incubator experiences, reviews, recommendations?

[bee_pipes]

We are looking at picking up an incubator. We aren't running a poultry ranch or anything. A small job - say 20 to 30 eggs in a batch would be fine. Kind of leaning towards a Hova-Bator table top type. Been looking on the web and they seem to be the most reasonable priced. This is for chickens, maybe turkey some day, maybe quail. No cobra, african grey or macaw - nothing exotic. An automatic egg turner is a definite requirement - would like something that can be checked on periodically without becoming a slave to the process - that being the major drawback of building one.

Can't find much on differences in models - still air, forced air, digital control - benefits of one over the other.

Anybody got any experience? Heard anything? I'd appreciate hearing about it. Didn't really turn up anything searching the magazine, except on quail.

Regards,
Pat

[AlchemyAcres]

Hova-bators are good incubators...I bought my first one in 1982...used it off and on for 18 years...replaced a few minor parts.
I bought a new one 5 years ago.
It's extremely important to put the incubator in a spot where the ambient air temperature remains stable.
It's alleged that forced is better (higher hatch rate), but I've always had acceptable hatches with still air.
Turners are nice too, but I'm frugal...I set quail eggs in a large flat piece 1"X1" welded wire mesh.....chicken or duck eggs in a 2"X2" piece...I gently
slide it one way or another a couple times a day to turn the eggs.


~Martin

[bee_pipes]

Thanks for the advice. Just found a used one with forced air and egg turner.

Regards,
Pat