Little Giant Incubator Tricks

[Beautiful_Chickens]

Now that winter is here some people have asked about keeping the LG temperature more stable. This is what I do. I put a towel over the incubator and it hasn't affected my hatches at all. This is when our power went out last winter and the temp outside was in the 30's. When we lost power, I was 2 weeks into incubation. The temp in the incubator was 78 degrees when I discovered it. I put the incubator on a battery pack with an inverter and brought the temp back up. I was really worried but I still had good hatches.

Hi, I hope you're still following this thread somehow because I'd really like to ask you more about the battery pack. I often have short power outages, but sometimes 4 or 5 hours, and that is so worrisome! Can you tell me more details abou the battery pack like what it would need to be called and all the amps, ohms or whatever I would need to look for if i try to buy one on Amazon or somewhere. (I am NOT good about electrical knowledge so don't know what to even call the numbers!!) Also what do I ask for or search for as far as the inverter? And I'm very curious how long your battery pack is able to keep the incubator at the 99 or 101 needed when the power is out. It does not look big and bulky--looks very handy. Do you recall what price one like yours is? I think since I'm answering such an old post, I'll try to PM you too. hope that is Ok

 

[cmom]

You can buy a battery pack and inverter at Walmart in the Automotive Department. I don't remember how much I paid as it was quite awhile back when I bought them. This is similar to an inverter I have
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Schumacher-XI14-Power-Inverter/15140199

This appears to have an inverter built into it.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Cobra-Electronics-Jump-Starter-Powerpack-1200W-12V-Air/14649556

This is similar to another battery pack / Jump Starter I have. This one does not have a built in inverter.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Stanley-300-Amp-Jump-Starter/14560015

This is another inverter similar to another one I have.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Diehard-200W-Power-Inverter/16550315?findingMethod=rr

I did not plug the turner in when I was on the battery pack with the inverter as I wasn't sure how much of a charge was in the battery pack and how long the power would be off. They do come with an AC charger. Now I check periodically to make sure the battery is full. I also put towels over the incubators to help hold the heat in as when the power went out the outside temp was upper teens/lower 20's.

 

[Arielle]

Really like having this info. THis would be a good set up in an emergency. Thanks for posting the pic and info, CMOM

After Irene last fall and no power for 5 days, what a PITA. Mostly because of eggs in the incubator. DH took every thing to work as he had power there. He would drive home to help me with chores then drive back to work to monitor and hatch the eggs. After becoming a "dad" he became very attached to chickens.

 

[jabowery]

I just got an 85% hatch rate! 23 of 27 eggs hatched with one hatchling mortality. So I have 22 hatchlings in my rabbit cage. This isn't as good as cmom's reported 100% hatches but given my prior hatch rates never broke 50%, I'm very happy with the results.

I basically used cmom's setup but instead of turning by hand I'd pick up the entire incubator and lightly shake it horizontally to move the eggs around. I did this each time I checked the temperature (which was often as I don't trust the thermostat on the LG). Watch out for the plastic windows coming loose after shaking!

Some other minor differences from cmom's:

• I used a covered computer fan for circulation.
• Until the last few days I only filled the sponge cups and I opened the incubator to put the water in (I didn't have those wash bottles with the narrow spout that fits into the tiny holes above the sponge cups).
• I used a washcloth rather than paper towel to spread the moisture around the floor.
• During the last few days I also opened the incubator to pour water onto the washcloth to keep the humidity very high.
• I had a medical thermometer sitting in one of the large holes at all times (the other hole was open).
• I used the cheap hygrometer from Walmart, with it sitting inside and added water whenever I saw it dip below the desired level.
• During the hatch, whenever I opened the lid to add water, I'd also remove the chicks. I did this, in part, because my fertile eggs are gathered over a number of days, so I can't expect all my chicks to hatch before the first ones start starving due to their egg yoke sacs being consumed.

 

[Arielle]

Fantastic job!!! 85% is terrific. WHoot!!

Thanks for sharing all the details--incubating is all in the details. I also pull the chicks out as I don't loose much in humidity either. GOOD JOB !

 

[cmom]

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

 

[QuackerJackFarms]

Has anyone ever had to replace the fan in the LG? Mine just shot craps. l checked connections everything appears fine..

I was going to replace just the fan, but would like to know, if anyone has done this, where to purchase one from. I can't find a LG website. There are a couple on Ebay... Just checking with Ya'll first.

 

[Arielle]

Has anyone ever had to replace the fan in the LG? Mine just shot craps. l checked connections everything appears fine..

I was going to replace just the fan, but would like to know, if anyone has done this, where to purchase one from. I can't find a LG website. There are a couple on Ebay... Just checking with Ya'll first.

I used a pc fan ( radio shack) about $10 and found an old adapter; Radio shack likes to charge more for those. You can wire them together with some care and electrical tape. I thought the fan for the LG was rediculously expensive so I made my own set up. Not saying the PC fan works as well as the one designed for the LG, just saying it worked well for me. Maybe someone has used both and can address that point.

Wiring info is here on BYC.

 

[QuackerJackFarms]

I used a pc fan ( radio shack) about $10 and found an old adapter; Radio shack likes to charge more for those. You can wire them together with some care and electrical tape. I thought the fan for the LG was rediculously expensive so I made my own set up. Not saying the PC fan works as well as the one designed for the LG, just saying it worked well for me. Maybe someone has used both and can address that point.

Wiring info is here on BYC.

Wow thanks! I'll talk to my hubby about that. He is pretty "electrically inclined". (My Father in Law is an electrician.) I think the price on that fan is ridiculous too. It's the same price as a brand new still air!

 

[Arielle]

Wow thanks! I'll talk to my hubby about that. He is pretty "electrically inclined". (My Father in Law is an electrician.) I think the price on that fan is ridiculous too. It's the same price as a brand new still air!

Yes, very expensive.

There is only one location to put the fan, at least there was on my LG model. Between the 2 windows next to the heating control box. I pushed the pan against the top to locate four hole and punched thru the styrofoam with a thin wire, and followed with a sharpened pencil. Twisties tied to the corner pillars of the pc fan ; then thread thru the holes and twist two together. I liked having some flexability in the height of the fan AND lowering one side to angle the fan a touch to make the air flow a different direction. Also be sure to draw air UP and not blow down on the eggs (creates uneven drying of the eggs) . I used the red plug over the fan to moderate the air flow out of the LG. Open plug = more air leaving LG = increase fresh air coming in = cooling down the temperature.