LG incubator madness - very stable, then added water/eggs and insanity

[superchemicalgirl]

I upped the temp the smallest increment I could this morning. It was stuck around 99.1 (with the wiggler still reading in the 95s) 24 hours after setting the eggs.

I opened the top also to move the eggs around this morning, but with the two water bottles in there it regained temperature very quickly.

 

[rancher hicks]

This is Maine in winter. Nothing is 80 degrees. We heat with pellets and a wood stove. The rooms heated by the pellet stove are much more stable temp wise.

I put the other set of eggs in this morning, the bottom is now reading 98.x with the wiggler reading 95.5. Gotta open it soon to turn them and then I'll leave it alone until it's time to turn in the morning. I'll make the call whether to adjust it back up in the morning. That'll be 24 hours. But this is exactly what I saw with the first trial (that I aborted). The eggs this time were proper temperature - some came out of my Brinsea, the rest were room temp.

I'm reading a book by folks who homesteaded in Maine years ago. I did not know until recently that most of Maine is wooded/forests. There was someone on the forum years ago who had a house for sale in Maine. It's much too cold for me.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

I'm reading a book by folks who homesteaded in Maine years ago. I did not know until recently that most of Maine is wooded/forests. There was someone on the forum years ago who had a house for sale in Maine. It's much too cold for me.

It's not that bad, most of the time. You get used to it. The cold does bother me, but there's ways to dress to minimize it. The dark is what really gets me. At least the days are getting longer, now. It is usually mid-February before we see the sun on work days.

Every place has its negatives... the positives of Maine outweigh the cold/snow and dark.

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

Is it possible the heating element is on the fritz?
I have a still air LG, which I received second hand (and who knows how long my friend had it). I use it a lot, and its surprisingly stable as long as the house temp stays stable too. And, it usually only takes mine a few hours to go back up to temperature when I first put the eggs in and maybe 15 minutes after I open it to turn.
We heat with a wood stove, so I don't usually incubate during the winter time. I had some eggs shipped to me, so its in use now. The temp swings some, but not terribly.
I hope you get it figured out!

 

[rancher hicks]

It's not that bad, most of the time. You get used to it. The cold does bother me, but there's ways to dress to minimize it. The dark is what really gets me. At least the days are getting longer, now. It is usually mid-February before we see the sun on work days.

Every place has its negatives... the positives of Maine outweigh the cold/snow and dark.

Well now I would like to visit and we've talked about it but I have arthritis and even in NY where I am it gets too cold. I need a warm climate in the winter now.

Oh and you need to post pics. I love to see pics.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

Is it possible the heating element is on the fritz?
I have a still air LG, which I received second hand (and who knows how long my friend had it). I use it a lot, and its surprisingly stable as long as the house temp stays stable too. And, it usually only takes mine a few hours to go back up to temperature when I first put the eggs in and maybe 15 minutes after I open it to turn.
We heat with a wood stove, so I don't usually incubate during the winter time. I had some eggs shipped to me, so its in use now. The temp swings some, but not terribly.
I hope you get it figured out!

Thank you for your thoughts. The heating element seems to be okay, because without major changes, the whole thing stays pretty rock solid stable. For example, it's been at 99.3 all morning. Only when I make major changes does it swing. I still can't figure out the 95 degrees water wiggler and how that fits in. I'm apt to not believe it now as 3 other thermometers are reading 99.x in the bottom of the incubator. We'll find out at hatch time, I guess.

I personally like to hatch this time of year. I get POL pullets in the spring, when everyone else has babies to sell and people are looking for hens. They generally sell quickly. Plus I eat the extra boys, and I like being able to do my first processing in May. Last year I hatched very late and stupidly was doing my last processing in November. Brrr.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

Well now I would like to visit and we've talked about it but I have arthritis and even in NY where I am it gets too cold. I need a warm climate in the winter now.

Oh and you need to post pics. I love to see pics.

Here's a couple Maine non-incubating pictures for you. I like to take pictures of the lighthouses.

Marshall Point Light with sailboat


Spring Point Ledge Breakwater, Portland


Cape Elizabeth Head, Portland


Owl's Head


Rockland Breakwater


Pemaquid Point and reflection


These were all taken late this summer when a friend came up. I love it when they do - most want to go see the lighthouses and I'm happy to oblige. Now, interior Maine is way different than the coast.

 

[rancher hicks]

Here's a couple Maine non-incubating pictures for you. I like to take pictures of the lighthouses.

Marshall Point Light with sailboat


Spring Point Ledge Breakwater, Portland


Cape Elizabeth Head, Portland


Owl's Head


Rockland Breakwater


Pemaquid Point and reflection


These were all taken late this summer when a friend came up. I love it when they do - most want to go see the lighthouses and I'm happy to oblige. Now, interior Maine is way different than the coast.

Very nice. I'm already itching for a vacation away. Soon as DW is done with her radiation we are soooooooo outta here.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

Very nice. I'm already itching for a vacation away. Soon as DW is done with her radiation we are soooooooo outta here.

I suggest coming in summer. That's like... the second week in July.

 

[rancher hicks]

I suggest coming in summer. That's like... the second week in July.

Now is the second week in July your entire summer?

I wouldn't want to get caught in a N'or Easter.