Where to buy an incubator?

[MrsC]

I know you warned me, and yes you were right. Just wondering the best place to buy one from or do I go for the homemade version? Posting on here because I'd rather ask the experts

I mean't to say 'where to buy an incubator' as the title

[its hilly]

I bought mine second hand on ebay, and it works fine. Came complete with auto-turner but of course no instuctions so I'm learning as I go, lots of help on here though. Cost less than a non-turner new, but I've been on e-bay a long time now
Only thing I would say, if you hatch your own eggs its great..BUT..can you deal with the fact that 50% (approx) of them will be boys?
I've got rented land (around 6 acres) so can afford to keep the first hatch of my boys for the sake of it, but no one wants spare cockerals apart from rarely except for meat. If you're sentimental buy sexed day olds and a brooder instead.

[Snadger]

Another ebay purchase for me.....................£30 got me a manual incy ................ eggs need to be turned 3 times a day!

PS Agree ith all that its hilly said!

[walldanzig]

I bought one of those polystyrene ones of Ebay works a treat £25. When I want to hatch some I let the missus take the whole kit to her school(she's a teacher) and let the kids see how the hatching process works. I also agree with Hilly we hatched 9 and ended up with 5 cocks

[Suechooks]

If you buy off ebay make sure you get a good price! I watched 2 on there and they eventually sold for more than a new one and neither had a makers guarantee! I bought a bigger one from Ascotts and it cost less than either of the 2 on ebay and there was postage to pay on the ebay ones too.

[Bramble-Poultry]

I have purchased second hand from ebay, 3 from local poultry auction and a couple brand new as well. It makes very litle difference where you get it from just beware that second hand may not work, will not have instructions and no warentee etc, having said that you can get them cheap, but ebay can get a bit expensive for taking a chance. Most i've ever paid second hand is £65 for my big Brinsea auto turner but generally I find I pay around the £30 - £40 mark.

If you decide to go new and have money to burn I say Brinsea everytime, however if you want a good cheap reliable incubator it has to be novital covattuto you can get them new from £45 for the small manual one. We run novitals if we only want to hatch a few eggs but we run brinseas for the big hatches.

Personally I am not a fan of Hovobator incubators having had several bad experiences with them being unreliable, but I'm sure others will disagree. Never tried the homemade type or the cheap polystyrene ones from ebay although I know several people who have had ok success with them.

[MrsC]

Thanks guys for your advice, knew I could rely on you all!