Little Giant Incubator Tricks

[OR4-hmom]

I tried candleing this morning, all my eggs are brown, couldn't see much. Part of the eggs I set were older ones from earlier in the week. Just brought them in and started turning them on the counter. Decided to open one of the older eggs to see what was happening. Everything looked as it should, haven't cooked them yet. I've got a trip to town planned for tomorrow for better viewing equipment.

 

[PrnzsButtrcluck]

I have had very good hatches with no fan. I'm putting a fan in one as an experiment. Good luck! Hope it goes well!

 

[cmom]

The fan only circulates the air so there isn't any hot and cool spots like I had in my still air.

 

[bradselig]

Ok you guys have been so helpful thus far, got another question. I'm going to buy the fan kit and turners for my LG. I think I am going to get the fan kit made specifically for the incubator rather than a pc fan due to it blowing air out the sides rather the top or bottom. With doing this and the turner, I'm going to be investing $80 or so in this incubator. The more I think about it, I'm wondering if id be better off using this money and investing in a different incubator and using the LG to hatch in? I'm thinking about the hovabator genesis 1588 or octagon 20 Eco. I figured posting on this thread would give me to best unbiased opinions as you all seem happy with the LG, but if you could would you upgrade to one of those other two units?

 

[cmom]

I would get another incubator if you are planning on putting that much money into it. Both of the choices you mentioned are good incubators. I do a lot of staggered hatching so I have a cabinet incubator that I incubate in and my LG and Hova-Bators I use as hatchers. The fans I installed in my styrofoam incubators do point up not down on the eggs and the temperature is more constant.

 

[LilyWhite]

So today is day 19 and I came home around 7pm and I left around 5pm and I found that one of my eggs have pipped and the area of the shell came off and the chick has made a little hole and keeps poking his beak in and out and is chirping but it has not began to zip yet. There is the inner lining and it is white, is that good? How long will it be before it decides to come out? And I have another egg that is pipping at the pointed end of the egg, should I help it cuz I have been reading that they will not be able to get out...? My humidity is set at 60 to 65 percent and the temp is ranging from 99 to 100...

 

[LilyWhite]

There is also a lot of chirping going on... I can't wait!

 

[cmom]

I would raise the humidity to around 75% and I have had eggs pipped on the end and the chicks hatched out fine. But with the low humidity you have you run the risk of the chicks getting stuck in their shells. Watch closely and don't help unless you absolutely have to. Many times the chicks are still absorbing the yolk even in the pip stage. They can take up to 24 hours from pip to hatch but if they have zipped and nothing in a couple of hours then you may want to check to see if the chick is stuck then if it is help it hatch. The white membrane is normal. If you have a mister you can mist the eggs.

 

[LilyWhite]

I helped it a lil and now its doing great! While I was gone today 2 more hatched and while I was standing there looking I noticed another had pipped and I took my dog outside and came back and he had already popped out of the shell!!!! He was fast. Then I had one of my bantys hatch and now I'm waiting on 2 more which are also coming out of the wrong end of the egg and 1 that just pipped and one that hasn't pipped yet but its been moving around alot. If these live then ill have 100% hatch rate Whoo Hoooo!

 

[Arielle]

Ok you guys have been so helpful thus far, got another question. I'm going to buy the fan kit and turners for my LG. I think I am going to get the fan kit made specifically for the incubator rather than a pc fan due to it blowing air out the sides rather the top or bottom. With doing this and the turner, I'm going to be investing $80 or so in this incubator. The more I think about it, I'm wondering if id be better off using this money and investing in a different incubator and using the LG to hatch in? I'm thinking about the hovabator genesis 1588 or octagon 20 Eco. I figured posting on this thread would give me to best unbiased opinions as you all seem happy with the LG, but if you could would you upgrade to one of those other two units?

WIth the turner the knob for temperature will need to be adjusted toaccount for the heat put out by the turner. With that in mind, the turner is shut off for the days of hatching and to get the knob regulated again is potentially deadly to the eggs/chicks. So I have not invested in a turner.

One incubator and one hatcher is wonderful, I LOVE IT. Flexibility.For example. I like to hatch chicks a few days before the turkey poults.