whats a good incubator??

I have not used anything other than the Helix for the incubator. So I dont know, I know there are others out there. That work just as good. For the incubator you dont want one of the on/off type of thermostats. With thoses I would think you will have a hard time keeping steady temps. Like said go with a proportional thermostats. There is other proportional thermostats out there other than Helix. Im not 100% sure what they are or how much they cost.

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Originally Posted by ama1997

I have not used anything other than the Helix for the incubator. So I dont know, I know there are others out there. That work just as good. For the incubator you dont want one of the on/off type of thermostats. With thoses I would think you will have a hard time keeping steady temps. Like said go with a proportional thermostats. There is other proportional thermostats out there other than Helix. Im not 100% sure what they are or how much they cost.

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Herpstat is proportional as well. I believe Becky (SatanicIntention) uses an on/off thermostat for her incubator with no problems, she has it set to a 1 degree up/down.

i have the money for the vet i was just trying to find the cheapest way is it wrong to try and find a cheaper way to build something instead of the same way every one else is and i didn't realize the none American pricing it was just a quick search but i mean i have the helix dbs-1000 for the rack but i was just trying to think of a cheaper way


like i found one that is made with a house thermostat on another site so i might try it out for my girls dragon cage

Good luck in your quest! :)

When you breed your incubator is the single most important thing you will need. Keeping that in mind you should spend as much as you need to ensure proper incubation.

Personally I would hate to go cheap with an incubator and lose all my eggs!

This is what I used this year and what I will use next year

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p.../Incubator.jpg

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p...or/Inside2.jpg

120 quarts cooler = $50
Hersptat Thermostat = $109
Heat Tape + Cord + Connectors = $10
Fan + Adapter = $15
Light Diffuser = $11
Water Bottles = $3

I wouldn't use a hovabator either. I lost a clutch to one using its heating wafer. Now granted, I did not have a backup thermostat. But I think now that the best heating for an incubator is Flexwatt, hooked to a top of the line proportional thermostat. I use a Helix now with stellar results. I got fancy this year and bought a nonworking, great-looking wine fridge for my incubator body. Now last year I used a styro cooler with great results, and this year things are going great as well. I spent a whopping $20 and some elbow grease for the nonworking cooler.. since I didn't need it to work, that was unimportant.. it just insulates and gives you a nice clear door to look into :) Now the thermostat is expensive, but please don't chintz out on this.. it is vital.

Im using an Igloo cooler with 2 feet of 11" Flex, and a Herpstat T-stat. :) Day 48 and everyone is looking good so far :D

You dont have to get fancy, or buy the absolute best. You only need constant steady temps, if a gutted fridge, or an igloo cooler can give you those steady temps, by all means! im happy with it, and ill probably use the setup again! If it aint broke, why fix it?

The thermostat is debatable. If you have a good incubator that holds the temps well and dosn't take much power to run then a on/off thermstat will work fine. However if your using an incubator that is not sealed up well and has alot of heat loss then you should use a proportional thermostat without question.

I personally run a Ranco thermostat on my incubator and the temps are very solid. My incubator is a glass front coke fridge with a 3ft strip of 11" flex-watt and a fan to stir the air so there are no warm/cold spots. I have thermometers in the egg boxes and they do not move 1/10th of a degree.

A hovabator will work if you do not rely on it's temp controller.
I let mine run wide open and use a herpstat to control the temps.