When a bird mates and lays fertilized eggs, a mechanism is required for the eggs to develop well into younglings. The bird either sits on the eggs or an egg incubator is used. While the cheapest option to incubate eggs is allowing the mother to sit on the eggs, but where many eggs are involved or there is not female, using an egg incubator is the best option in the case. The question now is: how do you choose the right egg incubator?
Choosing the right or most suitable egg incubator could be a complicated process. This is because there are different types of egg incubators and there are various models, sizes, capacities, designs and prices. Hence, you might find it difficult to choose the best egg incubator. We researched egg incubators and came up with the best ones described on this page. We hope they suit your need.
Factors to Consider When Choosing Egg Incubator
1. Number of Eggs to be Hatched
When deciding on the kind of poultry egg incubator to buy, the first thing you should consider is the number of fertile eggs you would like to hatch at the same time. For egg incubators, one size doesn’t fit all. There are mini or small-sized incubators, medium-sized incubators, large-sized or cabinet incubators. They also come in different shapes. Hence, the number of eggs you intend to incubate and hatch determines the kind of incubator to buy.
2. Space
Another vital factor to consider is the space where the incubator would be. Ensure that the incubator you’re choosing will fit in the space available and that there is still enough space left for you to clean the incubator or turn the eggs.
3. Construction Material
The materials used to build an egg incubator determine its durability and efficiency. Most egg incubators are manufactured with Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) Plastic, Polycarbonate (PC) or both. These are the best materials and are easy to clean.
Top 5 Poultry Egg Incubators – Reviews
1. Magicfly JANOEL24 Egg Incubator
This Magicfly fully automatic egg incubator can hold and hatch 24 chicken eggs at once. It also has an automatic egg turner, an alarm system, thermometer, temperature control and LED display. The small size of the incubator makes it more portable and only takes up a small space.
Suitability: The Magicfly Egg Incubator is suitable for the eggs of chickens, turkey, geese and ducks.
Main Features: Auto egg turner, auto temperature control, full LED display and humidity alarm.
Weight and Size: 10.28 lbs and 17.72 × 12.28 × 9.88 inches
Pros
- Easy to clean
- Simple to operate
- Fully automated and comes with an alert system
- Suitable for the eggs of all birds except ostrich
Cons
- No hygrometer or humidity monitor
- The Price is high but for all the features it has, the incubator indeed worth the price.
2. Brinsea Ovation 56 EX Egg Incubator
The Brinsea Ovation 56 EX Egg Incubator is one of the best egg incubators that will give you great value for your money and higher hatch success. It is fully automated and can conveniently hold and hatch 56 chicken eggs at a time. It comes with an automatic egg turning system, digital control system for humidity, temperature and turning status.
This incubator is made with clean and robust ABS plastic. Hence, it is easy to clean durable and antiseptic. The device is made with ease of use and accuracy in mind.
Suitability: The Brinsea Ovation 56 EX Egg Incubator is suitable for incubating the eggs of chickens, geese, ducks and turkeys.
Main Features: Inbuilt alert system, induced airflow system, external water top-up, automatic temperature control, automatic egg turner and LED display.
Weight and Size: 11 lbs and 22 × 15 × 9 inches
Pros
- Accurate, reliable and durable
- Easy to clean and simple to use
- Fully automated
- Comes with an alert system
Cons
- It is quite expensive, but worth the price based on the features you are getting
- It comes with only standard egg carriers. To hatch turkey, goose or duck eggs, a separate carrier is needed.
3. Winice Intelligent 32 Digital Egg Incubator
This is an intelligent, well-designed and attractive digital egg incubator that you will love to buy. This Winice egg incubator comes with an in-built low-noise fan, automatic egg turning, and auto temperature and humidity controller. It can also hatch up to 32 chicken eggs at once.
Suitability: The Winice Intelligent 56 Digital Egg Incubator is suitable for incubating the eggs of chicken, goose, duck and turkey.
Main Features: Alert system, automatic temperature control, automatic egg turner, viewing window and LED display.
Weight and Size: 7.63 lbs and 20.2 × 15.8 × 11 inches
Pros
- Great design
- Easy to maintain
- Easy to clean
- Viewing window
- Alert system
Cons
- Alarm system could be frustrating for impatient users
4. HovaBator Genesis 1588 Egg Incubator
If you need an incubator that would help you achieve a high egg hatch rate, we recommend the HovaBator Genesis 1588 Egg Incubator. It has an automatic temperature control system, an in-built microprocessor thermostat and an LCD display. It can hold 130 quail eggs and 50 standard chicken eggs.
Suitability: It can be used to incubate the eggs of chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys.
Main Features: Built-in fan, automatic temperature control and LED display.
Weight and Size: 1.63 lbs and 47.3 × 47.3 × 13.5 inches
Pros
- Beginner-friendly and safe to use
- Power-efficient
- Easy to maintain and clean
- Great value for money
- High hatch rate and better EGGperience
Cons
- No alarm system
- Does not come with an egg turner
5. Farm Innovators 4250 Egg Incubator
This device is another top egg incubator that will meet your egg incubation and hatching expectations. The Farm Innovators 4250 Egg Incubator made this list because of its inbuilt thermostat (for perfect temperature control), hygrometer, automatic egg turner, viewing window and notification light. Built with hard plastic and Styrofoam, the incubator guarantees better insulation on the inside. Also, it could hold 41 standard chicken eggs at once.
Suitability: The eggs of chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys can be incubated using this device.
Main Features: Automatic egg turner, hygrometer, built-in fan, LCD display and viewing window.
Weight and Size: 6.7 lbs and 18 × 18 × 8 inches
Pros
- Beginner friendly and easy to operate
- Easy to clean and maintain
- Fantastic temperature control mechanism
- Power efficient and durable
- High hatch success rate
Cons
- No alarm
- Separate trays are required for quail eggs