About HEKA Incubators

Since 1986, HEKA incubators have been trusted by discerning hobby breeders, professional aviculturalists, zoos, and conservation programs that demand exceptional breeding results—both in consistency and in quality. From the very beginning, HEKA set itself apart as the first European manufacturer to develop and produce electronically regulated incubators, establishing a new standard for precision at a time when most systems still relied on mechanical control.

That early commitment to electronic regulation has never wavered. For nearly four decades, HEKA has continuously refined the accuracy, stability, and reliability of its electronic control systems—advancing sensor technology, control logic, and environmental management to deliver ever-greater consistency across temperature, humidity, turning, and cooling cycles.

Today, nearly every major zoo in Germany, along with countless institutions across Europe, operates at least one HEKA incubator. Many return to us with new requirements or specialized applications, confident that we can meet even the most demanding challenges.

A notable example is the development of our plastic rearing boxes, created in direct response to a request from Vogelpark Walsrode. Working closely together, we engineered a solution tailored to their needs. Despite its premium positioning, the product quickly gained widespread adoption among both private and professional poultry breeders—simply because it delivers results. The product speaks for itself.

The same collaborative approach defined the development of our laboratory incubators. In partnership with TU Munich / WZW Weihenstephan and Professor Dr. Schusser, HEKA devices were used in advanced research applications. At nearly the same time, Professor Schusser and multiple laboratories working on behalf of Lohmann independently achieved successful results in in-ovo sex determination using HEKA incubators. These parallel breakthroughs marked a significant advancement and are helping redefine what is possible in modern aviculture.

Today, HEKA incubators—particularly those from the Olympic series—are found in virtually every German university, serving at least one department. They are relied upon across a remarkably broad range of disciplines, including biology (microbiology, virology, veterinary medicine, physiology, animal welfare, behavioral research, and zoology), agricultural sciences, and even specialized applications such as medical technology, pathology, forensics, trauma surgery, and infectious disease research. Numerous federal research institutes also depend on HEKA equipment for their work.

One particularly meaningful milestone came when the Australian government successfully hatched an endangered species using a HEKA Favorit-Olympic 2200 incubator—after years of unsuccessful attempts with equipment from other manufacturers. Moments like these continue to inspire us and reinforce the real-world impact of our technology.

While these specialized applications highlight the breadth of HEKA’s capabilities, our core customers remain hobby poultry keepers, professional breeders, aviculturalists, and small to mid-scale (often organic) poultry farms worldwide. From first-time breeders to seasoned professionals, users consistently achieve outstanding hatching results with HEKA incubators.

Our systems are engineered to be precise, reliable, and intuitive. Comprehensive, clearly written manuals ensure a smooth learning curve, while our commitment to customer support doesn’t end at purchase. With a 99.9% customer satisfaction standard, we remain readily available to provide guidance, troubleshooting, and expert advice—because long-term success is built on trust as much as technology.