Little Giant Incubator Tricks

[duluthralphie]

Our house stays between 70-72 all day and night, and I keep the incubator on the kitchen counter where I can monitor it frequently. I will know to stay away from styrofoam incubators from now on. I'm a student nurse and just don't have a ton of time to experiment with trying to get it to work. So aside from ambient temp, is there anything I can do to prevent fluctuations?

You could change out the thermostat with a digital electronic one. they have a tighter range of temps.

 

[cshma11]

You could change out the thermostat with a digital electronic one. they have a tighter range of temps.

This is digital though

It keeps spiking today and I don't know what to do.

 

[duluthralphie]

This is digital though

It keeps spiking today and I don't know what to do.

Hmm How accurate is the thermometer? I use a medical one that tracks a womens fertility cycle to check the accuracy of the cheap digital thermometers I use. It is surprising how far off they can be.

I have no idea what to tell you about the digital thermostat. Sorry.

 

[cshma11]

Hmm  How accurate is the thermometer?  I use a medical one that tracks a womens fertility cycle to check the accuracy of the cheap digital thermometers I use. It is surprising how far off they can be.

I have no idea what to tell you about the digital thermostat.  Sorry.

I have a basal body temp thermometer too, I will check with that! Thanks!!

 

[chickforchicks]

Alright, I read through the whole thread and have taken as many of the precautions as I can. I'm waiting on my 3rd therm/hygrometer to come and I'll have to wait for the PC fan install for my next hatch. Room temp eggs went in and I'm not touching for 5 days. 100 degrees on wire with a sponge under the holes in case the RH drops below 35%, it's in the most stable room in the house, parchment paper under the wires for easy cleanup, milk cap on adjuster, and I will begin turning at day 5. I know I'm missing the fan (blowing up next time) and a turner but for my initial trial it will have to suffice. Thanks for all of the advice and keep your fingers crossed for me!

 

[duluthralphie]

Alright, I read through the whole thread and have taken as many of the precautions as I can. I'm waiting on my 3rd therm/hygrometer to come and I'll have to wait for the PC fan install for my next hatch. Room temp eggs went in and I'm not touching for 5 days. 100 degrees on wire with a sponge under the holes in case the RH drops below 35%, it's in the most stable room in the house, parchment paper under the wires for easy cleanup, milk cap on adjuster, and I will begin turning at day 5. I know I'm missing the fan (blowing up next time) and a turner but for my initial trial it will have to suffice. Thanks for all of the advice and keep your fingers crossed for me!

You can use a syringe to squirt some water into the foam incubators without opening it. Just put a rubber or plastic tube on the syringe and add water to the sponge. 35% is kind of low. I run above 60 the last few days.

 

[chickforchicks]

You can use a syringe to squirt some water into the foam incubators without opening it. Just put a rubber or plastic tube on the syringe and add water to the sponge.  35% is kind of low. I run above 60 the last few days.

I've been using a straw and putting a little in at a time so I don't drown them. I positioned the sponged directly under the holes and will add a jar of water with more sponges for the lockdown portion. Thanks!

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Alright, I read through the whole thread and have taken as many of the precautions as I can. I'm waiting on my 3rd therm/hygrometer to come and I'll have to wait for the PC fan install for my next hatch. Room temp eggs went in and I'm not touching for 5 days. 100 degrees on wire with a sponge under the holes in case the RH drops below 35%, it's in the most stable room in the house, parchment paper under the wires for easy cleanup, milk cap on adjuster, and I will begin turning at day 5. I know I'm missing the fan (blowing up next time) and a turner but for my initial trial it will have to suffice. Thanks for all of the advice and keep your fingers crossed for me!

Are these shipped eggs with air cell damage?

You can use a syringe to squirt some water into the foam incubators without opening it. Just put a rubber or plastic tube on the syringe and add water to the sponge.  35% is kind of low. I run above 60 the last few days.

Standard size eggs I run 30% for the first 17 days and monitor air cells. Low humidity methods for the first 17 days (if you're not in a high elevation) is actually more preferable for many of us. Lock down through hatch I actually aim for 70/75% because I am hands on and open my bator often during that time.

 

[duluthralphie]

Are these shipped eggs with air cell damage?
Standard size eggs I run 30% for the first 17 days and monitor air cells. Low humidity methods for the first 17 days (if you're not in a high elevation) is actually more preferable for many of us. Lock down through hatch I actually aim for 70/75% because I am hands on and open my bator often during that time.

With the foamies I think you are correct. it is hard to keep the moisture up in them. I hatch in my foamies once in a while now, but moved on to cabinets, so I think I was low on my 60-65%. Thanks for correcting me.

It kind of takes some time IMH to find what works best in your climate and ambient humidity levels,

 

[chickforchicks]

They are not shipped, my chickens are on the verge of getting out of freeloader status but my husband got a dozen eggs from a friend. They're RIR hen mixed with a BR rooster I gave him. We will see how this test run plays out. I only have the 1 LG at the moment, no cabinet. I want to hatch in my classroom but didn't want to traumatize the kids with my first attempt if it goes south.