The 8 Best Chicken Egg Incubators for 2025 – Which One’s Perfect for You?

Are you ready to hear the adorable chirping of baby chicks hatching in your home? I’ve been there – staring at dozens of egg incubator options online, wondering which one will actually deliver healthy chicks without breaking the bank or driving me crazy with constant maintenance

After years of hatching my own chickens (since 2014!), I’ve gone through the heartbreak of failed hatches and the joy of successful ones. Today, I’m sharing everything I’ve learned about what makes the best chicken egg incubator and which models actually deliver results.

Let’s get straight to it – here are the top 8 chicken egg incubators worth your money in 2025!

Key Features You Need in a Quality Egg Incubator

Before diving into specific models, let’s talk about what actually matters when choosing an incubator:

Airflow Systems

There are two main types of airflow in incubators:

• Still Air Incubators: These basic models rely on gravity for air circulation. Unfortunately, they often create hot and cold spots, leading to uneven development.
• Forced Air Incubators: These have built-in fans that distribute warm, humid air evenly. This results in more consistent development and better hatch rates.

Trust me spending a bit more for forced air is totally worth it! When I upgraded from my cheap still-air model my hatch rate jumped from around 50% to nearly 80%.

Temperature Control

Just 1 degree off can ruin your entire hatch! Too hot (even by 1°F) and chicks hatch early with splayed legs. Too cold and they hatch late with leg issues and unhealed navels.

The best incubators have:

• Automatic temperature adjustment
• Digital displays for precise monitoring
• Accurate built-in thermometers

Pro Tip: Even with fancy incubators, always use 2-3 separate thermometers to verify the temperature. I’ve had “high-end” models run 2 degrees hot!

Humidity Management

This is where most budget incubators fall short. Many require manually adding water to channels, which is:

1. Easy to forget
2. Hard to adjust precisely
3. Impossible when traveling

When humidity is wrong:

• Too high: Chicks become too large and may drown during hatching
• Too low: Eggs lose too much moisture, resulting in “shrink-wrapped” chicks that fail

The best models automatically control humidity based on your settings. I’ve literally gone on international vacations while my automatic incubator was running back home!

Egg Turning

In nature, mother hens rotate their eggs throughout the day. This keeps the yolk centered instead of sticking to the shell.

Good incubators offer:

• Automatic turning at least 3 times daily
• Turning that stops automatically 3 days before hatch
• Gentle, reliable rotation mechanisms

With auto-turning, you’ll open the incubator less (which maintains stable temperature and humidity) and reduce accidental egg damage.

The 8 Best Chicken Egg Incubators for 2025

1. Brinsea Mini II EX – Best Small Incubator

Price Range: $$$
Capacity: 7 eggs

This little marvel is perfect for small backyard flocks. What makes it special:

• Fully automatic humidity control
• Digital thermostat for precise temperature
• Forced air circulation for even development
• Automatic egg turner
• Clear viewing window
• 3-year warranty

I love that I can literally set it and forget it. The build quality is excellent, and cleaning between hatches is a breeze.

2. Brinsea Mini II Advance

Price Range: $$
Capacity: 7 eggs

This is the slightly more affordable version of the EX model. The main difference:

• Manual humidity control vs. automatic on the EX
• Still has automatic temperature control and egg turning
• Same excellent viewing window and easy cleaning

If you don’t mind adding water manually to control humidity, this saves you some money while still providing Brinsea’s excellent reliability.

3. KEBONNIXS 12 Egg Incubator – Budget Small Incubator

Price Range: $
Capacity: 12 eggs

For beginners on a budget, this one’s a solid choice:

• Digital display for humidity and temperature
• External water adding (no need to open the lid)
• Built-in egg candler to watch development
• Automatic egg turning that stops 3 days before hatch

The main drawback is the slick flooring which can cause leg injuries in newly hatched chicks. I simply add a layer of shelf liner to create traction.

4. Brinsea Ovation 28 EX – Best Medium Incubator

Price Range: $$$$
Capacity: 28 eggs

This is my absolute favorite incubator – I’ve had perfect hatches every time!

• Fully automatic temperature and humidity
• Excellent calibration (verified with multiple thermometers)
• Easy-to-clean removable parts
• Large viewing window
• Fits duck eggs comfortably too

I’ve literally gone on international vacations with this running at home and returned to perfectly healthy chicks. It’s worth every penny if you’re serious about hatching.

5. Manna Pro Nurture Right 360 Incubator

Price Range: $$$
Capacity: 22 eggs

This popular model offers:

• Automatic temperature control
• Manual humidity adjustment (external water addition)
• 21-day countdown timer
• Automatic turner that stops 3 days before hatch
• 360° viewing window

The built-in egg candler is somewhat weak, so I use a separate one. This incubator runs quieter than most models in its price range.

6. Chickcozy Incubator – Budget Medium Incubator

Price Range: $
Capacity: 25 eggs

I recently added this to my collection and was shocked by the performance for the price:

• Digital temperature display that was actually accurate!
• External water tray for humidity
• Large viewing window
• Very quiet operation
• External thermometer holder for verification
• Non-stick mat for chick safety

I tested it with 11 eggs and 9 hatched – that’s an 82% hatch rate from a budget incubator!

7. Brinsea Ovation 56 EX – Best Large Incubator

Price Range: $$$$$
Capacity: 56 eggs

This is essentially the big brother to my favorite Ovation 28 EX:

• Fully automatic temperature and humidity control
• Perfect calibration
• Easy to clean
• Large viewing window
• Spacious enough for larger eggs too

If you’re hatching large batches, this is the gold standard. The reliability is unmatched.

8. HovaBator Genesis 1588 – Budget Large Incubator

Price Range: $$
Capacity: 42 eggs

The classic foam incubator that many of us started with:

• Digital thermostat
• Automatic egg turner
• Manual humidity control
• More affordable than premium models

While not as precise as the Brinsea models, it’s vastly better than the super cheap incubators at farm stores. Just be sure to verify temperature and humidity with additional instruments.

How to Choose the Right Incubator for YOUR Needs

For Urban Backyard Flocks (5-10 chickens)

If you can only have a few hens due to city regulations, go with a small incubator like the Brinsea Mini II. Remember that roughly 50% will be roosters (which most cities don’t allow), and hatch rates typically range from 50-80%. So to end up with 5 hens, you might need to incubate 20 eggs.

For Rural Homesteads or Selling Chicks

If you have space for more chickens or want to sell chicks as a side hustle, invest in a larger model like the Brinsea Ovation 28 or 56. Trust me, “chicken math” is real – you’ll always want more than you initially planned!

For Occasional Hatching on a Budget

If you just want to hatch occasionally and don’t need premium features, the Chickcozy or KEBONNIXS models offer tremendous value. Just verify their readings with separate thermometers and hygrometers.

My Top 3 Tips for Successful Hatching

After many years and hundreds of chicks, here are my most important tips:

1. Run your incubator empty for 24 hours before adding eggs. This ensures it’s holding temperature and humidity correctly.

2. Always use multiple thermometers and hygrometers to verify readings. I’ve had “accurate” digital displays be off by several degrees!

3. Don’t skimp on humidity monitoring. I use at least two $6 hygrometers in every incubator. Incorrect humidity is the #1 cause of failed hatches in my experience.

Final Thoughts: What’s the BEST Chicken Egg Incubator?

If I had to pick just one “best overall” incubator, it would be the Brinsea Ovation 28 EX. It’s the perfect size for most homesteaders, has unmatched reliability, and the fully automatic controls make hatching nearly foolproof.

For budget-conscious beginners, the Chickcozy 25-Egg Incubator offers incredible value. I was genuinely surprised by its performance and accuracy.

Remember, the success of your hatch depends more on consistent temperature and humidity than on fancy features. Even the most expensive incubator won’t help if the basics aren’t right!

Have you used any of these incubators? Or do you have questions about hatching? Drop a comment below – I’d love to hear about your experiences or help troubleshoot any issues!

Happy hatching!

Overview of the 8 Best Egg Incubators

To choose an egg incubator, first, assess your needs by considering the type and number of eggs you plan to hatch, and your budget. Then, evaluate incubators based on capacity, automatic turning features, precise temperature and humidity control, and features like alarms and easy cleaning.

Trouble-Shooting Failures with Egg Incubation