Does Anyone Know of a Good Chicken Egg Incubator?

• 

  Kangal on 08/01/2017 - 11:32

  …must refrain…. from a….Yo Mama….joke…..nooooo!!!!

  I think when it comes to egg incubators, you either go name brand or you build it yourself.
  Buying a cheap one doesn't seem worth it to most people risking their clutches.
  Maybe something like this, but cheaper?
  http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Exo-Terra-Reptile-Incubator/27195…

  • 

    sammyla on 08/01/2017 - 11:48

    They need it for chicken eggs :) so this one does all or just reptile eggs?

    • 

      Kangal on 08/01/2017 - 18:27

      It just said "egg incubator" before without any relation to chickens/birds/reptiles.
      Being ozbargain, I assumed reptiles, as that's what ozbargainers would go for, because reasons.

• 

  try2bhelpful on 08/01/2017 - 15:10

  +5

  A hen?

  • 

    jbmb on 08/01/2017 - 15:26

    +1

    u beat me to it!!!

  • 

    sammyla on 08/01/2017 - 17:07

    +1

    haha need to incubate 24 at a time only got 10 hens..

• 

  fruitbat on 08/01/2017 - 15:38

  +1

  We have two incubators, both 48 egg, and the second one we bought is not as good as the first although it looks the same in the "pictures" when buying on places like eBay.

  We've found that you need the following:
  - Temperature control (obviously) that is fairly accurate.
  - Humidity alarm. Difficult to find anything reasonably priced that has automatic humidity "control".
  - egg turner.
  - Fan to help distribute the heat evenly.
  - Clear sided box.
  - Day counter. Although not essential, it's easier to have the counter than to remember the days. We have miscounted a couple of times and worried that the eggs should have already hatched.

  The main differences between the two we bought are:
  The first one has a much quieter fan. Not an issue if the incubator is far enough away from where you sleep! Unless you are a very deep sleeper, almost gauranteed you will hear the humidity or temperature alarm if something goes awry :)
  Day counter (as mentioned above)
  Clear sides - much easier to see what is going on inside the box without a torch or opening the lid.

  This one may suit your needs: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Automatic-Egg-Incubator-Hatch-48-… - The "bonus" stuff like a candler is not that great but a plastic bottle with a fine nib will prove to be very helpful when adding water to the water tray for humidity as they all seem to have a very small hole in one side to add water through. Not recommending this seller but the product on offer looks to be the same as the Janoel 48 we have that works just fine and spare parts, if ever needed, seem to be available which I think is important.

  You can get smaller incubators but then you don't have to put 48 eggs in a 48 egg incubator. We normally run about 25 to 30 at any given time.

  • 

    sammyla on 08/01/2017 - 17:12

    Thanks so much fruitbat this information helps a lot :), i will check out the link you provided.

    • 

      sammyla on 08/01/2017 - 17:19

      Can i ask how much you paid for the Janoel? i actually saw the Janoel 24 egg incubator its $209. did you buy from Poultry Australia?

• 

  fruitbat on 08/01/2017 - 17:42

  +1

  I would have to go back through my eBay history as both were bought about 6 and 12 months ago but from memory, they were $99 for the first one and $120 for the second one. Both sellers were in Oz, freight free, and I think one seller was something like Oz Plaza Living….but don't quote me! I do remember checking out Poultry Australia and that's why I bought through eBay…cheaper. I wouldn't pay $209 for a 24 egg incubator myself.

  Building one is not that difficult (I'm an EX Electronics Engineer though) but when it's all done for you, including the timer, egg turner, temperature control and box, it's not worth the hassle. I live on a farm in the country so online buying works out cheaper for me, especially when you consider the 300km round trip to the city to buy anything!

  The Janoel is made in China and unless you buy a "professional" incubator you really won't find anything better for the price I think. Sure, if you are keen, or mad, you can easily spend a grand on an incubator but why would you unless you have a few hundred chooks and plan on going into business. We have two breeds (Gold Lace Wynadottes and Blue Leghorns) and the two incubators makes it easier to separate them. We generally collect eggs for about 7 days and keep them in the pantry where the temperature stays around 15C before we start them in the incubator. Depending on how many chooks you have, you might only need to collect eggs for a couple of days to get 20 or 30. We have around 14 hens altogether and 7 days generally gives us about 25 egss. (not every one of them lays an egg every day! Depends on the weather too!)

  Don't forget that once you take the chicks out of the incubator (a couple of days after they hatch) you will need a "brooder". Just a box with a light/heat mat/heat lamp, water container and chick crumble. Breeding chooks is fun but can be messy if you do it in the house! We use the laundry….or at least my Wife does! I just get up in the midle of the night to add water if the alarm goes off because she doesn't hear it :( Besides, what other use is a laundry anyway :)

  • 

    sammyla on 09/01/2017 - 08:25

    Thanks fruitbat, learning a lot from you. i will pass this information to my in laws and i will probably spend a bit more time helping them decide which machine to get.

    • 

      fruitbat on 09/01/2017 - 20:47

      Advice is free and good luck with the eggs :)