6 Best Chicken Egg Incubators for Chicken Eggs and Other Birds

Chicken Egg Incubators for Eggs

If you have a fertilized egg and want to hatch the egg but do not have any brooding hen, you’re going to need one of the best chicken egg Incubators.

These pieces of equipment help nature your eggs safely till it hatches and it usually takes roughly 3 weeks.

In this article, you will learn about the best chicken egg Incubators and what to consider before buying one.

So, ensure you go through the information on this guide from start to finish before going out to buy an Incubator.

Now, let’s get into details.

You may like to read this article to find the answer to the question “How Many Eggs Does A Chicken Lay In A Week?

What is an Egg Incubator?

An egg incubator is a device that simulates a chicken’s incubation by keeping the eggs warm at a specific temperature range (37.5 °C for chicken eggs) and uses the right humidity while turning them to hatch them. 

The Incubator helps reduce the risk of the egg cracking, the egg getting cold, or being killed even when there is no care from the mother.

That said, now let’s learn about some of the things to put into consideration when getting an egg Incubator.

Read also, How to Hatch Chicken Eggs Step by Step

What to Know Before Buying a Chicken Egg Incubator 

There are several things to put into consideration before buying a chicken egg Incubator.

Below are the important things to consider:

1. The Egg Capacity 

The number of eggs you want to hatch occasionally depends on the type of incubator you will love to buy.

Because the number of eggs an egg incubator can hold at a time till the egg hatches differ.

So, it is of importance for you to get the type of egg Incubator that can at least hold the capacity of 9 to 12 standard chicken eggs.

Because, there has to be room for accidents, contingencies, or flaws of nature. As not all the eggs will hatch.

But if you have to regularly hatch up to 40 standard egg sizes at once, then you will have to get a larger capacity.

2. The Size

The space you have available for an egg Incubator can influence the size of the Incubator you will get.

As a result, before getting an incubator be sure to consider the space you have available for it before getting one.

So if you are a newbie with a small space, a moderate egg Incubator will be the best option for you.

But, if you have enough space for a medium or large-sized egg Incubator, you can go ahead and buy one.

This is important because the Incubator has to be in a convenient space.

Read this article to find out about the Top 10 Chicken Breeds That Lay Large Eggs [With Pictures]

3. Temperature Control 

In order for your eggs to hatch successfully with an incubator, there is a need to have the right temperature.

When the temperature is too high or too low as required for the embryonic development of the egg, it might lead to unsuccessful hatching.

As a result, there is a need for you to get an incubator that regulates the internal temperature automatically.

It also comes with an  LCD or LED display that shows you how it is regulating the temperature.

Also if you can get an Incubator that has an inbuilt alarm, it will help draw your attention whenever someone goes wrong.

4. Airflow and Ventilation 

Adequate airflow and ventilation are necessary basic requirements to hatch an egg successfully.

It’s of importance for an Incubator to be well ventilated in order for you to achieve great hatching success.

When buying an Incubator, choose the one that has good Ventilation and a fan so you can avoid a low hatch rate.

Because egg shells have tiny pores through which embryos breathe.

5. Easy for Observation 

There are cases whereby mistakes can occur in an incubator.

As a result, there is a need to go for an Incubator that has a clear top or a picture window, which enables you to see what’s going on within.

This way, you will be able to tell right away when something is wrong inside.

Read this article about How to Sex Chickens (4 Best Methods)

6. Turning of the Eggs 

Turning the egg consistently is one of the important procedures in egg incubation.

If you have by any chance seen a hen sitting on eggs or a backyard chicken keeper, you will notice that from time to time the mother hen rolls the egg while she sits on it.

This act by the mother hen will show that egg turning is important during incubation.

Because this single act by the mother hen stops the embryo from sticking to the shell which can lead to hatch failure.

In an Incubator, the chicken egg needs to be turned in the same way consistently for 18 days of incubation.

While it can be done manually, there are Incubators that can do this automatically.

So, it’s of importance you get an Incubator that has an auto egg Turner feature.

In order to save you the stress of opening the Incubator every now and then to turn the eggs.

Also, this helps in minimizing any form of contamination that might occur inside the Incubator due to touching.

7. Humidity Control and Monitoring 

For you to have a good egg hatch and avoid the egg from not hatching due to the hardness of the egg it’s important to control the humidity in the Incubator.

The humidity of an Egg Incubator is supposed to be between 45% to 65% for the egg to have a successful hatch.

Whereby the humidity level is outside the stated range, it affects the embryonic development of the egg.

So, when getting an egg Incubator, consider going for the one that has a channel through which water can be added.

As this will help the egg not lose its moisture and saves you the stress of adding water regularly.

8. Easy to Clean

Another practical point you should consider when buying an egg Incubator is the means of cleaning.

How easy is it to clean?

Because bacteria can easily enter through the porous of the egg shell and that can lead to the death of the chick embryo.

In other words, you have to avoid egg Incubators that are difficult to clean and maintain. 

Buy the ones that come with a design or material you can easily clean.

9. The Construction Material 

The materials used to construct or manufacture an egg incubator affect how long it will survive and how effective it will be.

As a result, it’s critical to double-check that the incubator you’re about to purchase is made of high-quality materials.

ABS Plastics and PC are the ideal materials for incubators because it makes it easy to clean when an Incubator is made with those materials.

Now, let’s check out some of the best egg Incubators for your chicken.

Do you want to start a chicken farm? Read this article to learn How to Start Poultry Farming as a Beginner [The Complete Business Guide]

6 Best Chicken Egg Incubators for Chickens and Other Birds

The following are the best egg Incubators for poultry birds.

1. Brinsea Ovation 56 EX Egg Incubator 

The Brinsea Ovation 56 EX Egg Incubator is one of the best Incubators in the market that helps you achieve the highest possible hatch success.

For serious chicken breeders, this forced-air egg Incubator is ideal because it has amazing features which include an automatic egg turner, a highly precise digital temperature, and a humidity control system. 

Before I forget, it also features an optional humidity pump and a maximum loading capacity of 56 standard chicken eggs.

Another interesting thing about this product is that it is very easy to clean and it’s easy to use.

Apart from the fact that it can control temperature and humidity automatically, the user can also program the temperature, humidity, and turning intervals.

Then the Incubator will follow the process that is put in place.

Other features include:

  • An inbuilt alarm (alerts you when there is a power outage or when the temperature is too high or low)
  • An Induced Dual Airflow system
  • Fan assisted airflow
  • External water top-up
  • 56 Egg capacity 

Pros 

  • It has an alert system 
  • Easy to use and clean.
  • Fully automated 
  • Durable, accurate, and reliable 
  • Eggs are easy to view.

Cons

  • It’s quite expensive

If you want an Incubator that has an alert system, that’s easy to view the eggs and fully automated, then you should get the Brinsea Ovation 56 EX Egg Incubator on Amazon.

2. Manna Pro Egg Incubator 

If you are looking for an Incubator with an automatic tuner, this Manna Pro Egg Incubator is just perfect for you.

As said earlier, egg turning is one of the most important procedures in egg incubation.

This particular product is easily programmable by the user and it has a function that stops the egg from turning once the egg hatch day approaches.

The humidity and temperature can also be easily maintained by the user because all adjustments can be done from the digital display menu.

It also displays various information of importance to you concerning the egg as days go by till the hatch day.

Pros 

  • The functions on the digital screen are easy to control.
  • It has an automatic and adjustable egg turner 
  • Allows a 360-degree view of the eggs.
  • The screen shows live temperature.
  • 22 eggs capacity 
  • 360-degree induced airflow.

Cons 

  • Difficult to clean
  • Noisy beep when the device turns the egg
  • Struggles to turn heavy or larger eggs.
  • There is no humidity gauge or monitor. You will have to buy or use an external hygrometer.

So, if you are interested in an Incubator that has a capacity for 22 eggs, and has an automatic egg turner, then get the Manna Pro Egg Incubator on Amazon 

3. Brinsea Octagon 20 Eco Egg Incubator 

This particular product is made from ABS material which makes it strong and easy to clean.

It comes with a present temperature setting and vents to control humidity.

The Brinsea egg Incubator comes with a removable egg tray that has adjustable dividers which help you incubate different sizes of eggs.

If you want an Incubator that has adjustable dividers and allows good visibility of the eggs, then you should definitely get Brinsea Octagon 20 Eco Incubator on Amazon

Pros 

  • Allows good visibility of the eggs 
  • 24 chicken egg capacity 
  • Easy to clean
  • Simple and Robust design 
  • Easy to use
  • Adjustable temperature 

Cons

  • No automatic tuner 
  • No humidity gauge.

4. Nollapo Egg Incubator 

The Nollapo egg Incubator is an affordable product that can hold up to 18 large-sized eggs or 24 small-sized eggs.

It has an automatic turner that turns the egg every 2 hrs which improves the hatch speed.

To ensure fresh air circulation, this incubator has a built-in low noise fan for humidity balance.

Also, it comes with an external water injection hole where you can add water easily to maintain the temperature of the eggs.

This product is durable and will not occupy too much space for those who do not have much space area.

Pros

  • Easy to clean.
  • Very affordable 
  • Automatic turner
  • Easy to use
  • Allow a 360-degree view of the eggs.
  • It can also be used to incubate ducks, pigeons, quail, birds, and parrot eggs.

Cons

  • No automatic adjustment of temperature 

If you want an Incubator that is portable and won’t take up a lot of space, then get the Nollapo Egg Incubator on Amazon

5. Brinsea Mini II Advance 7 Egg Incubator 

This Incubator has a bright yellow base that is attractive, and its visible sides allow you to see every detail of your hatchling’s process. 

If you’re the type who forgets dates and times, the incubator offers a convenient countdown feature that stops when the eggs are ready to hatch. 

So you can detect if there’s a problem with time or development at a glance.

The Brinsea Mini incubate automatically turns off the egg Turner two days before the hatching date because during the last 3 days eggs shouldn’t be turned.

This feature makes your life easy and the display at the top helps you see and control the settings.

It also comes with a convenient spout on the side where you can manually add water for humidity management.

Although, this product is best suitable for home breeders since it can only hold 7 eggs at a time.

Pros 

  • It is easy to use
  • Comes with an alarm 
  • Automatic turning and countdown clock 
  • Robust hygienic ABS plastic for easy cleaning 
  • Allowed 360-degree view

Cons 

  • The incubator is available in three similar-looking versions, each with somewhat different features, making it easy to mix them up.

If you are a home breeder and a beginner you should get the Brinsea Mini II Advance Egg Incubator on Amazon 

6. Kebonnixs 12 Egg Incubator

The Kebonnixs is a small and compact able Incubator for those that are home breeders.

However, despite its small size, it has a lot of features that you will require in an Incubator.

Which are a humidity display, egg candle, automatic egg Turner with auto stop, temperature control, and an airflow system.

This Incubator is excellent at maintaining the internal humidity level without any external help.

If you are looking for an Incubator that is easy to use with a high hatch rate, then get this Kebonnixs Egg Incubator on Amazon 

Pros 

  • Easy to use
  • Comes with a built-in egg candler
  • Automatic egg turner with auto stop
  • Easy viewing of your eggs
  • Cones with an external water top-up.
  • Displays humidity level.

Cons 

  • Can not hold larger eggs

Conclusion

Due to the different incubator brands and types available on the market, selecting the ideal incubator to meet your hatching needs is not as simple as it may appear. 

For you to get the best Incubator for your egg there are some things you must put into consideration.

Such as the egg capacity, size of the Incubator, temperature, humidity, if it’s easy to clean, and have a clear view of your eggs during incubation.

You should be able to choose the best egg incubators for your needs based on the information supplied in this article.

Just remember that even when you get an egg Incubator that comes with all the needs your egg requires for good hatching, you still need to keep an eye on your egg.

Frequently Asked Questions 

  1. How long does it take to hatch a chicken egg in an incubator?

    A chicken egg takes 21 days to hatch in an Incubator.
    However, there are cases where some chicks might take longer or even earlier than the normal period.
    So, to be on the safe side you can keep your egg for extra 5 days after the hatch date. Just in case!

  2. What are the ideal humidity and temperature level for chicken egg incubation?

    For days 1-18 the humidity level of the Incubator should be at 45%.
    Then from 19 till the hatch day, the humidity level should be 55-65%.
    While the ideal temperature for an Incubator is between 99°F and 102°F.

  3. How often should I turn my chicken eggs in the incubator?

    At least 2-3 times per day, you should turn your eggs.
    4-5 times a day is preferable, and the turning should be done at regular intervals.
    Mark an X on one side of the egg using a pencil to retain a visual record so you don't get confused. 
    You have to be gentle when flipping the eggs so as not to rupture any of the small developing blood vessels.
    Note that from day 18 you will not have to stop turning the egg.
    However, I recommend you get an Incubator that comes with an automatic egg turner to save yourself the stress.

  4. How soon do you have to put fertilized chicken eggs in an incubator?

    Fertilized eggs should be placed in an incubator within 7 days of fertilization.
    Some people have had success with eggs that have been maintained outside the incubator for 14 days or more, but the longer they are kept outside the incubator, the less likely they are to hatch.
    Keep the eggs around 55°F while waiting to be placed in the incubator; otherwise, the embryos may begin to develop too quickly.

  5. What happens if eggs are not turned?

    If you don't turn the eggs during incubation, the developing chicks will conform to the body of the shells thereby making some of the eggs not hatch. 
    For best results, you have to turn the eggs at least twice or three times daily.

References 

 

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