Little giant incubator help

[Chad Nolen]

I think I made a rookie mistake. I purchased a little giant 11300 incubator with fan and egg turner. I filled the water tray at bottom and added a hygrometer thermometer inside on top of the egg turner to measure temp and humidity.

Should I have added Water right away? And should I have filled it.

Inside thermometer reads 95 degrees with 71% humidity. The unit on top of the incubator reads 99.8. With 49%

 

[maurer]

did you calibrate the thermometers/hydrometers? (i almost always forget to do that) and just how much water did you add?

also according to the instructions, I got it will take about 8-12 hours for the incubator to "level out" as it were.

 

[Chad Nolen]

There is no where to calibrate. Also says nothing about 12 hours. ???

 

[feedman77]

In styro bators it' better to run lower humidity than wetter.

30 percent is a good starting point.

Don't trust the indicators on the incubator. Always use a 2nd thermometer and hydrometer known to accurate.

Search for thread on here LG tips and tricks. Or look for the 10300 thread.

I could lay out a page long thing I had issues with with mine. But it may just have been the incubator I had.

 

[Chad Nolen]

As stated I did put in another thermostat and humidistat.

I am hearing so many things in humidity. Some say 30% some say 60-65. I wish there was a good source???

I don’t think getting it to 30% is even possible though. I only put water now in 2 channels and I’m still at 62%

 

[feedman77]

Humidity is very trial and error. Depends on location, time of year, elevation, and how you heat or cool your house. That' why it is all over. What works great for one person may or may not work for you.

If you haven' set eggs yet drain all the water dry it out let it set awhile running and see if humidity moves. I low humidity incubate (dry) I try 20 to 30 percent during incubation. Then raise to about 70 plus for hatching.
That's what I found worked for me the best.

Usually I can accomplish this by not adding any water or just a small cup full I get to low.

With 2 channels full id say your humidity could be that high or higher. But there is a lot of variables there as well.

 

[Chad Nolen]

THanks for the reply.

I think I’m going to just 1/2 fill 1 channel for incubation. Then fill all 6 the last 3 days or try to get it around 70%. If I’m at 62% with 2 channels that will be about best I can do anyways.

Thoughts?

 

[maurer]

There is no where to calibrate. Also says nothing about 12 hours. ???

Sorry, I meant the separate thermometer and hydrometer you put in. here is the link to the instructions http://www.miller-mfg.com/pdf/instructions/FINAL_9300_10300_Instructions_lo-res_073114.pdf it says in step #3 "run the incubator for at least 8 hours. the heater ON icon will come on and off during this time... always verify incubator temperature with an accurate thermometer"
I let mine run 12-24 hours before I add my eggs.

 

[feedman77]

The more water you put in the higher your humidity.

Based off surface area not depth. Filling all 6 should raise it more.

Try a batch with whatever settings you want. If you have a good hatch use same setting and try to repeat. If your hatch is not too good make a small change to your humidity or temp and try another batch. Hatching is fun and rewarding. But there are times will frustrate you crazy.

Good luck

 

[maurer]

here this thread should help you, it has lots of good information.