incubating with LG...help!

[ChickenChik]

My husband bought his first incubator! It is a little giant still air. We are regulating the temp and everything before we put the eggs in but I am wondering how I am going to add water to the incubator. Do I just open it to add water and if so how am I going to add water during lockdown. He did buy the egg turner so we will not be turning eggs but I am very nervouse about this experience. Any tips about using the LG. I heard it was a good starter incubator. I would love anyone that has used the LG and any tips.

 

[HennyJenny]

During lockdown I add water using a straw poked through the vent. I use a little medicine cup from a bottle of children's medicine to pour it in there - the little syringes they give out with kid's meds at the pharmacy would be pretty handy too. During the first 18 days - I only put a small amount of water in one of the outer trays. During lockdown I have had to put water in all of the trays. The more humid the weather the fewer times I need to put water in. I have two LG's - they take a little bit of effort to get a steady temp but it is much easier if they are located in an area that doesn't experience any draft or temperature changes. I'm only on my third hatch so I'm hardly an expert but as long as I am careful about adjusting the temp and only turn the "dial" a very little bit at a temp I have had pretty good luck keeping my temp stable. The only real piece of advice I have is to get the temp stable before you put the eggs in there, then put the eggs in and leave the temperature knob alone for at least eight hours. If you keep turning it up trying to get it back up to where you want it, you will end up with a high temp that will freak you out (guess how I know this

)

Good Luck!
Jenny

 

[JD]

This is what I use to add water thru the little holes from the top. I used aquarium tubing and made a hole in the cap and used hot glue to secure it. Works pretty good.

 

[ChickenChik]

So when not during lockdown do you just open it to add water? Also, on day 18 do I just unplug the automatic turned and leave the eggs in the trays?

 

[Tala]

Quote:
Um yea, just open it. I hand turned and so I added water at night when I turned the eggs before bed. I had 17 out of 20 hatch so it must have worked

Remember in nature the mama hen does get off the nest to eat and poop, so the eggs will be just fine for a short time.

As already stated, DO NOT open during lockdown though, add water with a straw or something similar

 

[newlyweds]

Quote:
Its best to take the eggs out of the turner for hatching (otherwise they can get their legs stuck in the turner) and just lay them on their side or with large end up in a egg carton. If you do a search you can see the egg carton method for hatching.

 

[panner123]

You will hear things here about the LG that no preacher should here. Yet you will hear others praise them. I am one of the latter, but it took me some time to learn to use them. The most important thing to remember is, IT IS TOUCHY. When adjusting the temp, do so sparingly, a little goes a long way. One thing no one thinks about are the air holes on the bottom, place the bator on 1" x 1" pieces of wood. This adds to the air flow. Start with both red plugs out and watch the humidity. If it drops to much, put one plug back in. Still dropping, turn the other plug over and cover half the other hole with it. This can also raise the temp so be careful. You can adjust the humidity and temp using these plugs. Long before you ever put an egg in the bator, run it for a week with bags of sand, water or rocks in it. This will give you an idea of how it will react with eggs in it. Whatever you have in it, think of it as if it were eggs. Turn them and add water to the bator. After a few dozen hatches the light will come on and your hatches will become successful. Many like to candle thier eggs, which is fine. I do not, I candle them as I put them in (to check for cracks) and agian on day 18 when I take the turner out (tp check for duds). I perfer the dry method of incubation, never letting the humidity get above 40% for the first 18 days. I don't worry about it being to low unless it goes below 25% for a day. Then for the last 3 days I kick the humidity up to 60%. Others will spend hours looking at the bator, I check it in the morning while having coffee and again at night just before I go to bed. The bator will take care of itself, the more I mess with it the worse it gets. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

 

[zatsdeb]

the best way I get my humidity up and don't have to add more water is to put a maxi pad in when you stop turning and soak it real good, works like a charm!

 

[they'reHISchickens]

I use a baster to add water during lockdown. I use straws to sorta separate the eggs to keep them away from the watering hole.
After our first LG failure, we added a computer fan, weatherstripping between the two halves, and placed the whole thing in a large box to try to maintain a more even atmosphere. I have a big blanket covering the big box.
We had major trouble maintaining humidity during lockdown. This time i used a terry cloth under the watering holes to absorb and release water. Sponges were not enough.
I second moving the dial only a teensy weensy bit at a time and let it go hours inbetween adjustments.
It took hours to regain temp after we removed the turner and candled, etc at day 18.

 

[ChickenChik]

So on day 18 I need to place something in the bator like the maxi pad stated earlier (which is hillarious by the way) to retain the humidity? Also for those of you that take your eggs out of the tray, do y'all take the whole tray out and place them back in the incubator? Sorry for the silly question but we are new and very worried mommy and daddy. I have been researching a lot and y'all have definately helped! Thanks everyone!