Hovobator review and MY MISTAKES!!!!???????

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We at Myshire Farm are dedicated to educate, encourage and enthuse others to become more self sufficient and we believe there is no better way than Coturnix quail. If you need help we go live on our KZbin channel Myshire Farm every Sunday at 7pm EST in a community setting and every Monday at 8pm EST for a FUN, FAST live Q&A. You can always reach out to us by text 937-760-7282 or email us at [e-mail]
Thank you so much for watching!!!!!

[@philipketchell8369]

Mate you are doing a great job testing all these different brands of incubators, saving a lot of people's frustration.

[@MyshireFarm]

Thanks for watching

[@nabeelkamal6503]

Thanks for going through these incubators Zack and reviewing each.No one wants to start out making costly mistakes and losing all of his eggs.

[@MyshireFarm]

Agreed

[@justinsane7128]

The only thing I hate worse more than plastic is styrofoam... That was my first incubator, never looking back.

[@MyshireFarm]

It is not for everyone.

[@trishapomeroy9251]

I really appreciate you going through these incubators and reviewing each. I will be buying an incubator this year, so this is very timely. Thank you so much!

[@MyshireFarm]

Glad we can give you some things to think about

[@finhunter]

I started using the Hovabator since the mid 1980's. Have to admit the still air needs to be watched. But the models with a fan work great with very successful hatches of chickens, ducks, pheasant and quail.

[@MyshireFarm]

Great to know. Thanks

[@GISHERPS]

I have this with proper egg turner and fan and I'll be shocked if 1 egg hatches. To be fair, these are my first bird eggs but I've been working with reptiles for years and hatched out several species of lizards in a rock solid incubator with digital controls. This wafer thing is 110% absolute unadulterated grade A trash! Seriously though, where's my hammer?

[@MyshireFarm]

Yeah I am not a fan of it either

[@debbannon354]

Mysfire Farm, A year (?) has gone by since you did this review. Have you made another video with side by side of all the incubators that you tested? The Nurture Right has gone up a bit since you did the review on it, it's $182.99 now. That is almost twice as much as the Little Giant with Forced Air Fan Kit that can be found for $99.70. We're new to the idea of incubating eggs. Which one do you recommend? Many thanks for making and sharing your informative videos!

[@MyshireFarm]

Wow that is a huge jump. If you can get the little giant with forced air for cheaper or same price that is what I would do.

[@douglasbaskett2298]

Which small incubator is best for someone starting out?

[@MyshireFarm]

Starting out I would look at the nurture right 360 for a smaller incubator

[@VeysPlace]

My Hovabator has air circulation and a different turner and heating element. I would not have bought that one, as I don't like still air either. It works a heck of a lot better than that one does.

[@Kevin-mn4hd]

Agree. This bator really didn't stand a chance. Should be as close to the same as the other 2.

[@garyb4929]

Verna, do have that sliding egg turner that Zach showed??

[@MyshireFarm]

Yeah I’m interested to see how this still air versus the forced air Incubator compared to one another side by side

[@VeysPlace]

@@garyb4929 no, mine is a standard yellow quail egg turner. I would not use that one at all.

[@susancoulange382]

My first incubator was a Hovobator but with forced air circulation. My first hatch of chicken eggs was 100%.. beginner's luck. That turner thing can not handle large eggs because the motor isn't strong enough. Our motor burned out after a couple of hatches. The other thing I don't like is that you have to open the lid to add water. It recovers pretty quickly but I would rather not open it. I might use it for lock down, but not for the entire hatch process. I haven't tried quail eggs in it, and probably won't. I have 2 other incubators now but I have yet to find the perfect incubator. Thank you for all you do for us!

[@pegp8590]

Susan, what are the other two incubators you have?

[@MyshireFarm]

Yes I’m not a big fan of opening the incubator either I’m excited to do more incubator reviews

[@keithhawkins4641]

Thank you for these reviews. I think for myself the most difficult decision has been which incubator to get.

[@MyshireFarm]

Agreed incubators are a major Investment so the more information you have the better decision you can make

[@CrackerFL]

I had one given to me. The temp in the room is a big issue. Along with the water/humidity. I gave up on it.

[@MyshireFarm]

It is better to insulate it with a blanket to help stabilize it

[@CrackerFL]

@@MyshireFarm I think will go with the 360! I've seen other people test them and had excellent results

[@janiteeter4896]

wow... i have hovabators and LOVE them. All forced air with turners... I even have one over 40 years old that works perfectly! on my own eggs, I usually have 100% hatch or darn close to it. I DO use a govee, always no matter what kind of bator I am using- because as you say incubators always lie. I do have them sitting on a table in a spare room on a thick carpet and as brooders are always there the room is heated. I just fill the first channel on day 1, never ever open the lid even if it gets a little dry until day 15 when i candle, fill it to the gills channel 1 and 2 with water and take out the turner and vent plugs. 40 years on, never ever had problems. I am so sorry to hear this review, maybe try the forced air version?

[@MyshireFarm]

Yes I prefer forced air

[@bethannflack1537]

Hello! I keep searching your videos and I’m not finding any where you discuss a comparison of all you tested. Is there one? Thanks!

[@MyshireFarm]

I believe so. I will try to find it. Maybe I never uploaded it?

[@kevinbaker6168]

Still air might work well as a brooder for the first couple of days, if you can get the humidity adjusted to the correct level.

[@MyshireFarm]

Possibly and I know some people that have great success with that but I had a big issue keeping the humidity up as well

[@dhansonranch]

Found you from the interview with Heartway farms. Did you end up doing a review of the forced air havo bator??

[@MyshireFarm]

Not yet

[@MickSupper]

Have you ever heard of Watson's Law? It says that Murphy was an optimist.

[@MyshireFarm]

I have not

[@richardmatthys7133]

So which incubator is the best for quail?

[@MyshireFarm]

I really liked the brinsea

[@morehn]

My 1588 hovabator temp is a consistent 105+ Something's wrong. Any idea?

[@MyshireFarm]

I would try to insulate it more it sounds like the heating element is not shutting off

[@morehn]

@@MyshireFarm I'll check into that. I sprayed the control board with a cleaner and it went down a consistent 5 degrees, but it's still at 103.5.

[@marthab255]

Had one and hated it. I bought with fan and turner.

[@MyshireFarm]

Not a huge fan either

[@donaldhoover8095]

I have a couple of these and They work pretty well once you get used to them. I check the temps at least twice a day. The fan part isn't rocket science. I used old computer fans with old phone or computer chargers to power them. Just match the charger to the fan voltage. I have had 90+ % rates. with fertile eggs collected before they got chilled.

[@MyshireFarm]

That’s great congrats

[@chimingcountrykennels4131]

I’m currently incubating some button quail and no one told me how addictive it is😅. I’ve now been binge watching all your videos for a little over an hour now.

[@MyshireFarm]

Awesome good luck and hope you get a great hatch

[@Howz_That]

I did have a still air incubator which was a nightmare and impossible to stop the humidity jumping around everywhere. First try 2 out of 24 eggs were a no go at lockdown but fluctuating humidity nothing hatched so the second try I drilled a vent hole in the lid and also sat it on one of my heater mats that I use for my little orphaned wildlife I care for. Not only could I finally control the humidity but I achieved a 100% hatch rate. After your review I purchased the Nurture Right 360 and because it's almost winter here now I used my heater mat again as it's rather chilly. I have just had a very successful 100% hatch rate with this incubator. The heating pad really does make a difference. Cheers from Tasmania 🌞

[@MyshireFarm]

I hear ya. I did not like the still air at all.

[@daviebaggins]

I had a forced air one of these i started out hatching quail with. I hated it. The allen wrench adjuster was fiddley the temps and humidity would swing. After a few years and poor hatch rates I sold it for 20.00 at a yard sale and got a brinsea.

[@jamesdahlheim5272]

I'm surprised you went with the still air model. The Genesis model is much more similar to the NR360.

[@MyshireFarm]

I wanted to try it out as this is a model that a lot of new people seem to purchase because of the price

[@LeoBarr1968]

When you get done testing all the different incubators you should do a side by side by side by........ Alot can be different with exterior temps and humidity, egg viability, ect.

[@MyshireFarm]

That is the plan. Excited about it!

[@BagsOfLuv]

Great review thank you for doing this…I have a Farm Innovators 4250. I can’t wait to see that review and any tips you may have in holding the temperature correctly. I’m currently using a blanket for mine and it seems to be holding the temp so far👍 Thanks Ps …I’m also using 2 Govees to monitor the temp and humidity.

[@rachel4483]

That's the one I use. I've done several different hatches and have liked it. It tends to hold well and the temp and humidity gauge haven't been too off from my backup gauge so far.

[@rachel4483]

Ps, mine is forced air and digital. Not sure if there is another option.

[@MyshireFarm]

That’s great good luck I hope it goes well for you

[@JuliaRtv50]

Hi you keep mentioning “lockdown “ in your videos, what does it mean in the incubation world?

[@MyshireFarm]

When you put the eggs on the side (no longer turn) and increase your humidity. In other words hatch time!!!!

[@JuliaRtv50]

@@MyshireFarm ohh ok Thanks 🙏

[@JuliaRtv50]

@@MyshireFarm you are awesome at responding I so appreciate that and you’re doing a Great Job with All these Videos Thank You 🙏

[@rolandcharland4121]

Thank you zack I will be buying eggs from you this is all new to me don’t want to miss a video so I will know what to buy can’t wait I am running a little behind also recovering from Covid thanks again

[@MyshireFarm]

I hope you feel better soon and good luck with your journey with quail

[@melissad.6231]

I didn't even know Hovabator made a still air incubator! I have never had success with still air incubators, not even with chicken eggs. The Genesis 1588 Hovabator is the one I use. It works a lot better than the comparable Little Giant brand! I think if you were going to give Hovabator a fair test you should have used either each brand's still air incubators, or their circulated air versions.

[@MyshireFarm]

Our next experiment will be is still air versus forced air so it will be interesting to see how that goes

[@Kevin-mn4hd]

Me: that's a weirrrrrd turner. 2 secs later Zach: kind of a weird turner. 🤣😂

[@MyshireFarm]

Ha ha ha great minds think a like

[@sanfordsattic3278]

Did you hatch them on the egg roller? Did you remove it and just not show it or did you just unplug it?

[@MyshireFarm]

Unplugged it

[@sanfordsattic3278]

@@MyshireFarm shouldn’t it get removed at lockdown so chicks can gain better traction?

[@robertmoore1472]

I have a brand new farm innovator incubator, a 20+ year old Little Giant, and a 10+ year old Little Giant incubator. The 20 year old Little Giant will probably retire this year. But the newer one and the brand new one does just fine. I get close to 80% hatch rates. You guys are great. Love what you do. Yah bless

[@MyshireFarm]

That’s good to hear congratulations and thank you so much for watching

[@birder4life999]

I had similar struggles with a few of these when I started our with quail 20 years ago. The first attempt a quail after getting it worked out with chickens had bad humidity issues (80% fertility but everything died at pip). I switched to a genesis and was much happier with that (worth the extra 80-100$ in my opinion especially if you are new and don't want to have to mess with stuff to get it to work).

[@MyshireFarm]

I’ve heard that from a few different people I’ll have to look into that incubator

[@wytchwoodhomesteadandkenne5036]

I was given two old raggedy incubators to start out with when I first got chickens. And old Farm Innovators (STILL AIR) and a forced air ancient Hovabator. I despise the FI with a passion I don't even want to contemplate. Won't keep the right temp, hot spots, cold spots, cracks easily and just generally sucks; I gave up and started using it only as a lockdown. The Hova has been so reliable... even in the face of winter time power outages, it held temps much longer and gave me babies, though as ancient as it is, they weren't as fantastic as they could be. No fancy wafer heater this, and key turning that, or weird but fancy turner. The thing has a knob, you turn the OPPOSITE way to increase heat as you would think, and a standard, plastic turner with rails which sucks for tiny quail eggs but I couldn't afford quail rails. As my first incubator and one that has given me MANY beautiful chicks, I have a soft spot for it, old as it may be. I hate the tiny windows in it however, and you do NOT need to open the lid to add water; a simple container of water with a cotton shoestring going in through the carbon dioxide vent hole works amazing. That said, my friend built me a DIY Cabinet incubator from Terry's instructions (Coturnix Corner) and I will admit I do NOT yet have a seperate thermo/Hygro in it because it's all new and fancy and digital and I was dazzled into thinking that meant better. 2 Turkey eggs and 19 chicken and everything in it has bright blood rings in them. I'll be emptying it tomorrow, setting up seperate monitors and seeing if I can try again before I have valuable quail eggs in there I can't afford to lose. 0% hatch rate. Hova, even at 40-50-60% is better than 0%.

[@MyshireFarm]

I am sorry to hear that and hopefully the incubation starts getting better for you.

[@jgl2920]

Hi, new hear, I have a question about incubators, I know is way more expensive that the ones that you are testing, but what do you think about the Brinsea Products USAG47C Ovation 56 for 100 jumbo egg (or standard)?, also will be awesome a video telling the differences about jumbo and standard maths (if is better 1 jumbo or 2 standard for a meal, cost of feeding jumbo vs standard, etc.)Thanks for your hard work I am learning a hell of a lot with you guys before I step into quail breading to change it for the unhealthy chicken that we buy at the store. Thank you very much.

[@MyshireFarm]

Best of luck to you and yes the brinsea incubators are GREAT. So it GQF.

[@chuckwright2967]

I used the wafer temp controller for years and they are dead on accurate but........ They will fail in time dues to the metal flexing. Go digital gang.

[@MyshireFarm]

Yes I’m excited to do more experiments to find out how they operate

[@shannonrobinson262]

Our temperature is similar to yours during this trial, as we don’t heat house during the night so even the other two you already did can’t keep steady temps for us. I didn’t bother to use the ones we borrowed as it was obvious they couldn’t hold temps in our set up. The brinsea holds temp perfectly when set up on a cardboard sheet on most surfaces even with these temp variations. As the humidity in our brinsea is computer controlled, From a separate container outside the incubator, that worked to keep perfect humidity levels. Also as the brinsea has alarms you can set, you don’t have to baby it along. Yes, these other incubators will hatch at least some chicks. As well and as easily as my brinsea? No. I stay with brinsea.

[@MyshireFarm]

Brinsea is a good brand for sure

[@ameliehebert7480]

I have an other model of hovabator but its a force air one with egg turner like the little giant one. And i usually have only 2-4 death in shell total for 72 egg + the infirtile egg that varie. But i had issue with chicks not drying but my humidity was high.

[@MyshireFarm]

That’s good to know and I can’t wait to test the still air and the forced air next to each other

[@dorisdunn9845]

Perfect timing. I just dragged out my hova bator with forced air that I bought years ago. I’m experimenting with chicken eggs right now, but plan on quail eggs next My turners, are the cup trays. I think I had good success, but it has been many years.

[@MyshireFarm]

Best of luck

[@cmacey88]

I have a little giant still air with a egg tuner. I bought a cheap little computer fan that i hung from the top close to the heater to circulate the air. That seemed to help regulate the heat and humidity. I kept 2 other thermometers inside, one in the front and one in the back. We tested it out with 20 chicken eggs and 18 hatched out on day 21. Seemed to work pretty well.

[@MyshireFarm]

Very cool. Congrats!!!!

[@parrot340]

I think you should do the experiment again with the other turner and higher temp. not really a fare comparison. with user era.

[@MyshireFarm]

Agree we will be trying again

[@michaelsullivan2631]

Those wafer thermostats have been used as far back as the BUCKEYE coal brooder stoves. I have one that is now just a decoration , I even have the hover for it. I have a L G with the fan mounted in it and I get average of 65% hatch on Barred Rock eggs . The biggest problem I have is keeping the humidity up , especially at hatch time . I will be waiting for your test results of the forced air ones. Thanks.

[@MyshireFarm]

Yes it will be interesting how they compare to one another

[@JoseGonzalez-rd4xs]

Definitely went wrong with the still air model, works great for hatching reptile eggs but not chickens or quail. Plus that egg turner isn't great. Don't use that egg turner on your next test, use the little giant one, you'll get better results. I also use my forced air hovabator indoors and have no issue with temperature or humidity issues.

[@MyshireFarm]

Yeah it will be interesting to see how they both compare running at the same time

[@johnwalters2611]

Glad you are going to do another round. I think there were to many things that happened that didn't really give it a fair chance.

[@MyshireFarm]

Agreed

[@rslrandyman]

Thanks for your sharing

[@MyshireFarm]

Thanks for watching

[@paulross2979]

I noticed that the eggs in the front mostly didn't survive. Am I wrong?

[@MyshireFarm]

That is correct which was a little weird because I assumed the ones in the back would be the bad ones because it was next to the motor

[@hobbyfarm6883]

Happy u are back from Illinois zack also my quail are on day 5 tommaorw

[@MyshireFarm]

Oh exciting. Good luck.

[@andystampfli9127]

That's the incubator I started with... With a little giant turner.after a learning curve you can keep a 50% hatch. Biggest problem is kids. That little lever for the thermostat looks like a handle or twist knob... Kids see that hanging out of a styrofoam cooler and the next check will be hot, cold, or the eggs get moved out thinking they found a long lost stash.

[@MyshireFarm]

It can work but there is some work involved for sure

[@andystampfli9127]

@@MyshireFarm as a matter of fact ... I just found quail trays for my old turner for it... The cost of trying quail just went down. But now I have to reset the thermostat and go over the rules with my son... AGAIN. I also have a smaller 12 egg flat rolling incubator. But the idea of doing quail 20/24 at a time for a 50% hatch rate sounds defeating

[@stevenhazel4445]

Maybe I'm missing something obvious, but why candle eggs prior to lockdown? Why not leave them in and see what hatches and pitch the rest? I'm not sure what is being accomplished.

[@MyshireFarm]

I don’t recommend canceling but a lot of people like to

[@justinsane7128]

Potentially a rotten egg could explode and contaminate them all...

[@stevenhazel4445]

@@justinsane7128 Having had an incubator stink up the house so bad I had to end it early, I can now understand this risk. Thanks.

[@Kevin-mn4hd]

I don't think you can take responsibility. Once you set them, they should be good until they hatch. That's the point of reviews. I thought I do better too. But I thought it had a fan. I'd never use still air.

[@MyshireFarm]

Yeah I’m very interested on how the forced air and still air will compare to one another side by side

[@Kevin-mn4hd]

@@MyshireFarm I would think horrible hatch rates. But some people have had good luck. I think they just did the extra work to make it work tho. I want easy as possible with best results. Lol

[@jeffgray4602]

Is there a egg turner available for quail with the Hova bator? I have the same egg turner in mine and am practicing with chicken eggs before I buy quail eggs.

[@MyshireFarm]

Yes there is an actual egg Turner you can purchase separately

[@jeffgray4602]

Thank you. I found it and will order it soon.

[@JamBreadSpotify]

Thanks for reviewing these!

[@MyshireFarm]

Np thanks for watching

[@garyb4929]

Thanks Zach. I had been using Lil Giant with fan installed, that was lòaned to me # years ago. I just placed 72 eggs into a Lil Giant Still Air, ,WITHOUT a fan, I did get the Govee & it's inside . I just set them today, so we'll see?

[@MyshireFarm]

Good luck. A lot of people use still air and have success. It is just not for me but we will try again

[@garyb4929]

@@MyshireFarm Yep, reckon, I'll have an opinion in about 20 days, lol.

[@garyb4929]

@@MyshireFarm Bad results, this is a borrowed still air with egg turner that I installed 4 quail racks in. I put a GOVeE in as soon as i got it. 72 in, acidentally cracked 2, now only 70 , had TEMP failure at lockdown, I had go outtown, grandson was watching & adjusted some, but it didnt correct, temp in low 90-91 for 2 days according to GOVEE record. only got 31 into the brooder, 2 dead by accident . 11 developed but died during hatching? pipping was almost complete. End story; 29 happily in brooder. These are from your Jumbo Whitewings eggs i ordered in last Novmeber. No Not like still air & the old units thermistate probalby played a huge diffenence.

[@Againstthegrain8084]

Where are you located? Do you also regulate the temperature of your grown quail room or just the incubator/brooding area?

[@MyshireFarm]

We are in Ohio and no our main barn is not insulated or heated

[@Againstthegrain8084]

@@MyshireFarm good to know. I’m in Chicagoland.

[@jaybird4610]

My nova bator has a fan and have had great success. I do not have that weird egg turner .I turn my eggs by hand. Thanks for tests.

[@MyshireFarm]

Yes it will be interesting to see how they compare to one another side by side

[@jaybird4610]

Mine is a 1602n it has a fan.

[@pegp8590]

Zack, you said this was a nightmare getting it set up. Can you elaborate on what you had to do any why? Thanks.

[@MyshireFarm]

Well it doesn’t seem that insulated so anytime the temperature in the room changed we would have to move the wafer thermostat and because you’re manually doing it you’re constantly moving it just a little at a time so just takes a lot of patience

[@pegp8590]

@@MyshireFarm thank you Zack

[@SpYucaipaSoCal]

The wafer isn’t true. How it functions is a the hotter it gets the more it expands. The wafer to the micro switch isn’t true and parallel so you turn it a little and it may go go or down a little. Just takes hours of fiddling to get it right. And then you will have a 1-1/2 degree swing in temperature cycle. It’s not a great problem it’s about average temp. My old Gqf cabinet worked great it had two wafer thermostats the second would cut off power to heater if it got too hot. I purchased another one a while back and swapped out the primary thermostat to the non digital electronic replacement offered bye GQF. The temperature is super easy to set. Just watch the thermometer until it’s about where you want it and slowly turn down the control knob until the heating light goes off. And that’s about it. And now the temp swing is about 1/2 a degree. If I ever go big time quail. I’ll pull it out of the back garage.

[@saleen235]

I just bought a Farm Innovators 4250 Heated Digital Circulated Air Incubator. My first hatch was 98 out of 104, so I’m really happy with it!

[@MyshireFarm]

That is awesome!

[@travishanson2884]

I've got the Hova-bator genesis 1588, it's my first hatch but it's been a rock steady machine. Temp is off a little using the Govee, but with the winter temp swing in the house (about 5-8degrees F) it stays within .5 degrees of 99.5'f. humidity reading is spot on. Don't have a hatch rate yet only about a week in

[@MyshireFarm]

Great. I have heard good things with the genesis so good luck

[@celesteforslund4186]

What was the hatch rate?

[@Familyguyfan10-k6z]

How it was?

[@travishanson2884]

AME 99, I love mine have had excellent hatch rates and far less problems with holding temp and humidity then my other styrofoam incubators.

[@SpYucaipaSoCal]

For the money this is the best incubator. Temperature is spot on vs both my Brinsea bators. I use them to calibrate thermometers. The old fan with the wafer thermostat is ok but fighting with the wafers is challenging. I had a cabinet GQF for years it had dual wafer thermostats and works great.

[@SpYucaipaSoCal]

Hova Bator 1588 is the best bang for the buck. Tells temp and humidity also can be calibrated. Temperature is very very consistent even compared to my Brinsea units. I think the humidity is more easily controlled in the Hova though. Unless you’re spending real money on the all gadgets they offer. Thanks for all the videos Zach man.

[@MyshireFarm]

Thanks for watching. I do love love love my GQFs which are made by the same company