Bator making me batty!!!

[honeydoll]

I have the LG 9200 as well. UGH! I have had it plugged in for two days trying to get 100F and it is either way high or way low. I know your frustration. Very annoying. Hope I can hatch something out of it. Good luck. This may seem like a stupid question, but where do you put the water? Is it in the "ditch" around the edge or just the two slots in the middle? Anyone know?

 

[crossedwires]

i have heard alot on here about problems with theese, i dont know the make myself and have never seen one, but if someone can give me details of the type of heater and thermostat and idealy a few good pics of the setup, i think i might be able to help

 

[SportChick]

Quote:
Mine has 3 wells. One is sort of "O" shaped in the middle and then there are 2 linear wells on either side. If I fill up all 3 my humidity goes up to about 55%.

@TigerJane: good luck with your eggs.

 

[jettgirl24]

Ok well I moved my bator and the temp is holding!!! Hopefully I didn't do damage to my babies while I figured this thing out. I tried to candle yesterday but I can't see much in those dark eggs. There's a largish dark blob and I think maybe I can see the air sack? I can't make out any veins but I'm hopeful since they definitely look different than infertiles. I'm gonna try again with the other half of the eggs on Sunday and see if I can make out more detail.

 

[LaurenM23]

Don't feel bad...I've got that same 'bator! This is my first hatch (check my page for a blog on it) and I doubt that I will do doing tons of hatching, so I went with the least expensive and easiest to acquire incubator (since they are at TSC). I had read plenty of mixed reviews, like you, but took a chance.

My first one was a cinch to set up. I followed the instructions to the letter. The light came on and...nothing. The darn thing wouldn't heat! My first try and the thing was already busted! TSC exchanged it quickly and I set it up all the same. This one reached 99.5-100 degrees (confirmed by my Spot Check) quickly and has maintained super well, thus far.

I added my new eggs today, it dipped signficantly (as expected), but rebounded fairly quickly and was looking good when I left home. I'm having to play with the water level a bit, but fingers crossed that this one works ok. One thing that I had noticed is that the temperature settings are VERY sensitive. To adjust it, I literally squeezed the knob more than turned it to keep from spiking either direction.

If I really get into hatching, I will likely upgrade to something a little better in terms of reviews and proven consistency.

 

[jettgirl24]

I think my biggest problem was the location. I thought the temp was steadier in our laundry room but it seems I was wrong because I moved it into the spare bedroom and no more temp problems so far. I had to play with water levels too. My friend said just fill up all the resevoirs but she didn't have a hygrometer when she hatched. I bought one and found when the resevoirs were filled humidity was 80%! I just add a few tablespoons to the side channels as needed and humidity in that bator has been great. I'm happy about that cuz it'll be easy to get the humidity up at lockdown I think. Now that I've figured it out the LG might be ok, it's just been a wild first week though!

 

[Cattitude]

I'm glad you got your 'bator stable, and hoping for a great hatch! We have two LGs and the controls are really sensitive. I've been wondering if I could attach a larger diameter knob to the one on the control panel to make it easier to adjust. I've also been pondering making an incubator and using the turner from the LG in it.

We've had some good hatches in these incubators, but I'll definitely want to get/make another before long. (Or just let the silkies do the job once they get old enough!) *advertiser voice* Silkie - The incubator of choice! Hatch your own today!

 

[Missoula Chicken Lady]

I have tried three hatches in both the still air and the fan LG incubators. Have had TERRIBLE hatches -- worst was 1/39. Some of my problems may have been because I ordered hatching eggs from across the country, but even with my chicken's "fresh" eggs the hatches have been poor. Added two sponges to increase humidity, decreased the amount of eggs I put on the turner, nothing's helped so far. When I break open the eggs that didn't hatch, the embryos/chicks are in all different stages of development.

Can't figure out what's going on....

What are these other incubators you are talking about? Are any affordable???

 

[LaurenM23]

The hubby just called to report on my LG for day 1. As I posted previously, I noted the dip and rebound when I added my eggs this morning. He says that the temp ended up leveling off at 100.0 for the longest point, then rose slightly to 101.4. He was a little nervous, so he backed it down ever so slightly (the "squeeze" technique on the knob). It went to 98.3. He squeezed again, 100.0, so he quit! haha I'm thinking that the eggs had absorbed the heat and had begun to radiate on their own a bit. He added more water and has the humidity at 52%, which is an improvement for me!

As with the OP's humidity, I'm certain that where you are located and how your room is set up has significant impact. The humidity in our home is low (40-41%), but without AC in Summer, it would be in the 70s or 80s for us. I wish that the instructions for the LGs were a little more detailed in this regard. I had filled the grooves about half way as a tester and got about 50%, but for true operation, it's looking like more is needed to start and maintain. I'm just glad to not be alone with these issues!

 

[Tigerjane]

I'm having issues maintaining humidity. I'm in central Texas, with air conditioning, so the humidity in my home is low. I have the grooves full, and have a soaked sponge in there, and the highest I've been able to reach is 44%, and that doesn't last for long (maybe 10 min, then it starts to drop again). I didn't experience any temperature changes when I put the eggs in, but the incubator continues to fluctuate between 97 and 102, like within 10 minutes of each other, with no touching of the controls or opening of the lid from me. This things is just wack! I'm hoping it's more the average that counts, because the average of 97 and 102 is 99.5 exactly. Just to be certain, I'm wanting my humidity to be between 50 and 60%, yes?