Little Giant Incubator Not Working.

[BirdRanger]

Hello everyone.

I have a (actually 2) Little Giant still air incubators that I got for around $45 a piece. My first batch was fairly successful with 26 eggs hatching out of 36. My second batch was also

successful, with 18 eggs hatching (or something; I can't remember) out of 24. But as I did more incubations, I started getting lower hatch rates. For example, this past week I hatched only

3 eggs out of 51. I think I know what the problem is - low humidity, since I saw several eggs trying to hatch, but didn't make it due to exhaustion. I've filled all the trays up with warm

water, but the humidity wouldn't rise very much. I'm building my own incubator using the Little Giant heating element and thermostat, and adding a fan and bigger box, then adding an

ultrasonic transducer to regulate the humidity to solve this problem. Have any of you'll had this problem? Thoughts? Comments? I'm open to any suggestions.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Hello everyone.

I have a (actually 2) Little Giant still air incubators that I got for around $45 a piece. My first batch was fairly successful with 26 eggs hatching out of 36. My second batch was also

successful, with 18 eggs hatching (or something; I can't remember) out of 24. But as I did more incubations, I started getting lower hatch rates. For example, this past week I hatched only

3 eggs out of 51. I think I know what the problem is - low humidity, since I saw several eggs trying to hatch, but didn't make it due to exhaustion. I've filled all the trays up with warm

water, but the humidity wouldn't rise very much. I'm building my own incubator using the Little Giant heating element and thermostat, and adding a fan and bigger box, then adding an

ultrasonic transducer to regulate the humidity to solve this problem. Have any of you'll had this problem? Thoughts? Comments? I'm open to any suggestions.

I use a LG, but it's tthe 9200. Is yours the 9300? Have you checked the themometer/hygrometer before every hatch? New batteries if you're using independent ones? It could be a matter of them just getting more and more innacurate with every hatch if they aren't checked. My hatches have always improved with each hatch.
I use 30% humidity the first 17 days and 75% at hatch.

 

[BirdRanger]

My incubator is the 9300 model. I do not check the hygrometer and thermometer, but I did put in a separate thermometer/hygrometer in there to monitor the temp and humidity. Although at one

point I read on the independent thermometer inside the incubator 106 'F, but I excused this because it was under the heating element. Maybe I just got a bad batch of incubators. I'm still building

my own since I will be able to control the humidity better.

P.S. Mine aren't battery operated.

 

[CGilbert]

My LG slowly became more and more off with temperature as time went on. I have an additional thermometer/hygrometer inside that I go off of. I don't trust the readings on the LG anymore. Too many failed batches. I had very similar experiences to yours.
I finally broke down about a week ago and bought a HovaBator Genesis.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

The 9300 are very unreliable overall.

 

[Missypipping]

I'm having problems with my Little Giant incubator. I'm preparing for my first batch of eggs to hatch. I've never done this before. No matter what I've tried I can't get the humidity above 50% and I'm on day 18. I'm so scared they won't survive. Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

 

[red horse ranch]

I use small sponges in the incubator and keep them wet. I also use a humidifier in the room.

 

[Missypipping]

Thanks! Can I open the lid? Can I use wet rags
until I get to the store for sponges?

 

[Missypipping]

I'm just so afraid I'm gonna lose them!!

 

[Missypipping]

I tried the sponges and the humidity dropped to 48% and now theres condensation on the windows