Egg incubator - how to use it correctly at home

What types of incubators are there?

All existing models on the market can be divided into three large groups:

1. Household incubators.
2. Professional.
3. Industrial.

Household egg incubators are the most affordable and simplest. Designed for amateur use on small farms. Capacity from 7 to 240 eggs. They come with both manual and automatic turning. In the simplest ones, everything is done by hand. The standard equipment includes only a thermometer with a regulator. However, considering how much an entry-level incubator costs, many of its shortcomings can be forgiven.

For example:

• Laying hen-110 – 2400 rubles;
• Cinderella-45 – 1950 rubles.

In the household appliances sector, it is quite difficult to know which incubator is better, since devices from different manufacturers are almost identical to each other.

Among household models, the popular incubator for 100 eggs is Cinderella, Layer for 36 and 104 eggs, and other models from these manufacturers. An interesting Chinese incubator for 7 eggs, Mini-7. It can be used for visual teaching of children. It costs 2300 rubles.

Automatic turning tray

Professional devices are also intended mainly for small farms. In essence, these are the same household ones, only with better equipment. But they are purchased by those farmers who breed chicks professionally. Hence the name. The devices can please you with a controller that is easily programmed and controls the hatching of chicks. Tray turning is automatic only.

Popular:

• incubator for 300 eggs BION;
• BLITZ-72;
• incubator for 200 eggs Nest-200.

Industrial automatic incubators are designed for poultry farms. The capacity can be from 1000 or more eggs; in fact, these are already hatching complexes.

For beginning poultry farmers, the choice is usually between household and professional egg incubators. It is worth immediately determining the purpose of the purchase and the frequency of its use. If you are buying it for fun and there is a possibility that the first incubation will be the last, it is better to take an inexpensive device.

If you plan to constantly hatch chickens - to maintain your own livestock or to sell chickens, it is better to immediately buy an automatic digital incubator.

Choosing an incubator - difficult or not

As mentioned above, there are a number of basic criteria for selecting the optimal incubator model, but even if you decide on them, there are a large number of similar options from different manufacturers, how to choose?

All you need to do is call and answer a few questions that will allow you to create a specific offer suitable for your purposes.

This is not the first year that he has been selecting incubator models for various purposes. During this time, “World of Incubators” became an official dealer of both Russian manufacturers and manufacturers from the CIS countries. This made it possible to create a wide offer that can satisfy the widest plans.

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Device selection criteria

The main difference between household egg incubators is the method of inversion. There are 3 options:

1. Manual flip.
2. Mechanical.
3. Auto.

Manual revolution is the most primitive. The cheapest models are equipped with it. In this case, you need to turn all the eggs yourself. To do this you have to open the camera, i.e. disrupt the internal microclimate and turn each testicle over with your hands. Reviews about such devices are not the best.

A mechanical revolution makes life somewhat easier - the revolution is carried out for all eggs at once, using a lever.

Incubators with automatic egg turning are the best option for the farmer. The trays are turned over by a motor without manual intervention.

For example:

• I48-3;
• incubator for 150 eggs BLITZ Poseda M33;
• Cinderella A28.

Frame

Foam body

The housing in egg incubators can be made of different materials. When choosing, you need to pay attention:

• all elements must fit tightly;
• there must be an inspection window in the housing;
• it is desirable that it be insulated;
• the material must be hygienic, i.e. do not absorb moisture and odors.

The device should be easy to clean. After each hatch, the chamber must be cleaned of shells and disinfected.

Temperature, humidity and ventilation

The hatchability of chicks directly depends on them. Therefore, when determining which incubator to choose, you must take into account how the microclimate control is implemented in the device.

It is desirable that the ventilation in the chamber be forced, i.e. using fans. This is necessary for uniform heating of the eggs, and also allows you to maintain fresh air in the chamber and remove CO2. In cheap models, ventilation is natural - through holes in the body. Most often this is not enough.

An important point is what kind of thermostat is in the device. There are analog and digital. It is better to choose a digital controller - it has a smaller temperature error. In addition, it can be paired with a hygrometer and monitor humidity levels.

For example:

• Layer-77 – with a digital thermostat, for 77 eggs with automatic egg turning and backup power. Cost 4850 rubles;
• Layer-77 with the same characteristics and a moisture meter - 5,300 rubles.

Microclimate control is the main difference between budget household and professional devices. Fully automatic incubators allow you to set the necessary parameters and control the maintenance of the microclimate independently.

Backup power

Another important criterion. Devices with backup power are much more interesting to purchase. No one is immune from a sudden power outage, and a prolonged drop in temperature, even by a few degrees, can lead to the death of chicks. Most often, a car battery is used for backup power. It is not included in the kit.

For example:

• I-48 for 48 eggs with automatic egg turning;
• laying hen-63 for 63 eggs with automatic control.

When purchasing, it is better to choose a model with backup power. Moreover, they are not much more expensive than conventional devices.

Turning eggs inside the incubator

A necessary element of automated incubator operation for the proper development of embryos. The chick in the egg gains weight as it grows. If the egg does not turn over, after some time the chick sticks to one of the walls and the development of the body is disrupted. As a result, a large number of birds are born with deformities, unadapted to life.

The incubator imitates the behavior of a laying hen

During natural incubation, the brood hen turns the eggs herself, carefully moving them from place to place. Thanks to her instincts, she does this skillfully without damaging the shell. However, turning the eggs by the farmer himself is a tedious and regular process. In addition, strong human touches often lead to breaking the protective barrier of the chicks, resulting in death.

Automatic incubators move eggs carefully, using a timer and motor built into the device. This process does not require human intervention.

Capacity from 500 eggs

Devices with a capacity of 500, 1000 or more eggs belong to the professional class. Their assembly and automation requirements are much higher than those of household devices.

The price for a professional incubator for 500 eggs starts from 35-40 thousand rubles. For example:

• BION-700 – 40,000 rubles;
• Nest-500 – 72,000 rubles;
• Blitz Base – 43,000 rubles.

Nest 1000

Devices for 1000 eggs are more expensive:

• incubator for 1000 eggs BION-1200M – 55,000 rubles;
• Nest-2000, with a capacity of 2000 eggs – 15,000 rubles;
• incubator for 2000 eggs BION-2300M – 95,000 rubles;
• Nest-1000, with a capacity of 1000 eggs – 90,000 rubles.

At such a cost, it is worth choosing a device carefully. Still, the loss of 20 chicks cannot be compared with the loss of 2000. Incubators for 1000 eggs have a fully automated chick hatching process. Some models are equipped with overheating and overcooling protection systems.

Description of popular models

Today there are many models from both Russian and foreign manufacturers on the market. They all differ in functionality, popularity and cost. Imported incubators are considered more reliable than domestic devices, but they do not please with their cost.

Russian incubators are more accessible, but less well equipped. In addition, many devices require the installation of additional equipment. However, given the prices of 2-3 thousand rubles, this can hardly be called a disadvantage. As for high fragility, reviews about them say that these are more isolated cases than consistency. And if a breakdown does occur, all spare parts are available and easy to replace.

Among the imported devices, the most accessible household automatic incubators from Chinese manufacturers are:

• model I 48-3 – 9000 rubles;
• And 24 – 6300 rubles;
• Janoel JN 42 – 9600 rubles.

Chinese model I 48-3

Reviews about Chinese devices are contradictory. Some buyers praise them, others, on the contrary, criticize them. For the most part, this is due to the fact that many factories produce them in China, and the models are practically no different from each other.

Naturally, there are factories that make good products, and there are also not so good ones. Therefore, if the choice fell on imported incubators made in China, it is better to buy the device from a trusted Russian supplier who will give a guarantee for it.

Model I 48-3 is an automatic digital incubator with the ability to connect backup power from 12 Volts. The device costs about 8.5-9 thousand rubles.

Peculiarities:

• case material – plastic;
• automatic control of temperature and tray turning;
• counters for incubation days and remaining time until the next rotation;
• capacity – 48 eggs, can be equipped with an additional tray for 144 quail and 36 goose eggs;
• plastic body is easy to clean;
• sound indication of temperature violation;
• weight – 5 kg.

Minuses:

• no built-in fans;
• no automatic switching to a backup power source;
• the body is not insulated;
• to add water you need to open the lid;
• no viewing windows.

Overall, a good incubator that deserves the attention of farmers. A huge plus is the complete automation of incubation. Reviews on the Internet about it are mostly positive, many owners say that hatchability reaches 90-95%.

Cinderella

The most popular brand of domestic incubators. They are in demand in Russia, Ukraine and other CIS countries. These devices are widely used due to their simplicity, low cost and reliability. There are consistently good reviews from owners about incubators of this brand.

The entire model range has characteristic features:

• designed for domestic use;
• the body is made of foam plastic;
• no fan;
• analog thermostats, adjustment accuracy up to 0.2 °C;
• hatchability more than 90%;
• the revolution can be automatic or manual.

Minuses:

• fragile body;
• foam absorbs odors;
• requires improvements.

All incubators from Cinderella have a useful feature - heating elements are placed in water tanks. The containers are built into the top lid and occupy almost its entire surface, which ensures uniform heating of the eggs. And if there is a power outage, you can fill them with hot water and maintain the desired temperature in the chamber.

Popular Cinderella models

Household incubator Cinderella for 100 eggs, equipped with automatic turning and the ability to connect to a backup power source. Main characteristics:

• 3 water containers of 1 liter each;
• temperature and moisture sensors;
• the grill holds 50 goose eggs;
• automatic revolution - 10 times a day.

The price of the model is in the range of 5200-6000 rubles.

Mini incubator Cinderella A 28. Designed for 28 chicken eggs. Main characteristics:

• automatic revolution;
• Possibility of connecting to backup power
• power consumption – 25 W.

The incubator is inexpensive - 3500-3700 rubles, but has good functionality.

Blitz

Reliable devices that are trusted by consumers. The product line is represented by automatic devices with a capacity of 48 to 630 eggs. Belongs to the professional class of devices.

Blitz-48

Blitz-48

The most popular among farmers are the automatic incubator for 48 eggs Blitz-48 and Blitz-72. The body is insulated, covered with plywood on the outside and galvanized sheet on the inside. All models are equipped with a fan. The eggs are turned automatically, every 2 hours. All models are covered by a 2-year manufacturer's warranty.

Characteristics of Blitz 48:

• 48 chicken, 20 goose, 130 quail eggs;
• power 50 W;
• automatic switch to 12 V power supply;
• mechanical humidity control;
• digital thermometer, accuracy up to 0.1 oC;
• power – 50 W;
• weight – 7.5 kg.

Price – 7000-7500 rubles. This is a reliable incubator that has proven itself among poultry farmers.

The Blitz-72 incubator has almost the same characteristics as the Blitz-48 model. Differences:

• capacity – 72 chicken, 30 goose and 200 quail eggs;
• power – 60 W;
• weight – 9.5 kg.

Cost – 9800-11000 rubles.

These devices have one drawback - it is inconvenient to load eggs and wash the chamber after the chicks hatch. Otherwise, they are convenient and easy-to-use automatic incubators with a durable and insulated body.

BLITZ Base

Blitz Base

Household device Blitz for 500 chicken eggs at an affordable price. The model is quite economical; a 500 W inverter is sufficient to organize backup power.

Main characteristics:

• weight – 63 kg;
• humidity is maintained automatically;
• sound alarm when temperature and humidity limits are violated;
• trays turn over automatically;
• There are 2 fans in the case.

The downside is the inconvenient automation control unit. The price of the device is 43,000 rubles.

laying hen

Layer incubators are a lot like Cinderella. The casing is also made of polystyrene foam and can be connected to a backup power source. Among the model range, there are 2 fully automatic models. These are Nesushka-63 and Nesushka-104.

It is worth paying attention to the Nesushka-110 model. An inexpensive incubator, with a price of 2,500 rubles, holds 110 eggs and is equipped with a digital thermometer. The same model with automatic reversal costs 4,500 rubles.

Laying hen-63

Automatic incubator for 63 chicken eggs Layer-63, available with an analog or digital thermometer, can be with backup power.

Characteristics:

• capacity of 63 chicken, 40 goose and 133 quail eggs;
• automatic revolution;
• digital thermometer and hygrometer;
• automatic temperature and humidity control;
• connection to power supply from 12 V;
• power consumption – 40 W;
• 1 year warranty.

The laying hen incubator costs between 4800-5200 rubles.

This model is interesting because it allows incubation to be carried out in a fully automatic mode. The only negative is the foam body.

Laying hen-36

Characteristics of the laying hen model 36 with a 12 Volt power supply:

• capacity 36 eggs;
• power – 30 W;
• automatic rotation;
• digital thermostat.

The price is in the range of 3800-4200 rubles. This 36 egg incubator is suitable for small farms.

Pestrushka

Another domestic model. The Pestrushka incubator is interesting primarily for its body - it is made of steel and insulated with foam insulation.

Main characteristics:

• easy to clean;
• power – 110 W;
• digital thermostat;
• weight – 6.5 kg;
• price – 6800 rubles.

The capacity of the device is 84 eggs, which are automatically turned at 180° 4 times a day. The model appeared on the market recently, so there are few real reviews about it.

BION -400M

High-quality, professional incubator. It features high build quality and reliability. The inner part of the case is made of stainless steel. The manufacturer's line includes industrial devices with a capacity of 4,000 or more eggs. Therefore, the quality of the devices is high.

Characteristics:

• incubator for 300 eggs;
• weight – 45 kg;
• automatic control of tray rotation and temperature;
• two operating modes – hatching and incubation;
• gives a sound signal when the temperature or humidity limits are violated.

The downside is the high cost of 35,000 rubles.

JANOEL 42

Another representative of the family of Chinese devices, which is made in joint production with the Italians. The model has a high build quality, but the disadvantages are the lack of a humidity sensor and the ability to connect to backup power.

Characteristics:

• capacity 39 chicken eggs;
• body – plastic;
• average power – 70 W;
• automatic revolution;
• digital thermostat.

Overall, a good model that is in demand among poultry farmers.

Instructions for using the incubator

Before starting operation, the electric drive should be mounted to the side wall, as described above. Then the device is prepared for operation, tested and only then the eggs are laid.

Preparing the incubator for work

At this stage you need to take into account several rules:

1. As usual, the incubator should be installed on a flat surface at some elevation from the floor. The location is chosen so that the chamber can not be moved during the entire incubation cycle.
2. The temperature in the room should be room temperature - deviations below +15°C and above +34°C are unacceptable.
3. The incubator is equipped with 4 baths, but if there is high humidity at home, it is enough to fill only 2 of them. It is better to choose boiled water, since there is usually a risk of bacterial growth and “blooming”. Temperature is about +30°C.
4. The temperature sensor is installed strictly vertically - it is in this position that it optimally controls the temperature. During the cycle, it is better to additionally monitor this, especially after moving the camera. If the temperature sensor is slightly touched by the egg that is placed under it, this is normal.
5. Next, connect the incubator and electric drive and wait about half an hour. In the first minutes, you should not pay attention to the temperature indicators on the display - they will constantly change.
6. After the temperature has stabilized, the desired value should be programmed (for chicken eggs +37.8 ° C).
7. Now you can start laying the eggs.

Laying eggs in the incubator

Bookmarking is done as follows:

1. First of all, you need to select eggs - choose clean ones (find out whether eggs can be washed for incubation) and the freshest ones (preferably within 2 weeks). Store all this time at a temperature of +12°C. But immediately before laying, they are kept at room temperature all day. The eggs should not have even small cracks.
2. All eggs are marked on the same side using a marker. In this case, even if the rotator malfunctions unexpectedly, incubation can be easily continued.
3. After this, the eggs are carefully placed with the same end on the incubator grill.

Control during the incubation period

During the entire cycle, the following rules should be observed:

1. Despite the fact that the “Ideal Hen” maintains both temperature and humidity well, both indicators should be checked periodically.
2. The main requirement is to constantly add water. It is better to take warm (30-40°C) boiled water so as not to reduce the temperature inside the chamber.
3. The eggs are turned constantly (manually or using a turning device), but 2 days before hatching - i.e. On the 19th day you need to stop turning. If there is no turning device, then you should turn it over 3-4 times, but no more than 8 hours.
4. Every day you need to move the eggs from the center to the walls, and from the walls to the center.
5. If electrical failures occur, the incubator should be wrapped as much as possible in warm cloth, cotton wool, or other thermal insulation.

Rating of incubators for households

The best incubator according to customer reviews is Blitz-48. The device has good functionality and provides high hatchability of chicks at a low cost.

In this case, the choice of device will be individual in each specific case. Each farmer himself chooses which one is best for his purposes. Moreover, household devices often cannot satisfy all the needs of poultry farmers, so there is always the option of making an incubator with the required capacity and with the necessary functionality with your own hands.

The best inexpensive domestically produced incubators

In the budget segment, domestic incubators occupy a dominant position. Affordable price, large assortment, ease of operation and maintenance attract Russian peasants and summer residents. They are in steady demand, although they are inferior in comfort and performance to imported models. The following devices took the leading positions.

laying hen

Rating: 4.9

The laying hen incubator is a simple and effective device for home use. The model takes first place in the rating for its combination of accessibility and ease of use. Experts note the high-quality manufacturing of the foam body and the presence of an inspection window. The built-in thermostat automatically maintains an optimal microclimate inside the container. As for productivity, there is a modification for 36 eggs, and there is an incubator with 120 cells. The main part of the model range involves manual turning of eggs, but you can also find automated machines.

Users note the versatility and versatility of Nesushka incubators. They successfully raise chickens, ducklings, goslings, as well as rare domestic birds such as pheasants and quails.

• ease of use;
• affordable price;
• wide choice of modifications;
• thoughtful design.

foam insulation.

Cinderella

Rating: 4.8

Manufacturers from Novosibirsk managed to create the most affordable incubator. Thanks to this, it was possible to achieve high popularity among Russian poultry farmers. However, experts highlighted the unique design of the model, for which the model fell into second place in the rating. You can create heat inside the container not only from electricity (220 V), but also from hot water. The performance of the device depends on the presence of a rotating device. Automated models are capable of simultaneously raising up to 70 chicken eggs. The mechanical modification can hold up to 100 pieces, but you will have to rotate them yourself.

To make a cheap incubator, designers had to use available materials and simplify the device. Therefore, owners complain about frequent breakdowns of the thermostat and grille.

• low price;
• withdrawal efficiency (90%);
• different heating options.

• poor ventilation;
• frequent minor breakdowns.

The perfect hen

Rating: 4.7

Another Novosibirsk incubator made it into our rating. The “Ideal Hen” model is distinguished not only by its affordable price, but also by its good functional content. The manufacturer offers several modifications with different egg capacities, starting from 35 and ending with 104. The model can operate either from the mains or from a battery. Dense foam plastic is used to make the container. Experts highly appreciated the durability and high heat transfer of the heating elements. The device consumes only 90 W of electricity.

Users are generally satisfied with the performance of the incubator; they praise it for its lightness, compactness and maintainability. There are problems with uneven temperature distribution inside the container, the operation of the temperature sensor and the rotating mechanism.