What hatcher would you suggest?

[El Greco]

Just bought a Brinsea Octagon 40 advance EX but i would like to invest to another machine that would be used as a hatcher.

It must have 100% accurate electronic temperature and humidity readings..

I am thinking to buy the Juragon SURO - MANUAL TURN NO Humidity for £79.99..

Would you suggest something better or more reliable or this machine would be perfect for the job?

 

[chrismahon]

We use an Italian (Spanish broken) semi-auto for incubating and a broken Suro 20 for hatching ( turning cradle motor broken and replacement ridiculous price) with water trays instead of relying on the dodgy humidity readings. We are looking for reliability with insulation and a semi-auto does the job. The hatcher is at a less vulnerable (power cut) stage. We used to use the Spanish semi -auto but when the heater went!

I would look to the reliability and insulation El Greco. I would avoid anything with Suro on it. The humidity control at that stage can be done with water trays. Beware of the temperature readings. If the sensor is too close to the heaters it is wrong. Humidity sensors are complex and can't be relied on. Our last semi-auto has a separate thermometer which fits in a tube well down into the unit, thus allowing for heat loss. Fantastic results. The only time we have had bad hatches is when we incubated with a Suro20 -total rubbish product.

 

[El Greco]

So can you please suggest a particular model for me to buy just for hatching?

 

[chrismahon]

I can't if you are incubating 40 eggs El Greco as our semi-autos are 24 max. We struggled with using the broken Suro20 as a hatcher because it only takes 16 hatching and it is still very cramped. We incubated in two stages 6 days apart so that no more than 12 went from the Covatutto 24 into the Suro.

So whatever you get El Greco, keep it spacious and well insulated with an accurate thermometer. The humidity at that stage can easily be controlled with water trays -its only to stop the membrane drying out. The air sac size is set my the humidity during the first 18 days. Ours was too high and we lost two otherwise perfectly healthy chicks because the sac was too small.