That Quail Place Forum

Raising Gamebirds => Incubation => Topic started by: Jake Levi on November 29, 2007, 10:54:53 AM

Title: Hovabator or Little Giant
Post by: Jake Levi on November 29, 2007, 10:54:53 AM
I was planning on getting a new Hovabator to replace my other older foam incubator,

while in my local feed store the other day I see one labeled as a 'Little Giant' but looks identical to the Hovabator I was going to order.

Is it the same but from different companys ??

The local store one is also about 2/3rds the price of the listed Hovabator.
Title: Re: Hovabator or Little Giant
Post by: wildergamebirds on November 29, 2007, 11:11:35 AM
Many people think the GQF (Hovabator) turner is much better.  It will not fit into the Little Giant, in case you want to add a turner, later.  Little Giant does make a lot of good products.
Title: Re: Hovabator or Little Giant
Post by: Jake Levi on November 29, 2007, 02:20:11 PM
The 'Little Giant' does come with an egg turner, I'll check it out tomorrow and see how it fits, the one I have now is an older model Hovabator without a turner, and thats something I want, it was fine for chickens but this year want to hatch some Quail and Pheasant eggs.

I was just struck by how much the Little Giant in the store here looks like the Hovabator in the catalog.
Title: Re: Hovabator or Little Giant
Post by: SportDog on December 04, 2007, 06:41:10 PM
I bought a LG forced air incubator and turner and have had great success with my hatches.  I would recommend it anyday.  Never used the other to compare but my hatches couldnt get much better.  80-90% hatch everytime ive used it.
Title: Re: Hovabator or Little Giant
Post by: wildergamebirds on December 04, 2007, 08:16:00 PM
Is the LG of comparable size, and price? 

  I would think there would be quite a market for a table top incubator capable of handling 200-300 Quail/Chukar eggs.  But, without an outrageous price tag.
Title: Re: Hovabator or Little Giant
Post by: SportDog on December 05, 2007, 10:36:03 AM
Quote
Is the LG of comparable size, and price?

Yes on size.  The LG is a little cheaper.

Quote
I would think there would be quite a market for a table top incubator capable of handling 200-300 Quail/Chukar eggs.  But, without an outrageous price tag.

I would think it would be too big if it held that many eggs to be considered a table top unit.
Title: Re: Hovabator or Little Giant
Post by: wildergamebirds on December 05, 2007, 07:54:45 PM
 I have a big table!

  That's a good looking Brittany.  For some reason he looks like he should be on a carousel.
Title: Re: Hovabator or Little Giant
Post by: Jake Levi on December 28, 2007, 06:43:19 PM
I looked at my old unit today(old 3 yrs) it is a LG. Worked fine, had 85+% hatches, but wanted one with turner and fan. 
Title: Re: Hovabator or Little Giant
Post by: aKirA on December 28, 2007, 06:54:20 PM
I own a Hovabator electric thermostat with egg turner. Im prettty sure both LG and GQF have compareble models that work just as fine.

Im not sure on this but I recall reading  incubator ads on ebay that the GQF's has a longer warranty so you may want to check on that.
Title: Re: Hovabator or Little Giant
Post by: gsc on January 02, 2008, 07:13:23 PM
Jake,

I have both.  I have modifed the LG's to use the old style hovabator bottoms that have a plastic tray.  The new ones don't use the plastic trays.  I have several LG's and a hovabator all with turners that could use a new home.  If interested, pm me.
Title: Re: Hovabator or Little Giant
Post by: PSUQuailer on January 02, 2008, 07:48:38 PM
Try going to Meyer hatchery they had good prices on Hovabator incubators                       







Hova-Bator Incubator w/ Fan

                 $85.23
Title: Re: Hovabator or Little Giant
Post by: brentsquailfarm on January 02, 2008, 08:06:24 PM
 I have looked around and Cutler supply has the lowest price on incubators.
Title: Re: Hovabator or Little Giant
Post by: 333_okh on January 17, 2008, 01:34:25 AM
what about the quality and effectiveness of the Hova-bator Genesis?

http://www.gqfmfg.com/store/comersus_viewItem.asp?idProduct=77

Title: Re: Hovabator or Little Giant
Post by: labmancan on January 17, 2008, 05:11:57 AM
I am not sure about the Genesis, I have 2 of the 2362n with turners and optional
quail egg trays. The only thing I have done is add I.V. lines (new from the Hospital) to maintain h2o level. The unit works well, until like all table top models, you have to open it to add more water. I was opening it several times over the course of the hatch, each time loosing heat and humidity. With the tubes in place, and hooked up to pop bottles , it doesn't need to be opened.
When Reeves shows me how to post pictures, :?: I will!
Title: Re: Hovabator or Little Giant
Post by: Pheasant Hollow Farm on January 17, 2008, 08:37:50 AM
I am not sure about the Genesis, I have 2 of the 2362n with turners and optional
quail egg trays. The only thing I have done is add I.V. lines (new from the Hospital) to maintain h2o level. The unit works well, until like all table top models, you have to open it to add more water. I was opening it several times over the course of the hatch, each time loosing heat and humidity. With the tubes in place, and hooked up to pop bottles , it doesn't need to be opened.
When Reeves shows me how to post pictures, :?: I will!

labmancan,

I have basically the same thing, I use gravity feeding bags(IE. G-Tube Feeding) It works great and it saves the cost of $50-60 for the upgrade on my GQF Sportsman1502's.

Steve
Pheasant Hollow Farm
Title: Re: Hovabator or Little Giant
Post by: 333_okh on January 17, 2008, 11:08:03 AM
guy, I really want to see some pictures of that if you can.  Thanks for all of the help.
Title: Re: Hovabator or Little Giant
Post by: Inkmann on January 17, 2008, 09:06:28 PM
I am not sure about the Genesis, I have 2 of the 2362n with turners and optional
quail egg trays. The only thing I have done is add I.V. lines (new from the Hospital) to maintain h2o level. The unit works well, until like all table top models, you have to open it to add more water. I was opening it several times over the course of the hatch, each time loosing heat and humidity. With the tubes in place, and hooked up to pop bottles , it doesn't need to be opened.
When Reeves shows me how to post pictures, :?: I will!


I would like to see the tube set up pictures also.
Thanks
Title: Re: Hovabator or Little Giant
Post by: Plummie on January 19, 2008, 05:13:30 AM
I purchased the Little Giant 9200 still air incubator last week from Tractor Supply Co.  It was around $42.  I am using it to hatch button quail in.  So far I like it - it seems to hold a steady temperature and is easy to use.  I am incubating the eggs in an R-COM automatic incubator but wanted to hatch them in a separate unit to save room (it only incubates 7 eggs at a time).  I will keep you posted on results and hatch rate!
Title: Re: Hovabator or Little Giant
Post by: Jake Levi on January 19, 2008, 03:51:31 PM
On the tube setup, where do you route that through? Is the outside bag same height? I've got several of those bags and was wondering what I was going to use them for.

Good thread, I have got lots of good hints. Thanks.
Title: Re: Hovabator or Little Giant
Post by: labmancan on January 19, 2008, 04:33:19 PM
Guys I am still having problems posting pictures, but will get it oneday!
 I took and marked the inside of the bottom 1/2 of the incubator, right where the center resevoir has the leg that points towards the back. I then drilled a hole 1 size larger than the tubing, i pulled enough tube trough the hole so that it lays in the leg and out into the main part of the tray, I took a small dia. Aluminum tig welding rod and slid it up into the tube, it gives the tube some backbone and acts as an anchor. I sealed the outside (keep it from the INSIDE)  of the incubator around the tubing with Household GOOP, it probably doesn't need it, if you will notice the tube comes into the incubator base right beside a vent hole. I then built a wire rack out of old coat hangers to hold the pop bottle. which I hang about 2' above the incubator. First attempt I put a vent hole and tube into the pop bottle, DON'T it allows all the water to run out of the bottle! With the bags it would even be easier as the bags collapse as they empty.As the water level drops in the incubator the tubing will grab air and will allow water to displace it.
Northern ingenuity  :wink:
I tried to post photo's again for this keep getting a error message.