"Little Giant" incubator from Tractor Supply?

[jen5680]

I had one and hated it!!!!!! Got a genisis 1588 and LOVE it!!

 

[Celtic Hill]

I love mine!

Remember, Keep it in an area that has a stable temperature and let it run for a week before you use it. It's very important that you have the turner for it. Once you open the box throw the thermometers out, they are Cr@p! Buy a digital wireless one from Wallmart as well as a hydrometer. If it's still air it can run around 100-102. Once it goes steady at that temp, do not use the dial! Use a blanket over it to keep it warm and take it off when it gets hot. If its like 103.2 i will normally just take the red plugs out and it brings the temp back down. Lock down is tough because there is no good way to add water so what I do is put straws down the vent holes in each corner and use a syringe to fill it with water, I take a regular sponge and place it in the corners. Also buy a animal drooping tray at TSC to set it in. (The Bottom of it has holes in it for vent so you don't want water leaking out and running what is is on) And since the tray has little ridges it sits up a little to allow good air circulation.


IF you can spend the money, Buy a Brinsa(sp?) Mini.... But if you cant or dont mind it, get the LG

 

[Tiramisu]

The TSC LG works ok. We got it because we did something wrong with our Hovabator and needed a back up bator. Although I will say the Hovabator Genesis 1588 is Awesome! We do use the LG for staggered hatch, then move the eggs when the ones in the hovabator hatch.
Our first hatch was with the LG though, only 2 chicks out of 5 eggs.

 

[happydog]

My first incubator was an LG that a friend loaned me. At first I had a terrible time regulating the temp and I HATED the thing. But once I got the temperature stabilized it now works great. I actually like it. Of course, it only holds 41 eggs and with all my ducks and chickens laying, it's just not big enough.

I think Tractor Supply has the turners on sale for $40. If I'd had to buy one I'd have gone for the Genesis 1588 from Cutlers. But, for 80 bucks it ain't bad! I ended up buying it from my friend and I still use it. It's a good way to get your feet wet and see if you like incubating. Although, before you buy a new one you might check craigslist. There's usually a couple for sale in there.

This helped me a lot: www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=14596-incubation-cheat-sheet The biggest thing I had to learn was to get the temp adjusted just perfectly AND THEN LEAVE THE KNOB ALONE.

 

[Cattitude]

I just bought a Hova Bator but I have a LG as hatcher/backup. All last year we used a LG with turner to incubate and a LG as hatcher. The temperature dial is finicky, but as others have said, once you get it fine-tuned you're pretty good if your room is a stable temp as well. We used straws to refill the water reservoir. After the first disappointing hatch (with our own mutt eggs, thankfully) we did pretty well with them. My partner in Chicken Math is still running them and our second hatch is due on Friday.

 

[StormyMoon]

I am home now just got back with my LG this is my 4th I love them this one is going to be used as a hatcher while my other 3 incubate.

 

[petunias212]

I just finished hatching with the LG Still Air, but with a turner..out of 24 eggs - only three hatched and lived - I took plenty of notes though and read up a lot of information on these posts - so I'll do a lot of things differently next time - for one thing, I added a pc fan and it has done wonders in controlling my temp and humidity. i have it running right now as I'm expecting some eggs in the mail any day now and even putting some dummy eggs in, the bator has been holding temp and humidity - so I'm hoping for a way better hatch this time....it's really sensitive but I think that once you get the temp and humidity under control, it's actually not a bad little incubator.

 

[bhorner]

I just hatched 12 eggs in an older model Little Giant that was given to me from a friend. All chicken eggs and 2 quail. I had one die during hatching and 3 more die between last night and today. They hatched on sunday. I still have 6 little chickies doing very good in the brooder. From what I understand a few to die is to be expected (even though it made me soo sad)

I think that getting the temp adjusted just takes a little patients but for the most part it did the job! I think I did okay for my first hatch! If you found one for a decent price id say go for it! Good luck to your future hatching

 

[clarmayfarm]

I would definitely go the next step and get a fan, and a turner if you can.

The fan makes for less headaches! The turner is nice, too.

 

[carmeninthecountry]

I bought one for my hubby ( boyfriend then) and we have used it and it is wonderful... I like to turn the eggs and all myself so I can check and make sure they are doing what they should be... We get an excellent hatch rate...and very rarely have them shrink wrap... they all do very very well and they do hold alot of eggs... if you can do tetris...

Hope I could help some