Little Giant Incubator Tricks

[Arielle]

Quote: I have lots of turkeys now!!! lol

I watched the development of the air cell as closely as I did the temps and humidity and it worked out just fine!! I was a complete wreck for a month!! THe LG is so small that it is effected by the ambient temps and humidity.

 

[CrookdBeak13]

I now have 24 eggs in my cooler bator and I have 3/7 hatched out in the LG. I have 4 more set to hatch today and tomorrow! Not bad if I do say so myself!

The coolerbator seemed to hold great temps between 99-101 with bottles of water in it, but once I placed the eggs its holding 98-99 (thermometer doesn't read decimals)....Should I up the bulb wattage or let it be? The eggs have been in since midnight and they set at room temperature for 6 days.
I set 16 eggs in the LG on 1/15/14 and 7 of them were blood rings and removed on day 10. I have 2 eggs in the LG that I am almost *positive* are early deaths but they didn't smell bad and I don't think they are going to explode. Possible HENS: Rhode Island Red, Red Sex Link, Black Jersey Giant, Black Orpinton, White Rock, Jap/Silkie, Silkie! Possible ROOSTERS: Rhode Island Red, Easter Egger, and Black Silkie

This little one is the one that is Black with White under its beak! Any guesses on which cross is what?



Here's hoping the other 4 eggos hatch out some cute lili fuzzy butts!

The awaiting Pipper has arrived! Its black with a lil bit of white under its beak and chest!

 

[cmom]

The ideal temperature is 99.5. When the incubator runs warmer the eggs could hatch a day or two early, if the incubator runs a little cooler the eggs will still develop but may take a day or two longer to hatch. I usually leave eggs in for 25 days and then I check them. I have had some surprises. I will take the eggs and hold them to my ear and tap on the egg and sometimes you may hear the chick inside. I also check to see if any are pipped on the bottom and may be stuck in the shell then I moisten the shell around the pip and carefully pick the shell off around the area pipped and if the chick isn't hatched I will put it back into the incubator. Sometimes they pip but haven't absorbed all of their yolk sack yet and some have. If the chick hasn't hatched but pipped and have been pipped for quite awhile then I would carefully pick away the shell and help it hatch. Usually they are ready, but there is a chance they aren't and some may die. I have lost some but with the numbers of chicks I have hatched over the years the percentage is extremely low. Good luck with your hatches and have fun...

Also when you put the eggs in it takes quite awhile for the internal temperature to come up to temp. After a day you may want to put a higher wattage bulb in. Don't worry about taking the eggs out of the incubator, they will be OK. A broody will get off her nest daily to eat drink and poop and there is nothing to keep the eggs warm when she is off the nest. It takes quite a long time for the internal temperature to go down just as it does to go up when you first put the eggs in the incubator.

 

[CrookdBeak13]

Thats what I figured--temp at 99.5. Instead of adjusting the thermostat that was working great and staying stable, I would just upgrade one of the bulbs to a 60watt vs a 40...I was a little disappointed since I added eggs and then the temp was dropping! The bottom of the cooler is maintaining, its just at the top of the eggs its a little cool...

I have 4 more in the LG right now, and plan on leaving them until Monday if need be. That would be day 25....and will assist if necessary.

 

[cmom]

The temperature will drop some when you first put in the eggs. I don't adjust the temperature until the next day as long as it's in a reasonable range. It takes a day for the internal temperature of the eggs to come up to temp.

 

[CrookdBeak13]

The temperature will drop some when you first put in the eggs. I don't adjust the temperature until the next day as long as it's in a reasonable range. It takes a day for the internal temperature of the eggs to come up to temp.

The eggs have been in about 19hours now, an it still was sitting at 98..so I did adjust just a little and that seems to have done the trick! sitting at 100° right now! Thanks so much for all your help!

 

[Arielle]

Crookdbeak-- hope you have a good hatch!! One thing to consider is storage temps for the eggs prior to setting-- 55 degrees is generally regarded as a better storage temps. Certainly works beter for me.

Good luck!

 

[JWEBB]

Ariel and CrookDbeak13 so happy to hear your have some babies hatching! very excited for you! and yes a little jelly I'm so impatient to get my own chickens and turkeys going..

what kind of turkey babies did you hatch Ariel?

Crookdbeak the babies look good to me hope many more hatch for you.

Sitting on my hands till next week when the thermostat comes in the mail. I did find some nice Blue Slate eggs and some RIWhites I'm going to buy on ebay a longtime seller in IL they have some really pretty pretty birds.

 

[cmom]

I haven't started incubating yet but I have an RIW girl who is seriously broody so I put some RIR eggs under her today. Chicks due to hatch around March 2nd. I ate a couple of the eggs for breakfast to check and see if they were fertile and they were.

 

[Arielle]

Ariel and CrookDbeak13 so happy to hear your have some babies hatching! very excited for you! and yes a little jelly I'm so impatient to get my own chickens and turkeys going..

what kind of turkey babies did you hatch Ariel?

Crookdbeak the babies look good to me hope many more hatch for you.

Sitting on my hands till next week when the thermostat comes in the mail. I did find some nice Blue Slate eggs and some RIWhites I'm going to buy on ebay a longtime seller in IL they have some really pretty pretty birds.

I raise bourbon reds and sweetgrass-- need some eggs in the spring??

I haven't started incubating yet but I have an RIW girl who is seriously broody so I put some RIR eggs under her today. Chicks due to hatch around March 2nd. I ate a couple of the eggs for breakfast to check and see if they were fertile and they were.

yum!!