- Apr 27, 2013
- 23
- 7
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I'm a newbie, but I've struck upon something that I think will help out a lot of people. When I started incubating, I looked all over for a thermometer that was accurate and precise. I was very disappointed at how far off many of the thermometers were! Some as much as 5 degrees F. And then I figured it out. Forget all those and go to a pharmacy and pick up a digital "fever" thermometer. I bought 4 at $1.99 each on sale. When I got home, I took my temp with each and got 98.6 each time. Perfect!! (My test for them.)
I keep two stuck into the top of my little giant right over the fans. I use a little tissue to "seal it off" cause the fans will blow all the hot air out if I don't. With the push of a button, I get accurate and precise temperature readings within seconds!!! If they ever disagree by more than 0.2 degrees, I swap them to see if one end is warmer than the other. If they still disagree, I get a third and figure out which one is "off". If one is off I toss it out! (I've only seen one that was "off"). My last hatch (only 5 fertile eggs), all of them hatched perfectly. The chicks were strong and haven't had any issues with them. I had very pitiful hatch right before that and I believe it was temperature! I made a few other "upgrades" to my little giant.
First, before I started, I put 12V computer fans in it blowing up. One was not enough, so I managed to fit a second in there, don't ask how!
Second, egg turner. Who has the time and can remember to turn them enough??
My incubator is old. Was never used, but it was stored and one corner had a little "leak" when you put the top on. I went around the entire incubator bottom with weather stripping. It closes much tighter now and I can control humidity and air exchange so much better!
Of course, the above listed thermometers.
I also cut Styrofoam insulation just a little larger than the windows on the LG. At night, I cover the windows with the foam and set something on top of it. Keeps the temp from going low at night when the house cools down.
Now, I'm anal about keeping my LG clean. They aren't designed to be cleaned. So, when I hatch, I have a plastic cake holder that I use the lid off of it. I put it in the incubator turned upside down with paper towels and set the eggs that are to hatch in that. Eggs, chicks, and all the mess stays inside the Tupperware container and off the floor of my little giant. I then add baby food jars of water with sponges sticking out the top to all 4 corners. I can fill them using a cut coat hanger through the vents without ever opening it. Keeps the humidity perfect for hatching.
For cleaning the LG, I used hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle. It should kill germs without leaving a residue that could mess up the next hatch.
Now, after all that I still decided to build my own incubator. For around $50 in controls, you can set up your very own digitally controlled incubator. Of course, you still have to build a box to house it all and a turner and a heat source. I did it and I'm just finishing up now. Hopefully I'll set some eggs in it soon. If things go well, I'll post my design for everyone to see and critique.
If anyone has any other suggestions or helpful advice, let me know!
I keep two stuck into the top of my little giant right over the fans. I use a little tissue to "seal it off" cause the fans will blow all the hot air out if I don't. With the push of a button, I get accurate and precise temperature readings within seconds!!! If they ever disagree by more than 0.2 degrees, I swap them to see if one end is warmer than the other. If they still disagree, I get a third and figure out which one is "off". If one is off I toss it out! (I've only seen one that was "off"). My last hatch (only 5 fertile eggs), all of them hatched perfectly. The chicks were strong and haven't had any issues with them. I had very pitiful hatch right before that and I believe it was temperature! I made a few other "upgrades" to my little giant.
First, before I started, I put 12V computer fans in it blowing up. One was not enough, so I managed to fit a second in there, don't ask how!
Second, egg turner. Who has the time and can remember to turn them enough??
My incubator is old. Was never used, but it was stored and one corner had a little "leak" when you put the top on. I went around the entire incubator bottom with weather stripping. It closes much tighter now and I can control humidity and air exchange so much better!
Of course, the above listed thermometers.
I also cut Styrofoam insulation just a little larger than the windows on the LG. At night, I cover the windows with the foam and set something on top of it. Keeps the temp from going low at night when the house cools down.
Now, I'm anal about keeping my LG clean. They aren't designed to be cleaned. So, when I hatch, I have a plastic cake holder that I use the lid off of it. I put it in the incubator turned upside down with paper towels and set the eggs that are to hatch in that. Eggs, chicks, and all the mess stays inside the Tupperware container and off the floor of my little giant. I then add baby food jars of water with sponges sticking out the top to all 4 corners. I can fill them using a cut coat hanger through the vents without ever opening it. Keeps the humidity perfect for hatching.
For cleaning the LG, I used hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle. It should kill germs without leaving a residue that could mess up the next hatch.
Now, after all that I still decided to build my own incubator. For around $50 in controls, you can set up your very own digitally controlled incubator. Of course, you still have to build a box to house it all and a turner and a heat source. I did it and I'm just finishing up now. Hopefully I'll set some eggs in it soon. If things go well, I'll post my design for everyone to see and critique.
If anyone has any other suggestions or helpful advice, let me know!
