Brower Top Hatch Incubator

On and off I have been looking at incubators. Every few days I might look some and then just quite as I really didn't see anything at jumped at me as 'the one' and then eventually I would go back and look again. Today I found the Brower. Then I saw a y-Tube video showing it and set up and such. I really, really like it.

I have used styrofoum incubators for reptliles when I had leopard geckos years ago and they worked just fine (Hovebators) but I really don't want a strofoam incubator for chicken eggs. The repitile eggs are never turned and the simple incubators really worked ok because there was really no fussing. Different for chickens eggs.

Anyone useing a Brower Top Hatch? Thanks.

No, but I have heard good things about it.

I ordered one today and plan to use it as my hatcher for the last three days when the eggs go into lockdown. I have a more detailed explination of what I am doing on my other threads (the Hatching Eggs one and the Incubator one).

I've heard good things about them.. I'd do it the other way around.. LOL

I plan to do it this way because I saw a Y-tube video of it done this way. So not being very original I am copying his way and incubating in the Genesis and hatching in the Brower. This because the Brower is plastic and comes apart for easy washing and sanitizing between hatches. Of course all theory on my part, the incubator has not even gotten here yet.

I do like the Genesis. It regulates its own temperature. You don't have to watch and adjust the temperature at all. Well, I watch the temperature, I just don't need to change it. Thats one of the features and the main reason I bought the Genesis 1588 in the first place.

I had looked on my front porch and it wasn't there yet but the UPS or FED EX guy must have sneeked in to deliver it while I wasn't looking as there it just was. So I opened the packing box and pulled out the boxed Brower. Its bigger than I had envisioned. Now I am going to open that box, unpack and set it up. Of course I need to read the directions. Will report back later as to what I think about it.

I have got it set up and running. Am starting the temperature adjusting now. I must say it took me a LONG time to set it up. The darn thing has lots and lots of parts. Not simple and fast to do like the Genesis at all.

I let it be for awhile but finially got tired of the really weird flashing and dimming light effect. I didn't have the temp right acording to the cheapo thermomiter I had in there. It was late and I didn't want to fuss any more. So I unplugged it. Decided it needed more temperature stabelization. I had saved sheets of bubble wrap from the first batch of eggs that came in so I made a bubble wrap insulator wrap for it today. I also stuck in a temp probe thingy in order to get it accurate in temps. Its one of those units were you read it outside the incubator but the probe goes in on a long cord. The probe is passed thru one of the vent holes that I unlugged. Plus I have a temp and humidity unit in there same as the one I am using in the Genesis.

Yesterday I had the turner on because I wanted to see how it works and make sure it did work. I am not going to be needing it for hatching. So I disengaged the turner today and took out the turner rack. I intend to hatch them upright in egg carton thingies.

Here it was after I set it up yesterday.

Today with the addition of the bubble wrap blanket. I also put a towel over the top so that the flashing light would not be as annoying. I see it all the time as I have it in my home office here were I have my computer. My other incubator, the Genesis, is in my living room. I actually have it on a rolling tea cart, ha-ha.

Bubble wrap seems to work well. I got this idea because they do sell a "blanket" for forty something bucks if you need to help keep the temps more stable. Don't know exactly what the 'blanket' thingy looks like as there was no picture but my home made one was free :-))

Temp gage gismo. Reading 97.7 or therabouts so I need to adjust the heat upwards some more.

I have the grey mushey ones. I have pleanty of the pulp paper ones. I am going to have to make some cuts in the divisions to make them fit into a round hatcher. Will poke some other holes while I am at it. I do know to cut down the sides so that the chicks can easily get out.

I've always used the styrofoam cartons with no problems. I just make sure there is a hole in the bottom and the sides are nice and short. :)

Good luck!

So I am adjusting the humidity now. Have to keep adding water as I want to get it up higher to the 65% or so needed for hatching.

My current incubator has some air flow. I have to get a new one, because a mess up with some eggs that were not shipped at the right time. (Another story!)

Anyway, I did not look at the box and it is a still air incubator. Is there anything I should watch out for? Or any big differences?


Also, which works better, lay the eggs on their sides or in a carton?

This is my first hatch so I hope others will jump in here that know much more than I do. But the ones with the forced air are much better than still air. If you check prices you will see this as the forced air models always cost more than still air. As I understand it still air can cause pockets were the temperature is hotter so than your temps are not pretty much even throughout.

If you have a staggered hatch and two incubators why not add the eggs to your first incubator and then transfer when its time to hatch into the new still air?

As far as I understand you lay the eggs on their sides if you do not have a auto turner. Then use egg cartons for hatching during the last three days and then they go pointy side down.

I made an improvised divider out of old window screening to keep olive egger and Black copper marans chicks apart. I had been adding water and have compleately filled the bottom with water and still its only in the moderate range. Put just a little (and I mean a little) in the Genesis and the humitity goes sky high, not in the Brower. I guess thats because one is solid plastic and the other styrofoam. Anyway, I have put the eggs in there and will just have to wait and see if anything happens.

I am very frustrated with the temperature. It us very different temp in various different parts of the incubator, depending on were one puts the thermomoter or probe. The brower is a forced air so it should not be having hot or cool spots but this does not seem to be the case.

I bought one of those probe thermometers from Brinsea.. it wasn't cheap.. but it was the reason I lost nearly 5 hatches in a row! Never will I use it again.. I compared it with 5 of the Walmart ones and a one from Catsy that was totally accurate.. It was a few degrees off every time. I threw it out. The little ones from Walmart that have the humidity readings are what I use now. Catsy had a really nice one from a cigar shop.. it was perfect!
If you are using different thermometer/hygrometers, you may be getting a different reading... good to check with both, then you can "calibrate" the new one..

As far as what's better? My friend uses a still air over the forced air and has better results. The forced air cost more because they have a fan mounted inside. That whole subject is debatable.. I don't particularly like the still air, but they are just as good as far as results go, in my opinion... and my observation.. especially if you get the temp and Rh right..

In a still air, the temp is a little higher than the 99degrees in a forced air.

If I didn't have a turner, I'd put them in an egg carton and prop up one side, then prop up the other side when it's time to "turn". It's quicker, so you don't leave the lid open for long periods which is very hard on the hatch, cause of fluctuations in the Rh and temp.

It's been done a gazillion different ways.. you will find what works for you.. and that's what is "right" :) I just offer what works for me... it's not written in stone! Enjoy!

I know the probe is accurate, I have put it in the Genesis and it reads perfectly. I also have one of the humity reading and tempaure reading duos. It also reads differently if you move it around the incubator, Its not even a difference of a degree or two. There is at least a five degree difference (and more) and that shows up on both or either. So there must be different heat temps inside, depending on where you place it. I am no longer moving the duo around as we are in lockdown. But I can still (and do) move the probe around. It does down one of the vent holes so is easily moved around without opening the incubator.

Hello Newyorkrita, it's a pleasure. I've been reading your posts and comments, I have one question? You said you made a bubble wrap blanket for your new bator, but would that not defeat the intention of the designer? I don't know, thus the question. Happy to have you aboard...Hay

I had read that the brower had problems keeping a steady heat. They must be aware of this as there is an actual blanket that one can buy with the incubator. I just figgured I could do as well with some bubble wrap and save money. The brower is round and I have the bubble wrap around the sides but not the top. It must work as the temp stays absolutly steady.

I mean, there is no blanket available for my Genesis. But then it doesn't need one. Maybe the brower doesn't either but right now I am going to leave it all as is and experiment when its all empty.

I am really glad to see you back here. You have so much knowledge and I have lots to learn.

You may get a different reading when the bator is full of eggs. As they develop, they create their own heat.. I've noticed a difference, can't remember exactly.. but if you have a steady temp.. You are way ahead of the game! That was a great idea with the bubble wrap blanket.. Nothing insulates as well as air.. good job!

Oh yeah, and never worry if the temp drops when you put in room temp eggs.. no adjustment is necessary.. the temp will come back on it's own. (As good as you are doing, I imagine someone has already told you..) but just in case. :)

I don't know if I am doing good or not. We will find out when or if these eggs that are now in the brower hatch if I am doing good. But if they don't hatch they probably got messed up early when I first had them in the Genesis and didn't know what I was doing with the 85% humidity. If that didn't do them in then the temps in the brower are all over the place, depending on were one puts the probe and thermomiter. When I keep the probe in the same place and not move it around, I can keep the temp reading steady in that spot as long as I want. So some of it I have figgured out. Not all though.

That humidity won't kill an egg.. The temp changes will, but if it's stable in one spot, and it's close to the correct temp.. That's fine!

You might be in for a real nice surprise real soon.. Isn't the big day tomorrow?

Yes. I set them (Black Copper Marans and Olive Eggers) at 7pm so 7pm Saturday night is day 21. Now I have the Lavander Orps in the Genesis and Saturday afternoon will be 1 week for them.

I have the hover bator. Then I got the one that looks the same but no forced air. I was really proud of myself as I installed a fan. My husband says that I could now be an electrician! (personally, I am glad I haven't burnt down the house yet!)

My question is this....Where is a good place for the temp gage? I have the temp thing on top of the egg turner. I noticed on my hover bator that the temps fluctuate according to where the egg turner is. That seems to be OK. Once I figured that out.

Now on the other one, everywhere I place the temp thingie it fluctuates. I just put it on the side, right on the wire grate. It seems to be holding fast there. Is that OK?

Welcome Back Haystack...... From someone who reads a lot more then I post. Your knowledge and humor are much appreciated and you were truly missed!

I put mine on the side right on the grate.. doesn't interfere with the eggs turning there for me.
Good goin Images!! It's not as hard as the men want us to think it is. :) Feels good to DIY a few projects!

Thank you IOA: Its great to be back, and I must say I put my digital thermometer the same place ZZ's does and leave the turner egg hole empty so I can just use my flashlight to check the temp's and humidity. Mine is a hovabator and I love it, It holds rock solid temps...Hay

ZZ,s speaking of lavendars are you still working on lavendar ameracuanas?...Hay

This message was edited Oct 8, 2010 8:13 PM

I read that the lavender color comes with defective feathers - any truth to that?

Well NewYork: Were all here pulling for you, Yippie Ki Ay. Any pip's yet? Keep us posted. Not even the first egg is as cool as the first hatch. Every success heading your Way. Hatch, Hatch, Hatch. The crowd is ROARING........

Geez I hope not. At least in Lavander Orps. I have lavander Orps eggs. Do the Lavander Ameracaunas have the same coloring as the lavander Orps? I don't know anything about lavander Ameracaunas.

I am starting a new thread about hatching. I am going to go write it now :-))

I don't know anything about lavender.

Now that I have actually had a hatch and see the real mess inside the incubator by the time one takes the chicks out, I am glad I decided to go with the brower instead of the Genesis for hatching. The Genesis is awesome for incubating but that styrofoam would be very difficult to sanitize. The brower is hard plastic and very washable therefore easily sanitized.

So I am done for now and just washed and disenfected the Brower. I used some Oxine and dish soap in the water and that should disinfect it nicely. After all I will be needing it again less than two weeks :-))

Two weeks?? What are you going to hatch this time? You got the bug, big time LOL

Annie where HAVE you been? LOL :-)) I got Lavendar Orps eggs and candeled them yesterday at 8 days. They are all developing. . I did this because I was so convivced that the others were not going to hatch.

But then everyone here told me not to give up and I couldn't figgure out how to do a staggered hatch so I got the Brower. I use it as the hatcher and I incubate in the Genesis.

I suppose its a wonder that I haven't bought more hatching eggs again!

Porkpal, I haven't heard that.. at least not with the Ameraucanas... I did get one that had a little more blue than the others.. but they all feathered out normally.

No Haystack.. I doubt I'm going to breed anymore Lavenders. I may keep the Seramas I have if I can. I'm taking care of my mom full time, and I may have to move and give up the chickens and my garden pretty much all together. I'm not looking forward to that, but I have to keep it in mind and prepare.

The lavender color is really just a pale blue... The difference is, a blue will have a darker tail and head, when the lavenders are all one color. It's a beautiful color, and everyone loves Ameraucanas, so I think they are ideal.. :) but then, I'm biased. :)