Which incubator to choose from Aliexpress: review of the TOP 20 best models

Updated: 03/04/2021 15:03:22

*Review of the best according to the editors of expertology.ru. About the selection criteria. This material is subjective in nature, does not constitute advertising and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before purchasing, consultation with a specialist is required.

The sanctions policy of Western countries gave impetus to the active development of poultry farming in Russia. Breeding a wide variety of domestic birds has become a profitable business. The incubator plays one of the main roles in this difficult task. It is used not only by farmers, but also by owners of personal plots. There are many different models, so it’s difficult to make the right choice right away. Some useful expert tips will help you determine the model that is suitable for performance and functionality.

How to choose an incubator for private household plots

1. Purpose.
   It’s worth starting with the purpose of this unique device. To solve household problems, a budget device will suffice, in which 10-240 chicken eggs will comfortably ripen at the same time. Farmers will need a more productive machine (up to 2400 eggs). The largest incubators are produced for poultry farms; one incubator can contain tens of thousands of eggs.
2. Type.
   The simplest household models are usually a closed container with a heater. The owner has to independently turn the eggs for uniform heating, ventilate the interior, and monitor the humidity. Modern devices are equipped with rotating mechanisms that simplify caring for eggs. And the most advanced models are fully automated; they themselves maintain the set temperature and humidity, turn the eggs, and some of them are able to speed up the hatching of chicks.
3. Temperature support
   . Power outages often occur in many regions of Russia. Changes in temperature conditions can negatively affect the hatching of chicks. Therefore, for such cases, it is better to choose an incubator with the ability to operate on a battery (12 V).
4. Availability of antiseptic treatment
   . Often, owners of private farmsteads have to deal with mass deaths of young chicks. One of the main reasons is the presence of pathogenic microorganisms inside the body. Most often they develop in a thermal insulator, such as polystyrene 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 determining role when purchasing is played not by the consumer’s desire, but by the price of the incubator. The most affordable are domestic developments, although in many respects they look worse than their foreign counterparts.

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

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

Reviews for analogues:

Vitamin supplement for poultry Zdravur “Laying Hen” Interactive toy K’s Kids “Laying Hen Emma” Wheelchair Polesie “Laying Duck” Musical toy KS Kids “Laying Hen” Tomy toy “Laying Hen”

Many farmers prefer to hatch chicks artificially, but not many know how to choose a reliable incubator. We have prepared material about the features of models for beginners from the two most common domestic manufacturers. Let’s figure out which incubator is better – “Cinderella” or “Layer”, whether they have analogues, and also what to look for when choosing.

Rating of the best incubators

"Laying hen BI-2" for experienced breeders

This model also has two varieties:

1. Incubator for 77 eggs, equipped with automatic turning. If you switch to the mechanical option, the number of eggs will increase to 100 pieces. The device also has an analog thermoregulation mode. Delivery takes place in a digital version exclusively with a backup power option.
2. The device for 104 eggs has a maximum capacity. There are several configurations - all have automatic rotation. The model is equipped with an electronic control panel.

The best inexpensive domestically produced incubators

In the budget segment, domestic incubators occupy a dominant position. 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.

laying hen

Rating: 4.9

The laying hen incubator is a simple and effective device for home use. The model takes first place in the rating for its combination of accessibility and ease of use. Experts note the high-quality manufacturing of the foam body and the presence of an inspection window. The built-in thermostat automatically maintains an optimal microclimate inside the container. As for productivity, there is a modification for 36 eggs, and there is an incubator with 120 cells. The main part of the model range involves manual turning of eggs, but you can also find automated machines.

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

Advantages

• ease of use;
• affordable price;
• wide choice of modifications;
• thoughtful design.

Flaws

• 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 fell into second place in the rating. You can create heat inside the container not only from electricity (220 V), but also from hot water. The performance of the device depends on the presence of a rotating device. Automated models are capable of simultaneously raising up to 70 chicken eggs. The mechanical modification can hold up to 100 pieces, but you will have to rotate them yourself.

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

Advantages

• low price;
• withdrawal efficiency (90%);
• different heating options.

Flaws

• poor ventilation;
• frequent minor breakdowns.

The perfect hen

Rating: 4.7

Another Novosibirsk incubator made it into our rating. The “Ideal Hen” model 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 either from the mains or from a battery. Dense foam plastic is used to make the container. 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 performance of the incubator; they praise it for its lightness, compactness and maintainability. There are problems with uneven temperature distribution inside the container, the operation of the temperature sensor and the rotating mechanism.

Advantages

• simple design;
• wide choice of capacity;
• affordable price.

Flaws

• temperature spread up to 3C;
• The thermostat does not work accurately.

Janoel 42 for 39 chicken eggs: pros and cons

The product is produced by a joint Chinese-Italian enterprise. The incubator is automated and has a swing-type rotary device. The plastic used for the case has high durable characteristics and does not crack even with strong impacts. The latest version also includes universal trays in which you can place goose (20 pcs.), duck (30 pcs.) or quail eggs.

The thermostat of this model works automatically: during test measurements, the discrepancies between the indicators are 0.1°C. Thanks to this, the model has high hatchability rates: up to 90% of laid eggs. The absence of a humidity sensor is difficult to attribute to the disadvantages of the model, since the presence of water in the pan is easy to check.

The best foreign incubators

Foreign incubators (except for Chinese models) are distinguished by their excellent quality and wide functionality. They do not encounter any annoying breakdowns in the first installation; the devices do not need to be modified before use. Most models are fully automated, and the hatching rate of chicks from eggs reaches 100%. The following products have proven themselves to be the best on the domestic market.

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 highlight the level of automation. Artificial intelligence technology is embedded in this device, which makes the process of turning eggs into chicks comfortable and worry-free. The combination of electronics and reliability made the device the winner of the rating. The user just needs to place the eggs in the cells and just wait for the first pets to appear.

Interesting options in the incubator for owners include effective ventilation, automatic humidification, and 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 support of optimal microclimate;
• safe chick tray;
• memory function.

Flaws

• high price;
• small capacity.

Brinsea Octagon 20 Advance

Rating: 4.8

UK farmers have extensive experience in poultry breeding. The incubator from Foggy Albion, Brinsea Octagon 20 Advance, enjoys a good reputation on the Russian market. Experts gave the model second place for maintaining stable temperature and humidity. To make the container, very durable plastic was used, which is additionally impregnated with an antiseptic. In this way, the manufacturer prevents the appearance of pathogenic microorganisms inside the incubator. If the temperature indicator deviates from the norm, the device signals the owner about a problem.

The trays are also made in an original way; they can hold both a quail and a goose egg. Productivity is limited to 20 chicken eggs, and the price for the incubator is quite high.

Advantages

• high withdrawal percentage;
• high-quality manufacturing;
• stable microclimate maintenance.

Flaws

• high price;
• low performance.

Covina Super 24

Rating: 4.8

The modern appearance of the Covina Super 24 incubator indicates a high level of automation. The digital display displays all the necessary information about operating parameters. Every 2 hours the eggs tilt. The body of the device is made of durable plastic; you can control the incubation process through the viewing window. The model is on the third line of the rating for its universal qualities. The incubator allows you to breed different birds, from chickens to peacocks.

Users are satisfied with the operation of the rotating mechanism and the reliable humidity and temperature control system. The device consumes only 3 W of electricity per day. The incubator has similar disadvantages as the leaders in the rating.

Advantages

• modern appearance;
• information content;
• versatility.

Flaws

• high price;
• modest capacity (24 chicken eggs).

Novital Covatutto 54

Rating: 4.7

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

Users praise the long incubation period (40 days), which allows the breeding of most species of poultry. The owners note that the set includes only one tray as a disadvantage.

Advantages

• low temperature sensor error (0.1°C);
• effective ventilation;
• long incubation period;
• compact sizes.

Flaws

• Not all types of eggs are placed in the tray cells;
• high price.

Reviews for analogues:

Household incubator “Electronics for the village” TGB-210 Household incubator Bagan “Ideal hen” Household incubator IBM-30/100E with a turning device Household incubator Olsa-Service “Cinderella” Incubator Laying hen BI-2Where to buyDescriptionPhoto gallery

“Laying hen”, which is a hen :)

16.04.2020Advantages:

Active.
Reliable. Disadvantages:
Incomprehensible instructions. My geese do not incubate eggs well: they may leave the nest in the middle of the process, or they may not sit at all.
But they rush regularly and for a long time, starting in January and ending in May. Therefore, we hatch goslings in an incubator, at... Read full review Review recommended:
192

simple incubator for hobbyists

15.01.2014Advantages:

cheap, light, simple, easy to wash
Disadvantages:
uneven temperature Layer Bi-2 for 36 eggs was my first incubator, where I learned all the intricacies of egg incubation.
The design of the incubator is simple and clear - a foam box, two heating elements (in incubators with more eggs there are more heaters)… Read the full review Review recommended:
23

For initial incubation experiments

16.02.2020Advantages:

Affordable cost, good chick hatching, simple controls.
Disadvantages:
Turns eggs loudly, you need to get used to working with the incubator, a voltage stabilizer is desirable, uneven temperature inside the incubator - as a result, improvements are needed. Good day everyone.
Since I live in my own house and keep a small farm, which is mainly birds, over time the question of incubation and subsequent reproduction of new birds arose. At first there were plans to buy a more expensive one... Read full review Review recommended:
14

A worthy result.

31.10.2019Advantages:

Reliable and easy to use.
Disadvantages:
None found. Greetings to all readers of my reviews.
I would like to share my opinion about the Layer BI-2 incubator, which I purchased this spring. I made 3 laying eggs of different birds, chickens, ducks and geese. The results were different, but I was very pleased. Conclusion... Read full review Review recommended:
10

You can completely do without a real laying hen!

28.11.2014Advantages:

Reliable, convenient, equipped with automatic rotation.
Disadvantages:
Difficult to clean after use. Almost every summer, my family and I try to escape into the ancient times for at least a couple of weeks.
Fresh air, space, lake! What else do you need for a good rest? And although we have our own dacha, my wife... Read full review Review recommended:
11

Made me a bird mama twice

01.10.2020Advantages:

foam box
Disadvantages:
Unreasonable cost, apparatus for turning eggs, heating plates, almost all made of plastic. In April, I was inspired to breed quails.
But since this bird does not strive to reproduce on its own, the question arose about purchasing an incubator. I read the reviews and decided to purchase the Layer incubator. The issue price is 4000 rubles. I'll tell you what's included... Read full review Review recommended:
1

the more modern the less reliable

16.05.2017Advantages:

made in Russia
Disadvantages:
just complete, ruined eggs without experience and skills. I decided to give my wife a gift for her birthday - a fully automatic incubator Layer BI-2 for 104 eggs.
I ordered through an online store, received it and it turned out to be not the one I ordered, but oh well, the money was returned without any problems. Re-ordered already... Read full review Review recommended:
3

Complete bullshit

30.04.2019Advantages:

Auto-rotate
Disadvantages:
The incubator itself and the manufacturer. I am a pensioner.
To hatch eggs, from an advertisement in a magazine, my beautiful dacha bought this miracle, for a total of 6500 with delivery, with a pension of 8k, and in the end I received complete garbage. I supplied 62 domestic eggs, and... Read full review Review recommended:
1

Nothing is clear yet, I bought it but can’t configure anything, please help

12.03.2019Advantages:

Basically, you don’t need to do anything, as with previous incubators.
Disadvantages:
I can’t set it up, so I’m asking for help. Please help me set up the incubation days, fully automatically.
I set it to zero and nothing works, I set it to 25 days and there is no countdown either)) Read the whole review Review recommended:
1

One of the best in its class.

27.04.2020Advantages:

The price and quality are satisfactory.
Disadvantages:
Foam body. I bought the Layer BI 2 incubator several years ago.
I can immediately say that the device is not bad, it holds the temperature well, the automatic rotation of the eggs works fine, although there is no automatic ventilation or humidity. And of course, the foam plastic is annoying Read the full review Review recommended:

foam, but removes

28.05.2018Advantages:

high hatchability, price, availability of spare parts
Disadvantages:
foam body, grilles I keep chickens and quails.
For hatching I use the BI incubator - “Laying hen”. The first time I ordered one with buttons - digital, the second time I decided to save money - I ordered an analog one (with a knob). Conclusion on your testicles with this incubator... Read the full review Review recommended:

The incubator is working well.

09.03.2016Advantages:

Holds the set temperature well.
Easy to assemble and operate. Operates almost silently. Disadvantages:
When factory equipped, only one grill for chicken eggs is included.
And for geese and ducks you have to order it yourself. And this is additional trouble. The summer season is approaching. Many people are thinking about raising poultry in the country or on private farms. And in order to reduce the cost of purchasing young livestock, an incubator is required. The laying hen incubator is available in different configurations: for 32... Read full review Review recommended:

Either I was unlucky with the eggs, or with the incubator.

19.01.2018Advantages:

Easy to use.
Disadvantages:
All sensors lie! Hello everyone!
Since childhood, my brother had a dream of breeding pigeons. But living in an apartment, it was difficult to do this. And so, he built his house, built a dovecote and it began! (We all made fun of him... Read full review Review recommended:
112>

The best functional incubators for home mini-farms

Among the owners of private household plots there are many people who are passionate about breeding birds. To keep a decent number of chickens or geese, you need a productive incubator. Since the owners have a lot of worries, they choose models with automated control, which allow them to ensure 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 when hatching young animals at all stages of incubation. The Ukrainian manufacturer has created a fully automated system where human participation is minimized. All main parameters are monitored by electronics, which allows you to bring the output percentage closer to 95-100%. Experts liked the durable and high-quality steel body of the incubation and hatching device. The model's capacity is 220 chicken eggs.

Domestic farmers note ease of use, ease of management and high yield of chicks. 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 percentage.

Flaws

• high price;
• expensive maintenance.

Incubator TGB-210 VLRA “BIO”

Rating: 4.7

To accelerate the hatching of chicks from eggs, Russian specialists came up with the TGB-210 VLRA “BIO” incubator. The incubation period was shortened by introducing a sound stimulator into the body. With its help, high-frequency clicks are formed, to which the vital rhythm of the embryo is adjusted. The second growth stimulator is Chizhevsky’s chandelier. It generates ions that accelerate the development of even weakened chicks. The manufacturer was able to achieve a uniform temperature inside the chamber by uniformly distributing the flexible heating element throughout the body.

Farmers who raise chickens speak flatteringly about the performance of the incubator (210 pcs) and the automatic turning mechanism.

Advantages

• high performance;
• automatic egg turning;
• the embryos do not stick to the shell;
• strength and reliability of the structure.

Flaws

• inconvenient water bath.

Incubator TGB-70 A BIO

Rating: 4.6

The Russian incubator TGB-210 VLRA “BIO” was designed taking into account the breeding characteristics of waterfowl. The manufacturer has equipped the device with a high tray, which allows you to lay even goose eggs strictly vertically. After rejection, they can be rotated horizontally or at an angle. Experts also appreciated the design of the trays; they can be placed directly into the incubator thanks to the slightly inclined position. Users find this option less convenient than pulling out trays.

The rotating mechanism is also made in an unusual way, based on a remote winch with reverse. At the same time, the manufacturing quality of the domestic incubator is excellent, and the price is pleasantly pleasing. The model receives third place for its uneven temperature distribution in the container and lower capacity (70 chicken eggs).

Advantages

• affordable price;
• good thermal insulation of the body;
• possibility of breeding waterfowl.

Flaws

• uneven temperature distribution.

Care

Caring for the incubator is a very important point for proper functioning. It should be easy to wash, because this needs to be done after each withdrawal. If it is difficult to get to the compartments, then it will be impossible to clear them of the shell. Then the new chicks will not be able to develop properly.

When purchasing, it is best to choose models with a removable tray. Many models are equipped with this useful feature. This greatly simplifies the necessary maintenance and disinfection.

Safety precautions when working with an incubator

There are a few fairly simple rules that must be followed:

1. Before first use, be sure to study the instructions in detail. Do not plug in the appliance unless it is ready for use.
2. Before starting work, remove all dust and dirt. This applies to both the first use and all subsequent uses.
3. The incubator can only be installed on a perfectly flat surface.
4. It cannot be installed on the floor.
5. Do not open the lid during operation unless this is permitted in the instructions.
6. The room temperature should not be below 15 degrees Celsius.
7. Be sure to ensure that the device is out of reach of children and animals.

If you follow these rules, the device will operate most correctly, and it will last much longer.

The best Chinese incubators

Chinese manufacturers also did not ignore this branch of poultry farming. Incubators from the Middle Kingdom are increasingly appearing 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 monitoring. It works once every 2 hours, the revolution occurs according to the principle of a swing. The container can hold 48 chicken eggs; if you use a quail tray, the volume of the egg can be increased. The set parameters are supported by electronics, and thanks to good thermal insulation, it is possible to effectively retain heat and save energy.

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;
• precise operation of the rotating mechanism;
• maintaining specified settings.

Flaws

• plastic-foam body;
• electronics failures.

Brinsea Octagon 20

Holds 20 chicken eggs. But the manufacturer also produces other models with greater capacity. A distinctive feature is the body material made of plastic with the Biomaster additive, which prevents the growth of bacteria.

The disadvantage of all European models is that the price is too high. High-quality but expensive products are inferior to their Chinese counterparts in popularity among Russian consumers.

conclusions

1. There is no clear answer to the question of which incubator is better - “Cinderella” or “Laying Hen”. They are very similar. With proper use and care, high hatchability can be achieved in both.
2. The incubators in question are not expensive. Average price – 4 thousand rubles.
3. There are foreign expensive analogues. A beginner does not need to purchase them.
4. When choosing an incubator, focus not on a specific model, but on functionality.

Sources used:

• https://otzovik.com/reviews/inkubator_bitovoy_nesushka_bi-1/
• https://otzovik.com/reviews/iinkubator_nesushka_bi-2/
• https://myfarming.ru/pticy/kury/kakoj-inkubator-luchshe-zolushka-ili-nesushka/

Distinctive features

Let’s compare the quality and functionality of the incubators “Cinderella” and “Laying Layer”:

Heating system

Devices of the “Cinderella” brand are equipped with two types of analogue reliable thermostats – 220V and 220-12V. Automatic switching to a backup source is provided. Nesushka also has these types of heating, but the 220-12 power supply works differently - you need to install two separate thermostats for each power source. Thus, the manufacturer did not provide automatic switching to 12V.

Nesushka equips its devices with analog and digital thermostats. “Cinderella” does not yet have digitally controlled devices, but does have electronic thermometers.

Organization of heating elements

In Cinderella incubators, water is poured into the heating elements, which serves as an intermediate coolant. This avoids sudden changes in temperature and ensures high heating uniformity.

The “layer” works simpler: a resistor is soldered between two metal plates; when current passes, it heats up, heating the plates. A broken element in such a situation is very easy to replace.

Positive reviews on the topic of which incubator is better, “Cinderella” or “Laying Hen”, were divided equally between the manufacturers. Each of the devices has its own advantages.