Customer Reviews

GQF Hova-Bator Thermal Air Flow Egg Incubator

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I had two different Little Giants. My first one was a still air with no turner just like this one. The hovabator and LG are almost the same exact price and wow is there a difference. The hovabator is so much sturdier, holds temperature so much better, doesn't have little gaps in the side to allow air to escape, has bigger trays for humidity, and has great viewing windows. The LG is cheaply made compared to this thing at the same exact price. The only thing I'd change is the temp adjuster, on the Hovabator you have a wing nut and allen wrench and on the LG its just a little knob. Not really a con to most people but I had to find at least one thing wrong with it to tell you guys. That doesn't even compare to how much better this thing is for your money. I also had the LG with an egg turner and air fan and I had the worst hatch ever. If you have a choice, definately get the Hovabator. If your looking at the Genesis because it holds temperature no matter what the atmosphere, don't spend the extra 100 for it because this hovabator holds the temperature very very nicely I haven't seen it flucuate at all. But if your putting the incubator in a room that constantly gets cold and hot, I would go for it. I just have mine in my room where the temp is always around 75 degrees. BTW I got the hovabator model 1602N.

I was delighted to find an affordable incubator for our chicken eggs. It has all been going quite well, but only after we got our incubator, did I notice that you are asked to keep the house temperature at an impossibly steady level. The "thermostat" is VERY basic, and the setting needs to be adjusted frequently if the temperature of your house fluctuates more that 10 degrees. I have had trouble keeping it hot enough at night, as our house tends to cool off considerably. Then, when our house heats up with the sun, the incubator soars up above 101 degrees, and (while I am luckily at home during the day)I have to re-adjust the setting at least 3 times a day. Tricky. Otherwise, great. Neat water tray for humidity regulation, super easy set-up, great viewing windows, great little thermometer, and of course, great price!

Got it to incubate my lizard eggs. Going great. You have to buy your own humidity guage though.

BUT for a few dollars mroe you can get the genesis which is preset for 99 and you never have to worry about setting the temp, or it being right. Take the time to spend the few dollars more and get the good stuff.

My first time hatching, put 34 eggs in and 32 hatched, yes the thermostat did stress me out a bit though, the temp in the bator fluctuates depending on your temp in your house, it was a bit irritating but worked out in the end.

Bought this for my son who is raising Quail. Product was easy to put together. Easy to maintain. Easy to regulate the heat. Great starter incubator for kids. Only draw back it you have to rotate the eggs by hand but you get what you pay for. Overall, great product for the price.

I have the 1602n, still air model and I added a small fan to make it a forced air incubator.

A few things about these "styrofoam" models, both Hova and Little Giant:
1) Yes its made out of styrofoam. The Hovas are better made than the LGs, but they still have the same amount of foam as a $10 cooler from Wally World. Get over it! You want plastic or can use a garden hose because you "aren't good with tools", then spend more for plastic.
2) It take about 3-4 hours to adjust the temperature. The 1588 model is preset, but this model has to be adjusted. No big deal, you should have your bator up a day before you have eggs anyways. Just turn the adjustment "lever" no more than one turn per adjustment.
3) Kepp this and all foam bators in a climate comtroled room. So no drafty barns or under the car porch!

This model was THE hobbist bator for a long time. The directions are good, but get on line or better yet talk to someone about bators before you buy. I personally have two of these and two 1588's. I use this model for hatching and the 1588 for the other 18 days. Yea, I cold have bought a cabinet bator for the money I spent on these, but I got them in a time span of over a year and I can hatch as many as 200 quail eggs in one (no turner) or split them up and have different batches of different breeds going.

Is the 1588 worth almost twice as much, I don't know. I like both models. The big thing with the 1588 is the ability to use D/C power, like a car battery or deep cycle battery for your trolling motor. But you have to by an adapter, so even more money. I'm sure Amazon has a adapter that you could use with the 1602n to hook it up to a battery. So six of one and half dozen of another.

In closing, its a good bator. Worth the money and made even better with a fan.

Also, not to go hating on Little Giant's bator. I had two that last a long time, becase I was careful with them. Bt these Hovas are about as sturdy as you can make a $10 beer cooler!

Excellent value. Solid construction, very easy to set up and use. The windows are a good size which helps little ones like my 4 year old watch the action. The dual water areas are a good design and beats what I have used previously. Another good feature is the red plastic plugs you can remove to control humidity. Worked as advertised. The temp control is a little counter intuitive, going to the right decreases temp and counterclockwise increases temp. You get used to it though. Also the wing nut against styrofoam is not that great of an idea. Overall, for the money, great value and a great product. We hatched (6) mallards this weekend and have another (16) to go. Might even round up some more eggs from the property and hatch more as my son is really enjoying watching them grow.

THIS IS A GREAT PRODUCT. WE HAVE IT IN OUR KITCHEN AND ONCE THE EGGS HAVE BEEN IN THERE FOR A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME YOU CAN TAKE THE TOP OFF AND USE A FLASH LIGHT TO LOOK INSIDE THE EGG AND WHEN WE DID THE LITTLE CHICKS HEADS WERE MOVING AROUND AND MY GIRLS WENT CRAZY. IT WAS EXCITING TO SEE FOR US ALL. GOD IS SO WONDERFUL HE CREATED US ALL WONDERFULLY. ARE CHICKS HATCH THIS WEEKEND.

Is a good product ... funtional .. just need more details about attachments .... seller did great ... delivered in a timely manner ...