a larger, semi-commercial chicken egg incubator looks like
Firstly, you'll need either a store bought incubator or a homemade incubator (instructions above).
Chickens are flock animals so it's always best to try and set at least six or more eggs at a time. This also increases the likelihood that you'll have hens and not all roosters.
It takes 21 days for a chicken egg to hatch. That is under optimal temperature and humidity conditions. If the eggs are allowed to cool down and then heat back up they may still hatch, but it will be later than 21 days.
Always give the eggs a few extra days in case you didn't realize that they had cooled down during the incubation period.
Your eggs need to be turned at least 3 times per day. This should be done at regular intervals. Many chicken farmers turn their eggs up to 5 times per day. A good way to do it is to use an indelible marker and mark an “X” on one side of the egg. This way, you can turn them all at the same time and you won't lose track of where you're at.
Turn the eggs for 18 days, then stop turning them so that the chicks have time to position for proper hatching.
Always wash your hands prior to turning eggs to prevent transmitting bacteria to the egg through the porous shell.
On or near day 21 you may see a pip in the shell. It can take the chick 24 hours to break out.
DO NOT attempt to assist the chick, this could result in the death of your chick. More than one chick has bled to death due to owner assisted escape from the shell.
There are fine blood vessels in the membrane that haven't yet stopped pulsating and if you break these the chick may bleed to death. It takes an average of five to seven hours for a chick to break free and it's not unheard of for it to take up to 24 hours.
Place eggs in your incubator large end up. You'll be turning these regularly so if you get into the habit of this you'll know where you're at in turning them.
Also, if you are using an automatic turner, keep in mind that they tend to turn very slowly. Don't be alarmed if you're not seeing them move. Wait a few hours and check again. Likely the eggs will be turned by then.
The humidity level in your incubator should be at 40 to 50 percent during the first 18 days that your eggs are being incubated.
On the 18th day, raise the level of humidity to 70 percent. Use a hygrometer so that you can easily check the level of the humidity.
An older chicken incubator
Egg stasis, or a period of time of inactivity, can be checked in the following manner
Place 12 fresh eggs on a tray. Be sure to estimate how long it took for the egg to arrive at your destination. Write this estimated date (date laid) on the egg in indelible marker.
Now, collect 12 fresh eggs from your own flock or a friends flock of chickens. Date these eggs as well with an indelible marker.
Keep in mind that the farm fresh eggs will remain in stasis for approximately 10 days. They are alive. The zygotes are waiting, however, they are not yet developing. They are in “egg hibernation”.
In the chicken pen, the mother hen would be deciding if she had enough eggs to sit on. If the hen doesn't show up to sit on her brood the eggs will simply not develop into chicks. At this point in time, they would begin to spoil. They will last for a few weeks with the bloom on.
After you've collected your eggs you can place them, one egg per day, into the incubator. Again, write the date on the egg. You can then determine if they are viable by day 21 of being placed into the incubator.
Keep in mind that the eggs should be stored at room temperature before being placed in the incubator for best results. Refrigerating the eggs will kill them.
If at all possible, it's best to avoid incubating a double-yolked egg. One or both of the fetuses may have issues developing properly.
If one fetus has issues it is highly likely that it may cause issues for the other fetus. While it does work on occasion, it's exceedingly rare and not likely to result in a healthy chick.
As long as the water is clean and doesn't have any debris or bacteria in it is fine. Tap water and well water are fine as long as there isn't any concern about germs or bacteria.
Some chicken farmers, however, are very cautious and will only use sterile water that they purchase at the store or they will first boil the water. Bacteria is a huge concern as the egg shells are porous and it can get into the shell and harm the embryo or chick.
If you're purchasing fertile eggs at your local supermarket then yes, you could simply put it in the incubator and have a chicken hatch.
Keep in mind, however, that there is typically little chance of this unless the eggs are organic (much more likely to be fertile if they are organic) or free range (again, free range are also much more likely to be fertile than regular eggs).
If you wish to try this then be sure that the eggs that your purchases are free range or cage free. They also need to be fresh (neither having been stored at too high or too low of a temperature between the market and your home).
Although the odds are against it, more than one chicken farmer has tried putting a free range or cage free egg in an incubator and been successful.
Designing and building your own incubator is very satisfying. You get to watch the process of an egg turning into a chicken. You are in charge of turning and maintaining those eggs and taking care of them.
You're building your flock or starting your flock and tending mindfully over it. Everything you need to know to tend to your eggs in an incubator is in this article. Now all you have left to do is design your incubator and get started with your eggs.
Thanks for reading, if you liked the article why not share it and start a conversation with your friends and family about chicken husbandry!