I stopped using this 48 hours after purchase. It is nearly impossible to get this balanced enough so it won't tip over. Heaven forbid you breathe on it, it'll fall over.
It leaks, its a bit slow, but overnight it drained and ruined the bedding in the brooder.
About every 30 minutes I would have to dig out bedding, which maybe is more of a bedding problem and less the waterer's, but it takes just a few pieces to block the water from coming out.
It doesn't take up much space, so that's a plus, and it's too small for chicks to drown in.
Pros: Easy to teach chickens to use,
Doesn't leak if left alone,
Works in winter when used with a tank heater
Cons: Leaks water if bumped, easy for chickens to get messy with it
I love these, they were easy to install and keeps the water clean, as my chickens love to dirty their water, almost like ducks.
The only problem I faced was if I set it down to fill the waterer, it would click the nipples and make a big mess until you picked it back up.
Cons: Dumps easy,
Holds very little food,
Top frequently pops off which makes a disaster,
Chicks grow out of it so fast its a waste of money
Chicks naturally run around and play, and the slightest bump sends this feeder falling. The lid pops right off and dumps feed everywhere. I found myself filling this three and four times daily, mostly due to how much was being dumped into the bedding.
Get a bigger, steadier one. Don't risk this falling on your little ones.
Pros: Easy set up, heats up fast, hydrometer is accurate, egg turner fits standard and bantam eggs
Cons: Big, tough to clean, thermometer was 4° off
I hatched my first ever eggs with 0 knowledge when using this incubator. The humidity was a bit challenging to get right, but still got a 50% hatch the first time, which according to some is really good.
While it may not be perfect, It still gets the job done.
I went on a 3 year hiatus from hatching and when I pulled this out of storage it was dusty and gross. Upon a good scrubbing it started up perfectly. It definitely lasts, even after a decent beating.
I recommend this incubator.
Pros: Cleans up nice, withstood nasty Nebraska weather, bantams love it
Cons: Pricey, A bit small, couldn't get my standard breeds to use it
If you're not a craftsy person, I'd recommend getting it. However, if possible I'd say make your own vs buying this. It's nothing special, but does as it's advertised. Really no complaint on design, except I feel it's a bit small. My standard sized hens refused to use it.
