Little Giant Incubator Tricks

[Arielle]

I compared it and it looks as if it is doing what its supposed to. I am just waiting now. It is day 18 and I am hoping to have some baby chicks.

How did it go???

 

[OR4-hmom]

Looks like I'll only be getting BLRW'S this time.

Got another thermometer/hygrometer yesterday, nice to have it confirm the other one I've been using, temp 101° at top of egg and humidity between 30/35%. It is easier to read than my other ones.

 

[Kunjun]

Question ... If I'm running still air, should the temp be at 101 or at 99.5?

 

[Arielle]

Question ... If I'm running still air, should the temp be at 101 or at 99.5?

top of eggs should be 102 as I remember--been a while since running the still air. You can google little giant for on- line instruction booklet. You need to google by the manufacturer name. Miller, I think. EDITED TO ADD: I just looked at the PDF file of the instructions for the LG and it does NOT list the temperature for chickens eggs. SO where dd I get the number 102???

In a still air the temp vaires by air layers, hotter at the top and cooler at the bottom. WHich is why it is a single layer system. In my cooler bator, I use a fan and the whole thing stays pretty consistent, not perfect.

 

[Kunjun]

Will do! Thanks Arielle

 

[Arielle]

Will do! Thanks Arielle

Just did a little researching.

102 on top of the eggs. Understand the hatching time can vary: the eggs laying on the side will " cook" faster than those in a carton in an upright position.

As I remember 102 is the temperature of the hen.

Are you dry hatching? WHat RH are you shooting for?

 

[Kunjun]

Just did a little researching.

102 on top of the eggs. Understand the hatching time can vary:   the eggs laying on the side  will " cook" faster than those in a carton in an upright position. 

As I remember 102 is the temperature of the hen. 

Are  you dry hatching? WHat RH are you shooting for?

RH? And I guess I would be dry hatching. I currently have them on the egg turner. I set them tonight. This is my first hatch so appreciate all and any advice.

 

[LilyWhite]

Its going really good, I have 2 more to hatch. The only thing now is when a chick hatches it shoots the humidity up but it doesn't seem to hurt anything. I will post pictures of all of them when they get settled. They r different kinds of chicks so they are all different colors and they r so cute!

 

[LilyWhite]

How did it go???

. I have 2 more to hatch. The only thing is when a chick hatches it shoots the humidity up but it doesn't seem to bother anything. Ill post pictures when they get settled in

 

[Arielle]

Quote: Since this is your first time hatching andusing the LG, my suggestion is get a note book.

Record day and time, egg turning O or X, . %RH, temp,

THe eggs need to lose some moisture so that the chick will be the right size to turn inside to zip the egg. I check the air cells and compare it to a chart I keep next to the incubator. THe chart shows size of the "air cell on 7th, 14th and 18th day " (google this and you should find a couple diagrams to print). HOpefully you are incubating medium brown or whitish eggs-- these are easy to look thru and see the air cell.

Humidity is adjusted to keep the development of the air cell in your eggs in synch with the diagrams. You can increase humididy and decrease it as needed. I can use dry hatching in the summer ( no added water to the wells; but need to add to the wells in the winter because the air is drier and we use a wood stove. So, you will need to find what works for you. KEEP RECORDS.

For most people I suggest starting out at 30-40%, and it will fluctuate day to day, and that is ok. I check a few eggs on day 5--if the air cells are bigger than the day 7 diagram, increase the moisture. If they are smaller, recheck on day 7, if it is a match, keep doing what you are doing; if too small, get the water out of the incubator; if the air cells are too big, keep the humidity higher. THe goal of the corrections are to be on track by day 14, adjust humidity again as need be. AIr cells need to be surprisingly big by lock down. I have delayed lockdown when air cells are too small (I didn't increase the RH for hatching).

THis is why record keeping is very important.

ALso, remove the moisture out of the LG is very difficult--it seems to absorb into the styrofoam. My suggestion is to start with dry wells if possible. ( IF you have already filled the wells, don't panic. start with filled wells)

Keep records. Can't say this often enough!

I have found this to be a main cause of chicks failing to hatch for newbie hatchers.