Little Giant Incubator Tricks

[Avonshire]

I am on my second hatch with the lg. The first I had only 7 eggs at lockdown and one hatched with a deformity and one I helped hatch because it was shrink wrapped. I ended up putting that one down. I am trying the dry hatch but will watch the air cells. I need to use the temp adjuster trick for next time. I use still air. Last time my chicks hatched late. I had 99.5 at the top of the eggs and when the therm fell after my chick hatched then the temp on the floor was 92 which I thought was mighty cold. This time my temp is higher. 102 at top and 100 in the middle of the eggs. I am also using a turner. I am using the therm that came with the lg AND a digital with hygrometer. I have a turner this time. I tried the fish tank therms but I have a hard time reading them. Plus it would not stay suction cupped. I am on day 7 of hatch number two so we will see what happens. My lg is new and so far seems to keep a stable temp.

 

[Arielle]

I am on my second hatch with the lg. The first I had only 7 eggs at lockdown and one hatched with a deformity and one I helped hatch because it was shrink wrapped. I ended up putting that one down. I am trying the dry hatch but will watch the air cells. I need to use the temp adjuster trick for next time. I use still air. Last time my chicks hatched late. I had 99.5 at the top of the eggs and when the therm fell after my chick hatched then the temp on the floor was 92 which I thought was mighty cold. This time my temp is higher. 102 at top and 100 in the middle of the eggs. I am also using a turner. I am using the therm that came with the lg AND a digital with hygrometer. I have a turner this time. I tried the fish tank therms but I have a hard time reading them. Plus it would not stay suction cupped. I am on day 7 of hatch number two so we will see what happens. My lg is new and so far seems to keep a stable temp.

Good to see that you realized that the temp ON TOP is 102 for a still air incubator like the LG. Hen is 102. I lay my fish tank thermometers among the eggs not using the suction cup at all. Yes they are difficult to read at times and the ticks are 2 degree increments, but I don't seem to have a problem with them going suddenly wonky eg. some digitals can fail.

Each time I set a batch I learned something new. So good luck and have fun!

 

[Avonshire]

Well 99.5 and a late hatch so I upped the temp--now if I get an early hatch then I will know I am too hot! lol! Of course for me who has no patience whatsoever I like an earlier hatch! lol!!! However I appreciate your encouragement because occasionally I get all nervous that my temp is too high and that I am cooking my eggs!!

 

[Arielle]

Well 99.5 and a late hatch so I upped the temp--now if I get an early hatch then I will know I am too hot! lol! Of course for me who has no patience whatsoever I like an earlier hatch! lol!!! However I appreciate your encouragement because occasionally I get all nervous that my temp is too high and that I am cooking my eggs!!

102 should get you an on time hatch. LOL

 

[mrgreenjeans53]

Arielle,

Do you still have Bourbon Red eggs for sale? I would like to get a dozen if you have them.

Please PM me at: [email protected]

Thanks,


Tim

 

[bwalden]

I have the Little Giant bator and have always had pretty decent hatch results provided that I stabilize my temps before I set my eggs. Now I always set my bator in my closet floor, this just keeps the air temps outside the bator more stable. I almost always put very little water in my water trays until day 17/18 (lockdown). Maybe an ounce or so. I have an automatic egg turner so I almost never have to open the unit. I have owned one of these for over 20 years and it still works great. People can complicate this incubator by doing all sorts of modifications, but in my opinion they are not really all that necessary. I have also recently had pretty decent success with shipped eggs. I let the eggs settle at room temp for 12 hours (small end down) in an egg carton prior to setting. So far it's worked pretty good. Like I always say, "If it ain't broke don't fix it"!

 

[Arielle]

I have the Little Giant bator and have always had pretty decent hatch results provided that I stabilize my temps before I set my eggs. Now I always set my bator in my closet floor, this just keeps the air temps outside the bator more stable. I almost always put very little water in my water trays until day 17/18 (lockdown). Maybe an ounce or so. I have an automatic egg turner so I almost never have to open the unit. I have owned one of these for over 20 years and it still works great. People can complicate this incubator by doing all sorts of modifications, but in my opinion they are not really all that necessary. I have also recently had pretty decent success with shipped eggs. I let the eggs settle at room temp for 12 hours (small end down) in an egg carton prior to setting. So far it's worked pretty good. Like I always say, "If it ain't broke don't fix it"!

Some people do think it's broke and sell it!!! I find my LG pretty easy to use now that I know it is strongly effected by the environment that it is in.

 

[Arielle]

I noticed my last hatch was a little different. It is the first time that I overloaded it with 54 eggs and the temp fluctuated oddly. At times it hung at 95 and others 99, even hitting 100. THis is highg considering the high RH for turkeys 80%. I wondered if the egg mass contributed to the increase in temperature? WHen I removed hatched chicks and the remaing eggs were dead and cold the temps dropped. Has this happened to anyone else?

 

[bwalden]

Some people do think it's broke and sell it!!! I find my LG pretty easy to use now that I know it is strongly effected by the environment that it is in.

I can agree for some people it can become complicated to get the temps correct. I personally have never had many problems as long as I did what I was suppose to do and my eggs were viable. I just think for the money I have invested in mine, it does a great job. Sure I could spend more money and get a much fancier model but the Little Giant with auto egg turner is the one for me.

 

[Arielle]

My LG is empty just long enough to wash it well and then add some BR turkey eggs for lockdown.