Raising chickens on your property is a great investment, but choosing the right chicken incubator can muddy the waters before you even begin. With various companies offering a wide variety of sizes, models, and prices, the best option might be a little more difficult to discern right away. In order to help you make the best decision for your chicken raising future, I did some research on the chicken incubators with the best quality.
The 5 Best Egg Incubators
- GQF Thermal Air Hova-Bator
- Brinsea Products Mini II Advance Automatic 7 Egg Incubator
- Magicfly Digital Mini Fully Automatic Egg Incubator
- VIVOHOME Mini Digital 9-12 Egg Incubator
- Brinsea Products Manual Egg Incubator (Our Top Pick)
Our Top Pick for the Best Egg Incubator
Our top pick for the best egg incubator is the Brinsea Products Manual Egg Incubator.
This model allows you to hatch a decent number of eggs at once. It isn’t too large, and is easy to clean. Although it has a manual turn, its size and shape will make it easy.
Check the price on AmazonChoosing Chicken Incubator
Number of Eggs You Would Like to Hatch
Before you even look at incubator brands, you should determine how many eggs you would like to hatch at once. Incubators come in many different sizes and shapes. Starting with only a few eggs and running all the way up to a few thousand. What is the size of your coop or yard where the future chicks will be living? Be certain you will have enough room for however many eggs you could potentially hatch.
Something to remember is that no matter how many eggs you place in the incubator, it is likely that you will not hatch quite that many. In other words…don’t count your chickens before they hatch. But do choose your incubator based on how many chickens you wish would hatch!
Incubator Storage
Another important planning point is to determine where you are storing the incubator during the incubation period. Be sure that you are choosing an incubator that will fit in that space. Additionally, make sure you are choosing an incubator that will be easy to clean regularly in that space. Something to keep in mind is that some incubators do not have automatic turners for the eggs.
If your incubator does not, be certain you will be able to get to the eggs to turn them on schedule. If you choose a manual over automatic, make sure you know how to turn the eggs in the incubator.
Humidity and Temperature Measurement
You should decide how you would like to handle and measure your humidity and temperature. Some incubators have an automatic humidity pump. While others leave you to your own devices (sponges, pots, or channels). Not all incubators come with a thermometer, so if you would rather not buy one separately, pay close attention when purchasing your incubator.
Costs
You will obviously want to choose based on cost. The incubators with more bells and whistles come at a higher price. But they might save you some time. On the other hand, some people prefer to do things by hand so that they can remain more involved in the process (or they just want their wallets to stay a little less empty). Choose what you think is best for your circumstances and commitment level.
Finally, if you want to learn how to hatch chicken eggs properly, read this article:
5 Best Chicken Incubators – Reviews
1. GQF Thermal Air Hova-Bator
The GQF Thermal Air Hova-Bator holds 50 chicken eggs and the inside is heated with a radiant heat tube. Hot air runs through the exhaust vents and fresh air circulates in. The air ventilation will also be beneficial in drying the chicks after they hatch. The egg turner is sold separately, but a thermostat is included.
Features: Two small windows for top viewing, sturdy sidewalls with rounded corners to promote better airflow. Proven thermostat with accuracy between 72ºF to 110ºF.
Specifications: Dimensions – 5.51 x 19.38 x 20.06-inches, and weighs – 3.6 pounds.
Pros
- Styrofoam frame is sturdy and dependable
- Two viewing windows make watching the hatching process easier
- Includes water tray for humidity
Cons
- Temperature can fluctuate depending on the surrounding room temperature
- Screws on the top of the lid can become very hot
- Fan (which helps maintain consistent temperature) is not included
2. Brinsea Products Mini II Advance Automatic 7 Egg Incubator
The Brinsea Products tiny model holds just seven eggs, but its bells and whistles seem to make up for its diminutive size quite well. A rotating disc sits on an automatic turner and its autostop function kicks in two days before hatching, which improves embryo health.
With a microcontroller taking care of every single incubator function, and programmable functions like a thermometer alarm, thermometer, days left until hatching, and an automatic turning status that are displayed on a digital screen, this egg incubator does all the hard work for you.
The airflow is assisted by a fan and the central water reservoir maintains the right humidity levels. Transparent dome-shaped window walls make viewing the process so easy.
Features: Fan-assisted airflow to evenly heat eggs. Microcontroller to manage incubator functions via a digital display, and a clear chamber for viewing eggs.
Specifications: Dimensions – 12.5 x 12.5 x 7-inches, and weighs – 3 pounds.
Pros
- Alarm system helps keep you on the correct schedule
- Transparent dome-shaped window enhances the viewing experience
- Automatic turner included
Cons
- Central water reservoir can dry out and humidity will drop
- Thermometer has been known to be inaccurate
- Price is high for a small incubator
3. Magicfly Digital Mini Fully Automatic Egg Incubator
This Automatic Egg Incubator from Magicfly also available in a semi-automatic 10-egg model holds 12 eggs and comes with an automatic egg turner. It has a humidity alarm, a thermometer, an alarm system, and temperature control. The smaller size makes it more portable and the LED display is also a plus.
Features: Humidity alarm and auto thermometer, automatic egg turner, and LED display.
Specifications: Dimensions – 13.97 x 7.4 x 6.88-inches, and weighs – 6.61 pounds.
Pros
- Makes very little noise
- Climate control and automatic turner included
- Smaller size makes it more portable
Cons
- Built-in thermometer only measures in Celsius and has been known to be unreliable
- Possible low hatch rate
- Lack of windows makes viewing the process impossible
4. VIVOHOME Mini Digital 9-12 Egg Incubator
The VIVOHOME 9-12 Egg Incubator comes with four adjustable dividers that can be used for different sized eggs such as nine chicken or duck eggs or 16 pigeon or quail eggs. It has an automatic egg turner, built-in water channels to control humidity, and excellent air circulation.
For efficient monitoring, the LED screen displays temperature, humidity levels, hatching day, and egg turning time. The incubator is made from sturdy plastic that is easy to clean.
Features: Automatic turner, four adjustable dividers for different sized eggs, and built-in water channels.
Specifications: Dimensions – 14.5 x 10.6 x 6.8-inches, and weighs – 4.74 pounds.
Pros
- Automatic turner and climate control makes the process easier
- LED screen displays temperature, humidity levels, hatching day and egg turning time
- Easy to clean plastic
Cons
- Humidity gauge has been known to be inaccurate
- Plastic is not very strong
- Cannot view the eggs through the top of the lid
- Not good to incubate different egg types at the same time
5. Brinsea Products Manual Egg Incubator
The Brinsea Products Manual Egg Incubator has a 24 egg capacity but claims to be suitable for various egg sizes. It has a liquid in glass thermometer with a flashing temperature indicator, and the rocking frame turns the eggs hourly. The window is large and makes the viewing experience more enjoyable.
Features: Manual turner and humidity control. Thermometer and temperature control, and plastic frame for easy cleaning.
Specifications: Dimensions – 13 x 9.5 x 10-inches, and weighs – 8 pounds.
Pros
- Plastic frame is easier to clean than the styrofoam models
- Thermometer and climate control make controlling the process easier
- Manual turner makes for a more hands-on experience
Cons
- Humidity levels can be difficult to maintain, especially during hatching
- Temperature control can be tricky to use
- Price is higher than some models
Our Top Pick for the Best Egg Incubator
Our top pick for the best egg incubator is the Brinsea Products Manual Egg Incubator.
This model allows you to hatch a decent number of eggs at once. It isn’t too large, and is easy to clean. Although it has a manual turn, its size and shape will make it easy.
Check the price on Amazon
