- An automatic egg turner is only worth buying if it fits your incubator. GQF's turner fits HovaBator models, Little Giant's fits Little Giant, Farm Innovators' fits its 2100 and 2200.
- The GQF Hova-Bator turner is the most complete box here: six universal racks for 41 eggs plus quail racks for 120.
- These turners do not list an automatic stop. Plan to lift eggs off the turner or unplug it at lockdown (day 18 for chickens, MSU).
- Only one universal option is listed here, the GLOGLOW 13-roller tray; measure your cabinet before buying it.
The best automatic egg turner is the one built for your incubator. Turners slide into the bottom of foam still-air or circulated-air cabinets and rock the eggs on a slow cycle, which replaces turning by hand several times a day. Mississippi State University Extension calls for turning at least 4–6 times a day and stopping for the last three days.
Our catalogue has four stand-alone automatic turners from four makers, plus quail rails and trays that add small-egg capacity. We are honest about that: most turner shopping is really about matching a model number. This list compares eight picks from five brands using listed capacity, cycle and fit.
Our picks
Hova-Bator GQF Automatic Egg Turner
- Capacity
- 41 eggs (6 universal racks); 120 quail with quail racks
- Fits
- All HovaBator incubators
- Includes
- Quail egg racks
GQF lists its automatic turner with six universal racks that take any egg from partridge up to duck size, 41 eggs in total, and also includes quail racks for a total of 120 quail eggs. It fits all HovaBator incubators.
Best for: HovaBator owners who hatch chickens, ducks and quail
Skip if: Your incubator is not a HovaBator
- Quail racks included
- Universal racks up to duck eggs
- Fits all HovaBator models
- No auto-stop listed
- Racks top out at duck size, not goose
GQF 1588 Hova-Bator with 1611 Auto Turner
- Turning
- Automatic (1611 turner, 6 universal racks)
- Fan
- Forced-air (circulated air)
- Display
- Digital temperature and humidity
If you do not own an incubator yet, this listing pairs the GQF 1588 Genesis Hova-Bator (circulated air, digital temperature and humidity display) with the 1611 automatic turner and six universal racks, so incubator and turner match from the start.
Best for: Buying a HovaBator and turner together
Skip if: You already own an incubator
- Incubator and turner matched
- Circulated air
- Digital display
- Quail racks not mentioned in this bundle listing
- Lift eggs off the turner at lockdown
Little Giant 6300 Automatic Egg Turner, 41 Eggs
- Capacity
- 41 large chicken eggs (7 cups per rail)
- Fits
- Any Little Giant still-air or circulated-air incubator
- Cleaning
- Dishwasher-safe cups
Miller's Little Giant 6300 comes with 41 large chicken egg cups (7 cups per rail) and fits any Little Giant still-air or circulated-air incubator. The cups are dishwasher safe and no assembly is needed. Quail rails are sold separately.
Best for: Little Giant 9300 and other Little Giant incubators
Skip if: You need quail capacity in the box
- Fits all Little Giant cabinets
- Dishwasher-safe cups
- No assembly
- Quail rails extra
- No auto-stop listed
Farm Innovators 3200 Automatic Egg Turner, 41 Eggs
- Capacity
- 41 large egg cups; 120 quail with optional rails
- Turning cycle
- Full cycle every 4 hours
- Fits
- Farm Innovators 2100 and 2200 incubators
- Includes
- Thermometer
Farm Innovators lists the 3200 for its 2100 and 2200 incubators. It holds 41 large egg cups, rotates eggs through a full cycle every 4 hours, includes a thermometer, and rails snap out for cleaning. Optional quail trays raise capacity to 120.
Best for: Turning a Farm Innovators 2100 still-air incubator into an automatic one
Skip if: You own a different brand of incubator
- Full cycle every 4 hours
- Thermometer included
- Dishwasher-safe rails
- Fits only the 2100 and 2200
- Quail rails extra
GLOGLOW 13-Roller Automatic Egg Turner Tray
- Capacity
- 46 chicken, 32 duck, 16 goose or 156 quail eggs
- Turning
- Automatic roller
- Size
- 16.9 x 16.7 x 2.1 in
- Motor
- 4 W
The GLOGLOW tray uses 13 rollers with adjustable spacing to hold 46 chicken, 32 duck, 16 goose or up to 156 quail eggs. It runs on a 4 W motor and measures 16.9 x 16.7 x 2.1 in, so you can check whether it fits your cabinet.
Best for: DIY cabinet incubators or brands without a matching turner
Skip if: Your incubator's maker sells a matching turner; a matched part fits better
- Takes goose eggs
- Up to 156 quail
- Size listed for fit checks
- Needs assembly (rollers, rods, baffle)
- No incubator compatibility list
Little Giant 6302 Quail Rails, 120 Eggs
- Capacity
- 20 small eggs per rail, 120 total
- Fits
- Little Giant 6300 automatic turner
- Cleaning
- Dishwasher safe
Little Giant 6302 quail rails hold 20 small eggs each, 120 in total, and fit the 6300 automatic turner. They are dishwasher safe.
Best for: Little Giant owners adding coturnix quail
Skip if: You do not have the 6300 turner
- 120 quail eggs
- Dishwasher safe
- Requires the 6300 turner
Farm Innovators Quail Rails for 3200 Turner, 6-Pack
- Capacity
- 20 small eggs per rail, 120 total
- Fits
- Model 3200 turner in 2100/2200 incubators
- Cleaning
- Dishwasher safe
This 6-pack of quail rails replaces the standard rails in the Farm Innovators 3200 turner, with 20 small-egg cups per rail for up to 120 eggs. Rails snap out and are dishwasher safe.
Best for: Farm Innovators 2100/2200 owners hatching quail
Skip if: You do not own the 3200 turner
- 120 quail eggs
- Snap-out rails
- Works only with the 3200 turner in 2100/2200 incubators
Incubator Warehouse Quail Tray for Nurture Right 360
- Capacity
- 48 quail or small bird eggs
- Fits
- Nurture Right 360
- Size
- 12.3 x 12.3 x 0.7 in
The Nurture Right 360 already turns eggs; this Incubator Warehouse tray is made to fit it and holds 48 quail or small bird eggs. It measures 12.3 x 12.3 x 0.7 in.
Best for: Nurture Right 360 owners adding quail
Skip if: You do not own a Nurture Right 360
- 48 quail eggs
- Fits the 360's turning system
- One incubator model only
Egg turners compared
| Product | Capacity | Fits | Includes | Cleaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hova-Bator GQF Automatic Egg Turner | 41 eggs (6 universal racks); 120 quail with quail racks | All HovaBator incubators | Quail egg racks | — |
| Little Giant 6300 Automatic Egg Turner, 41 Eggs | 41 large chicken eggs (7 cups per rail) | Any Little Giant still-air or circulated-air incubator | — | Dishwasher-safe cups |
| Farm Innovators 3200 Automatic Egg Turner, 41 Eggs | 41 large egg cups; 120 quail with optional rails | Farm Innovators 2100 and 2200 incubators | Thermometer | — |
| GLOGLOW 13-Roller Automatic Egg Turner Tray | 46 chicken, 32 duck, 16 goose or 156 quail eggs | — | — | — |
| Little Giant 6302 Quail Rails, 120 Eggs | 20 small eggs per rail, 120 total | Little Giant 6300 automatic turner | — | Dishwasher safe |
| Farm Innovators Quail Rails for 3200 Turner, 6-Pack | 20 small eggs per rail, 120 total | Model 3200 turner in 2100/2200 incubators | — | Dishwasher safe |
| Incubator Warehouse Quail Tray for Nurture Right 360 | 48 quail or small bird eggs | Nurture Right 360 | — | — |
Specs as listed by the maker or seller; check the listing before you buy.
Listed quail-egg capacity per turner or insert
As stated by each maker
How often should eggs be turned, and when do you stop?
MSU Extension says to turn eggs at least 4–6 times a day, an odd number of times if by hand, and to stop for the last three days. Farm Innovators' 3200 completes a full cycle every 4 hours, which meets that guidance. Stop days by species:
Why it matters: a broody hen shifts her eggs many times a day, and turning by hand means opening the lid three or more times daily for nearly three weeks, with heat and humidity escaping each time. An automatic turner keeps the lid closed and the schedule steady, which is the main reason people add one. It also lets you leave the house without worrying about a missed turn. The trade-off is that you become responsible for stopping it on time.
Incubation by species: forced-air settings, with the still-air offset
| Species | Days to hatch | Forced-air temp | Still-air temp | Wet-bulb, days 1 to lockdown → last 3 days | Relative humidity | Stop turning (day) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 21 | 100°F (37.8°C) | 102–103°F | 85–87°F → 90°F | 45–50% → 65% or more | 18 |
| Duck (most breeds) | 28 | 100°F (37.8°C) | 102–103°F | 85–86°F → 90°F | 55–60% → 70% or more | 25 |
| Muscovy duck | 35–37 | 100°F (37.8°C) | 102–103°F | 85–86°F → 90°F | 58–60% → 65% or more | 31 |
| Coturnix quail | 17 | 100°F (37.8°C) | 102–103°F | 85–86°F → 90°F | 40–50% → 65% or more | 15 |
| Bobwhite quail | 23–24 | 100°F (37.8°C) | 102–103°F | 84–87°F → 90°F | 40–50% → 65% or more | 20 |
| Turkey | 28 | 99°F (37.2°C) | 101–102°F | 84–86°F → 90°F | 58–60% → 65% or more | 25 |
| Goose | 28–34 | 99°F (37.2°C) | 101–102°F | 86–88°F → 90°F | 58–60% → 65% or more | 25 |
| Guinea fowl | 28 | 100°F (37.8°C) | 102–103°F | 85–87°F → 90°F | 58–60% → 65% or more | 25 |
| Pheasant | 23–28 | 100°F (37.8°C) | 102–103°F | 86–88°F → 92°F | 58–60% → 65% or more | 21 |
| Peafowl | 28–30 | 99°F (37.2°C) | 101–102°F | 84–86°F → 90°F | 58–60% → 65% or more | 25 |
| Chukar partridge | 23–24 | 100°F (37.8°C) | 102–103°F | 81–83°F → 90°F | 58–60% → 65% or more | 20 |
Days, temperatures, wet-bulb and stop-turning days: Mississippi State University Extension, Important Incubation Factors. Still-air: add 2–3°F, measured at the top of the eggs (MSU). Relative humidity: Brinsea, Humidity during incubation for chickens, ducks and quail; other species show MSU's general 58–60%. Follow your incubator's manual first.
The incubation calculator gives your stop-turning date from the set date and can export it to your phone calendar, which helps with turners that never stop on their own.
How to add an automatic turner to your incubator
- Find your incubator model
Read the model number on the base or manual (for example HovaBator 1602N, Little Giant 9300, Farm Innovators 2100).
- Buy the matching turner
Match the maker first: GQF for HovaBator, Little Giant 6300 for Little Giant, Farm Innovators 3200 for 2100/2200. A universal roller tray is the fallback when no matching part exists.
- Add small-egg rails if needed
Order quail rails or racks with the turner if you plan to hatch quail.
- Re-test the temperature
A turner takes up space and adds a small motor. Run the incubator with the turner for 24 hours and check temperature at egg height with a separate thermometer.
- Plan lockdown
On the stop-turning day, unplug the turner or move eggs to the hatching floor per your incubator manual, and raise humidity.
Egg turner mistakes to avoid
- Buying by capacity, not fit. A 41-egg turner from one brand will not necessarily sit in another brand's cabinet.
- Leaving eggs turning through hatch. None of these stand-alone turners lists an auto-stop. Chicks hatching on a moving rail can be injured.
- Forgetting the temperature shift. Adding a turner raises eggs closer to the lid in still-air cabinets, where it is warmer. Measure at the top of the eggs, as MSU advises for still air.
- Putting the small end up. Set eggs large end up (air cell up) in turner cups, per MSU.
- Dirty rails between hatches. Wash cups and rails after every hatch; several here are dishwasher safe.
Which egg turner should you buy?
Pick by the incubator you own
| Your incubator | Turner | Quail add-on |
|---|---|---|
| Any HovaBator (1588, 1602N and others) | GQF automatic turner | ✓ Quail racks included |
| Little Giant still-air or circulated-air | Little Giant 6300 | Little Giant 6302 rails |
| Farm Innovators 2100 or 2200 | Farm Innovators 3200 | Farm Innovators quail rails |
| Nurture Right 360 | ~ Built in | Incubator Warehouse 48-egg quail tray |
| Home-built cabinet or no matching part | GLOGLOW 13-roller tray | ~ Adjust roller spacing |
If you are still choosing an incubator, an all-in-one with built-in turning and auto-stop is simpler: see best egg incubators and best incubator for beginners, or the Hova-Bator 1588 review. Browse more parts in incubation and hatching and quail gear in ducks, quail and turkeys.
Buy the turner your incubator's maker sells. For HovaBator owners the GQF automatic turner is the most complete, with universal racks and quail racks in the box. Little Giant and Farm Innovators owners should choose the 6300 and 3200 respectively, plus quail rails if needed. Only reach for the universal GLOGLOW roller tray when no matching part exists, and always stop turning by hand at lockdown.
We compared each turner's listed capacity by egg type, turning cycle where given, the incubators each maker says it fits, included racks or rails, and cleaning. Turning frequency and stop days follow Mississippi State University Extension. We did not run these turners; fit claims are the makers' own, so check your model number.