11 best household incubators

Review of the best according to the editorial board. On the selection criteria. This material is subjective and does not constitute advertising and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.

The sanctions policy of Western countries gave impetus to the active development of poultry farming in Russia. Breeding a wide variety of domesticated birds has become profitable. An incubator plays one of the main roles in this difficult task. It is used not only by farmers, but also by owners of personal household plots (LPH). There are many different models, so it is difficult to make the right choice right away. A few helpful tips from experts will help you determine the right model for performance and functionality.

How to choose an incubator for private household plots

1. Appointment. It is worth starting with the appointment of this unique device. To solve household problems, a budget device is enough, in which 10-240 chicken eggs will comfortably ripen at the same time. Farmers will need a more productive machine (up to 2,400 eggs). The largest incubators are produced for poultry farms; one bookmark can contain tens of thousands of eggs.
2. A type. The simplest household models are usually a closed container with a heater. The owner has to turn the eggs on his own for even heating, ventilate the interior, and monitor the humidity. Modern devices are equipped with pivoting mechanisms to facilitate egg handling. And the most advanced models are fully automated, they themselves maintain the set temperature and humidity, turn eggs, and some of them are able to speed up the release of chicks.
3. Temperature control support. Power outages are frequent in many regions of Russia. Changes in temperature can adversely affect chicks' output. Therefore, for such cases, it is better to choose an incubator with the ability to operate on a battery (12 V).
4. The presence of antiseptic treatment. Often, owners of private farmsteads have to deal with a massive mortality of young chicks. One of the main reasons is the presence of pathogens inside the body. Most often they develop in a heat insulator, for example, in foam. This problem can be solved with the help of antiseptic treatment, but it is better to take a closer look at incubators with a steel body.
5. Unfortunately, often the decisive role in the purchase is played not by the consumer's desire, but by the incubator price. The most accessible are domestic developments, although in many respects they look worse than their foreign counterparts.

Our review includes the best household incubators for backyards or mini-farms. When selecting candidates, the following criteria were taken into account:

1. appointment;
2. price;
3. technical specifications;
4. expert opinion;
5. user reviews.

Top incubators rating

Nomination	a place	Name of product	price
The best inexpensive incubators of domestic production	1	Hen	RUB 2,939
	2	Cinderella	RUB 1,839
	3	Ideal brood hen	RUB 3,070
The best foreign incubators	1	R-com King SURO20	RUB 16 600
	2	Brinsea Octagon 20 Advance	RUB 33,600
	3	Covina Super 24	RUB 12 800
	4	Novital Covatutto 54	RUB 19 800
The best functional incubators for home mini-farms	1	Nest-200Elite	RUB 39,900
	2	Incubator TGB-210 VLRA “BIO”	RUB 22,300
	3	Incubator TGB-70 A BIO	RUB 10,200
Best Chinese incubators	1	Incubator WQ 48	RUB 5,990

The best inexpensive incubators of domestic production

In the budget segment, domestic incubators dominate. Affordable price, large assortment, ease of operation and maintenance attract Russian peasants and summer residents. They are in steady demand, although they are inferior in comfort and performance to imported models. The following devices took the leading positions.

Hen

Rating: 4.9

The Laying Incubator is a simple and effective appliance for home use. The model takes the first line of the rating for the combination of accessibility and usability. Experts note the high-quality manufacture of the foam housing, the presence of a control window. The built-in thermostat automatically maintains an optimal microclimate inside the container. With regard to productivity, there are modifications for 36 eggs, and there is an incubator with 120 cells. The main part of the lineup provides for manual egg turning, but you can also find automated machines.

Users note the versatility and versatility of Laying incubators. They successfully raise chickens, ducklings, goslings, as well as rare domestic birds such as pheasants and quails.

Advantages

• ease of use;

• affordable price;

• a wide range of modifications;

• thoughtful design.

disadvantages

• foam insulation.

Cinderella

Rating: 4.8

Manufacturers from Novosibirsk managed to create the most affordable incubator. Thanks to this, it was possible to achieve high popularity among Russian poultry farmers. However, experts highlighted the unique design of the model, for which the model was ranked second. It is possible to create heat inside the container not only from electricity (220 V), but also with the help of hot water. The performance of the device depends on the presence of a rotary device. Automated models are capable of growing up to 70 chicken eggs at the same time. The mechanical modification holds up to 100 pieces, but you will have to turn them yourself.

To make a cheap incubator, the designers had to use available materials and simplify the device. Therefore, the owners complain about frequent breakdowns of the thermostat and grill.

Advantages

• low price;

• withdrawal efficiency (90%);

• different heating options.

disadvantages

• poor ventilation;

• frequent minor breakdowns.

Ideal brood hen

Rating: 4.7

Another incubator of the Novosibirsk company “Bagan” was included in our rating. The model “Ideal hen” is distinguished not only by its affordable price, but also by its good functional content. The manufacturer offers several modifications with different egg capacities, starting from 35 and ending with 104. The model can operate both from the mains and from the battery. For the manufacture of the container, dense foam is used. Experts highly appreciated the durability and high heat transfer of the heating elements. The device consumes only 90 W of electricity.

Users are generally satisfied with the incubator's performance, praising it for its lightness, compactness and maintainability. There are problems with the uneven temperature distribution inside the container, the operation of the temperature sensor and the rotary mechanism.

Advantages

• simple construction;

• wide choice of roominess;

• affordable price.

disadvantages

• temperature spread up to 3C;

• the thermostat does not work accurately.

The best foreign incubators

Foreign incubators (except for Chinese models) are distinguished by excellent quality and wide functionality. They do not have annoying breakdowns in the very first tab, the devices do not need to be modified before work. Most of the models are fully automated, and the chicks' egg yield reaches 100%. In the domestic market, the following products have managed to prove themselves from the best side.

R-com King SURO20

Rating: 4.9

A completely different level of incubation is offered by the South Korean manufacturer in the R-com King SURO20 model. First of all, experts point out the level of automation. Artificial intelligence technology is embedded in this device, which makes the process of turning eggs into chicks comfortable and carefree. The combination of electronic filling and reliability allowed the device to become the winner of the rating. The user just needs to put eggs in the cells and just wait for the first pets to appear.

Interesting options for the owners in the incubator were effective ventilation, automatic humidification, a special corrugated tray for the safety of chickens. The model loses to domestic developments only in performance (24 chicken eggs) and price.

Advantages

• automatic maintenance of an optimal microclimate;

• safe tray for chicks;

• memory function.

disadvantages

• high price;

• small capacity.

Brinsea Octagon 20 Advance

Rating: 4.8

UK farmers have a wealth of experience in poultry farming. In the Russian market, the Brinsea Octagon 20 Advance incubator from foggy Albion enjoys a good reputation. Experts gave the model second place for maintaining stable temperature and humidity. For the manufacture of the container, a very durable plastic was used, which is additionally impregnated with an antiseptic. So the manufacturer prevents pathogens from appearing inside the incubator. In case of any deviation of the temperature indicator from the norm, the device signals the owner of the problem.

The trays are also originally made, they are able to accommodate both quail and goose eggs. The capacity is limited to 20 hen eggs, and the price for the incubator is quite high.

Advantages

• high percentage of withdrawal;

• high-quality manufacturing;

• stable maintenance of the microclimate.

disadvantages

• high price;

• poor performance.

Covina Super 24

Rating: 4.8

The already modern appearance of the Covina Super 24 incubator speaks of a high level of automation. The digital display shows all the necessary information about the operating parameters. Eggs tilt every 2 hours. The body of the device is made of durable plastic, you can control the incubation process through the viewing window. The model is in the third line of the rating for universal qualities. The incubator allows you to breed a variety of birds, from chickens to peacocks.

Users are satisfied with the slewing mechanism, the reliable humidity and temperature control system. The device consumes only 3 W of electricity per day. The incubator's disadvantages are the same as those of the leaders of the rating.

Advantages

• modern appearance;

• informativeness;

• versatility.

disadvantages

• high price;

• modest capacity (24 chicken eggs).

Novital Covatutto 54

Rating: 4.7

The Italian incubator Novital Covatutto 54 closes the group of foreign household models. For a high percentage of hatching young domestic birds, there are all the necessary functions. These are automatic temperature maintenance, efficient ventilation, and a large observation window. The control unit is easily detached from the incubator body, which simplifies the maintenance of the chamber. The manufacturer has thoroughly thought out the humidification system, so the humidity level is stably kept within 45-55%.

Users praise the long incubation period (40 days), which makes it possible to breed most types of poultry. The owners attribute the disadvantages to the presence of only one tray in the kit.

Advantages

• low error of the temperature sensor (0.1 ° С);

• effective ventilation;

• long incubation period;

• compact size.

disadvantages

• not all types of eggs are placed in the cells of the tray;

• high price.

The best functional incubators for home mini-farms

Among the owners of private farms there are many people who are keen on breeding birds. Keeping a decent herd of chickens or geese requires a productive incubator. Since the owners have a lot of worries, they choose models with automated control, which allow a high yield of chicks with minimal human care. Experts advise paying attention to several devices.

Nest-200Elite

Rating: 4.9

The Nest-200Elite incubator has all the necessary qualities to become a winner among home mini-farms. The device allows you to minimize losses at the exit of young stock at all stages of incubation. The Ukrainian manufacturer has created a fully automated system where human participation is minimized. All the main parameters are monitored by electronics, which makes it possible to bring the output percentage closer to 95-100%. The experts liked the robust, high quality steel housing of the setter. The model has a capacity of 220 chicken eggs.

Domestic farmers note the ease of use, ease of management and high chick yield. The downside is the high price and expensive maintenance.

Advantages

• steel body;

• possibility of power supply from a backup source;

• precise temperature maintenance;

• high yield.

disadvantages

• high price;

• expensive maintenance.

Incubator TGB-210 VLRA “BIO”

Rating: 4.7

For the accelerated hatching of chicks from eggs, Russian experts have come up with the TGB-210 VLRA “BIO” incubator. It was possible to shorten the incubation period due to the introduction of a sound stimulator into the body. With its help, high-frequency clicks are formed, to which the life rhythm of the embryo is tuned. The Chizhevsky chandelier becomes the second growth stimulator. It generates ions that accelerate the development of even weakened chicks. The manufacturer was able to achieve a uniform temperature inside the chamber due to the uniform distribution of a flexible heating element throughout the body.

Farmers who breed chickens are complimentary about the productivity of the 210 incubator and the automatic swing mechanism.

Advantages

• high performance;

• automatic egg turning;

• the embryos do not stick to the shell;

• strength and reliability of the structure.

disadvantages

• inconvenient water bath.

Incubator TGB-70 A BIO

Rating: 4.6

The Russian incubator TGB-210 VLRA “BIO” was developed taking into account the peculiarities of breeding waterfowl. The manufacturer has equipped the device with a high tray, which allows even goose eggs to be laid strictly vertically. After rejection, they can be turned horizontally or at an angle. Experts also appreciated the design of the trays, the laying can be done directly into the incubator due to the slightly tilted position. Users find this option less convenient than pulling out the trays.

The swivel mechanism based on a reversible winch is also unusually made. At the same time, the manufacturing quality of the domestic incubator is at a height, and the price is pleasantly pleasing. The model gets the third place for the uneven temperature distribution in the container and the smaller capacity (70 chicken eggs).

Advantages

• affordable price;

• good thermal insulation of the case;

• the possibility of withdrawing waterfowl.

disadvantages

• uneven temperature distribution.

Best Chinese incubators

Chinese manufacturers also paid attention to this poultry industry. Increasingly, incubators from the Middle Kingdom appear on the market. Our review includes the best model for home use.

Incubator WQ 48

Rating: 4.9

The WQ 48 model is easy to use. The automatic egg turning system frees the owner from regular checks. It is triggered once every 2 hours, the flip occurs according to the principle of a swing. The container can hold 48 chicken eggs, if you use a quail tray, then the volume of the bookmark can be increased. The set parameters are maintained electronically, and thanks to good thermal insulation, it is possible to effectively store heat and economically consume electricity.

But, despite a number of positive properties, consumers also note some disadvantages. The body is made of cheap plastic, and foam is used as insulation.

Advantages

• stylish appearance;

• accurate work of the swivel mechanism;

• maintaining the specified settings.

disadvantages

• plastic-foam body;

• failures in electronics.

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Attention! This rating is subjective and does not constitute an advertisement and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.