Little Giant Incubator Tricks

[Arielle]

On one of the other threads food coloring is added to the water, makes it easier to fill.

I tried this-- the food coloring stained the styrofoam a beautiful purply red. THen I could n't see the water filling up at all. I was so disappointed. I fill it now when I turn the eggs by hand . Without a turner, it is easy to part the eggs and add water. I"m sure it is not so easy if the turner is in the way.

 

[cmom]

For people that use LG, here is an incubator very similar to the LG (Fall Harvest) circulated (w/fan) air and egg turner.
http://www.eggcartons.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=FHP-1000

 

[bradselig]

Local farm store is selling a new redesigned little giant bator. Anyone seen or use one yet? Looks more like a hovabator with a deeper bottom pan. I want to get one now even though I have a cabinet bator lol

 

[barnyardmommy]

I have 2 of the old style LG's. Just bought 1 of the new style LG's. So far I'm not inpressed with it... I can get good hatches in the old style, but if I do the exact same temp & humidity in the new one I get a terrible hatch rate. I guess I need to figure out what I need to do different.

 

[cmom]

I haven't seen the new LGs yet but I incubate in a cabinet incubator and use my LGs and Hova-Bators as hatchers.

 

[jahphotogal]

A friend just lent me his LG still air bator and we're going to try our first-ever hatch with it. I have been reading these threads to try and find out what I can do to maximize success, and it seems like installing a computer fan is very important. But I am electrically illiterate =- it would be great if someone who has done this could walk me through it (with pictures even better) - how exactly I hook it up to a power supply. I get the idea that I'd cut off the thing that connects it to the computer so I have raw wires, but I don't know what I'd connect those wires too. I'm heading to Home Depot and Staples shortly and can get what I need...
I'll also get a thermometor/ hydromeger (is that the spelling?) so I can monitor humidity, and will set up jars with sponges in a spot where I can refill them without opening the bator. Finally from what I've read, I definitely should turn them between days 4-7, but other than that it's optional. Oh, and I'm going to try to insulate the bator because the temp in the room does swing between day and night.

 

[refamat]

I have read that using flat rocks will help stabilize temps while short uncovering of eggs is done. For the really shallow little giant 9200 like I got, some strips of ceramic tile will do fine around the water wells. There is no room for a water jar/wick with my egg turner in it so have to settle on using the water wells in the base.

 

[cmom]

A friend just lent me his LG still air bator and we're going to try our first-ever hatch with it. I have been reading these threads to try and find out what I can do to maximize success, and it seems like installing a computer fan is very important. But I am electrically illiterate =- it would be great if someone who has done this could walk me through it (with pictures even better) - how exactly I hook it up to a power supply. I get the idea that I'd cut off the thing that connects it to the computer so I have raw wires, but I don't know what I'd connect those wires too. I'm heading to Home Depot and Staples shortly and can get what I need...
I'll also get a thermometor/ hydromeger (is that the spelling?) so I can monitor humidity, and will set up jars with sponges in a spot where I can refill them without opening the bator. Finally from what I've read, I definitely should turn them between days 4-7, but other than that it's optional. Oh, and I'm going to try to insulate the bator because the temp in the room does swing between day and night.

If you have a power cube from an old cordless phone or something, Just connect the wires. If is blows correctly your good but if it doesn't just reverse the wires.(thermometor/ hydromeger (is that the spelling?) thermometer/hygrometer.

 

[Arielle]

I use 1 qt mason jars of water. I don't have a turner to compete for the space. I do like hand turning as it makes me check the temps.

I had not wired a thing!!!!!! until I put in a fan on my LG. THat led to making my own incubator and the heating unit required a lot of wiring.

All the instructions are here on BYC , just a matter of finding them. PM me if you need help, I have them in my favs list.

I'm waiting for my first hatch of the year!! LG has been running hot. Usually about 102. Room and house temps cause the LG to work at different temps. WIll see if any hatch.

 

[cmom]

Just had a hatch this past Tuesday and I have another hatch this coming Tuesday. I'm saving more eggs to go into the incubator.