Review: Chickcozy Egg Incubator
The history of incubators can be traced back to ancient civilizations, with some of the earliest documented usage found in Egypt around 750 BC. Despite the passage of centuries, the core principle of incubation remained largely unchanged: creating a controlled, warm environment for optimal egg hatching. More than two millennia later, in 1749, a French innovator developed the first mechanical incubator. Although new technologies have since refined the process, the basic concept—a small, enclosed space maintaining stable, warm temperatures—has stayed consistent.
Over the years, incubators have evolved dramatically, incorporating features like automatic egg turners, built-in candlers, and countdown clocks. However, not all of these innovations are essential for beginners, and some may be over-complicated or poorly implemented. The Chickcozy Egg Incubator, introduced in February 2024, excels by learning from all of these lessons and simplifying the egg-hatching process. Its intuitive design and user-friendly features make it an excellent choice for both novices and seasoned hobbyists alike.
Why Choose the Chickcozy Egg Incubator?
Let’s get straight to the point: if you're new to hatching, you won't find a more user-friendly incubator than the Chickcozy Egg Incubator. Whether you’re a small-scale hobbyist hatching eggs for yourself, friends, or family or you're searching for a high-quality tabletop incubator under $150, look no further. Want to know why the Chickcozy Egg Incubator is the best option for your hatching needs? Keep reading to discover its standout features and benefits!
Key Features of the Chickcozy Egg Incubator
Thermometer Holder: Most incubators, including this one, have a temperature display, but our golden rule is to trust but verify. We always recommend using an independent thermometer, especially when getting to know a new unit. Unlike other models, the Chickcozy Egg Incubator has a convenient holder that fits perfectly without sacrificing space. We use and recommend the Govee Hygrometer Thermometer H5075 ($12), which fits like it was made for this incubator. If you don't use a thermometer, the holder can be removed. In our tests, the built-in thermometer was only 1 degree off, and humidity was 3% off.
Seamless Lid Alignment: While it may not seem like a major feature, it’s a noticeable advantage. Many incubators with a domed design, like two other popular units on the market, require you to carefully align small notches for the lid to sit properly on the base. If the alignment is off, you risk losing heat and humidity. The Chickcozy Egg Incubator, however, is designed with a seamless lid that eliminates the need for precise alignment, ensuring a secure fit every time and maintaining optimal conditions effortlessly.
Handle on the Cover: You might be surprised to learn that this feature makes a real difference! Many incubators with a similar domed design can be tricky to open, especially when you’re trying to check on eggs or wrangle chicks while minimizing heat and humidity loss. The Chickcozy’s handle allows for easy one-handed removal of the lid.
25 Egg Capacity: This feature is straightforward. You know if you need a 25-egg capacity or not, but the price point is tough to beat even if you typically hatch eggs below this capacity.
Non-Slip Mat: I was initially skeptical about this feature, as many incubators say they come with flooring designed to prevent splay leg in baby chicks, yet often utilize hard plastic mats that fail to provide adequate grip. The Chickcozy Egg Incubator, however, stands out with its rubber flooring, which offers a non-slip surface for better traction. Throughout our entire 2024 hatching season using this incubator, none of the chicks experienced leg development issues. Unfortunately, I can't say the same for chicks that hatched under the same exact circumstances in other incubators.
Auto Egg Turner: This feature is arguably the most essential for any modern incubator. With an auto egg turner, the process of incubating becomes significantly easier, eliminating the need to manually turn each egg daily and risking heat and humidity loss by opening the unit. The auto egg turner on the Chickcozy Egg Incubator efficiently rotates your eggs multiple times a day, ensuring consistent development. What sets this unit apart is that the motor responsible for turning the rails is enclosed, making it easier to clean the unit compared to other incubators with exposed motorized turners.
Chick-Safe Enclosure (2-inch wall): The 2-inch chick-safe enclosure is another valuable feature, designed to keep newly hatched chicks secure anytime you need to open the lid.
Cleaning: The Chickcozy is undoubtedly the easiest incubator to clean on the market. Its all-plastic design features smart modular components that can be easily disassembled, allowing for thorough cleaning without hassle. This convenience not only saves you time but also helps maintain a hygienic environment for your eggs.
Key Feedback
Status Light: This feature can be viewed as both a pro and a con. The Chickcozy is remarkably quiet and emits no light, which makes it difficult to determine from across the room whether the unit is on. I would personally appreciate having a status light that allows for a quick glance to check if the incubator is operating, turned off, or running below the desired temperature. This simple addition would provide peace of mind, ensuring you can easily monitor the incubator's status without needing to approach it.
Egg Trays: I hope there will be more egg tray options available in the future to accommodate different egg types and sizes. Expanding the tray options would further enhance its usability, making it suitable for a wider range of poultry and enhancing the overall hatching experience. You can always hatch eggs of different sizes by removing the trays, placing the eggs on the floor, and hand-turning the eggs as needed.
Water Tray: This is a unique and interesting approach to adding water to your unit to increase humidity. You simply pull out a tray, add water, and then slide it back in, which generally prevents humidity loss during the process. However, there were a few instances when the tray was challenging to push back in, leading to some water spills when it was jostled. While I appreciate the convenience of not having to open the unit to add water, I prefer minimizing moving parts to streamline the process.
Humidity Control: The humidity control on the Chickcozy has its limitations. In my experience, humidity was difficult to get above 65% even with the water drawer full and the humidity control fully closed. Personally, I prefer to achieve humidity levels above 70% during lockdown, so I had to resort to placing damp sponges inside the incubator. Fortunately, there was ample space in the unit, allowing me to do this without the sponges touching the eggs. This is a personal preference and likely won't impact novices and small-scale hobbyists.
Conclusion
After an entire hatching season using this unit, hatching chickens, quail, guineas, and geese, it quickly became my favorite incubator for lockdown since it was so easy to manage chicks without worrying about them jumping out while the lid was open. I also really appreciate the rubber flooring, which drastically reduced the risk of splay leg, and it was hands down the easiest incubator to clean. Consider making this your first (or next!) incubator.
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Disclaimer: It's important to note that the unit used for our review was provided by Chickcozy. Nevertheless, it's crucial to emphasize that the thoughts and opinions shared in our assessment are entirely our own, and Chickcozy has had no input or editorial review in shaping our perspective. This transparency ensures an unbiased and authentic evaluation of the product based solely on our experiences and observations.