little giant 9300

[only1bgirl]

Yes I think you're right about the probe @Bamadude, it is a pain! Heat spikes cause late deaths and malpositioning, it's the only consistent cause I can come back to @TheGeekySheep. I watched humidity, increased air flow, installed turner and still the same outcome. I could not control heat spikes. I might just run it empty for awhile and see if I can find a good spot to anchor that probe permanently. On a good note the roily poly is standing on its own this morning!

 

[only1bgirl]

Photo of the adorable chubs!

 

[TheGeekySheep]

Photo of the adorable chubs!

D'awww, silkie babies have such fluffy little faces.

 

[bamadude]

 D'awww, silkie babies have such fluffy little faces.

x2

 

[only1bgirl]

[/IMG]
More chick photos, just can't get over this little fluff ball!

 

[Kherome]

Is the new 9300 little giant (digital) better or worse than the 9200 (non-digital)? I can't find many reviews for the 9300.

 

[bamadude]

Is the new 9300 little giant (digital) better or worse than the 9200 (non-digital)? I can't find many reviews for the 9300.

i think we are the first people reviewing the 9300. The 9200 has been out for a really long time. People usually add a fan and turner. Alot of people tweak on the adjustment knob as well. I believe they are probably pretty equal straight off the shelf. I think as more people use the 9300; collectively we can learn to tweak it to get a "closer to perfect" hatch rate. We have only had a few hatches with this 9300. There are way too many variables involved in the eggs to make an assumption...

 

[TheGeekySheep]

Is the new 9300 little giant (digital) better or worse than the 9200 (non-digital)? I can't find many reviews for the 9300.

I've done two hatches. My very first I had 7 out of 10 eggs hatch with no turner or fan. My second hatch was with shipped eggs and it was a disaster but I blame it on them being scrambled in the mail.

I've heard complaints about the 9200's fiddly adjustment knob so I think the digital control and readout of the 9300 would be a big plus. Also the thermostat being a probe that sits on top of the eggs might give a better temp readout than the 9200 which has it embedded in the top.

The downsides are there's currently no fan kit available so if you want circulated air you'll need to get it preinstalled off of eBay. Also I've found that thermostat probe can get knocked around while chicks are hatching and cause temp spikes, so you'll have to figure out a way to secure it.

My opinion: It's pretty nice so far as budget incubators go, and would be good to learn the variables of hatching (it makes you pay attention to it haha). But if you want to hatch expensive shipped eggs, spend the extra money and go for something more stable.

 

[only1bgirl]

It depends really on how many eggs you want to hatch as to what incubator you should buy. I Bought this because I wanted to hatch a dozen or two eggs and I like that it was made in the US. I had horrible results with shipped and local eggs. The probe is definitely the problem, if you buy this take a couple of days to find a good spot to anchor it , I'm thinking somewhere on the lid. And definitely verify temperature with another thermometer. In retrospect I should of spent the extra money on a Brinsea, I hear nothing but good things about them. Out of 60 eggs, three different hatches I have six living chicks and have done far too many eggtopsies.

 

[TheGeekySheep]

I'll admit my 9300 has gone to live with a family friend. She has a few local Rhode Island Red eggs in there now, I'll let you know later how it went. She's a newbie to incubating as well.

I got a small raise at work so I decided to treat myself to an IncuView incubator.