Little Giant Incubator Tricks

[Retrieverluvr]

Thanks for the responses. I guess my question should be more about the temps.......If I put the 3 thermometers in the same place they all read the same....I have one in the middle and the other two on diagonal corners. They all read a different #. It does have a Fan in it and the temp is lowest under the fan. I guess is it correct to keep temps under 101 and above 97? Cause the 3 readings have never all been the same.

I rotate the top and hope it all evens out over time...I think one part of the heating element has a cool spot....

Learning lots and am getting more and more excited every day!!!! Love my chickies!

 

[chickkrzi]

Thanks for the responses. I guess my question should be more about the temps.......If I put the 3 thermometers in the same place they all read the same....I have one in the middle and the other two on diagonal corners. They all read a different #. It does have a Fan in it and the temp is lowest under the fan. I guess is it correct to keep temps under 101 and above 97? Cause the 3 readings have never all been the same.

I rotate the top and hope it all evens out over time...I think one part of the heating element has a cool spot....


Learning lots and am getting more and more excited every day!!!! Love my chickies!

Hey welcome to the LG nightmare. LOL. I've hatch a few clutches of eggs with the LG. and as cmom stated putting it in a room with a stable temp is best. But even then you'll have some temp fluctuating problems. Is just that way with a LG. I've had mine run rock steady for 3 weeks, then BAM can't hold temp between 102-98°. I think some of the most important aspects would be... make only small adjustments, then wait 30 mins or so before any more adjustments are made. Using the old milk jug lid on temp adjustment knob works wonders. Then once I find a setting I like I'll mark a spot on lid and incubator to give me a "home setting ". You may also wont to tape up the 2 larger holes on top of you LC. I'll leave them closed off until lock down. Also I like to use zip lock bags (4 of them) inside to use as heat sinks. Just fill them up less than half way and lay them under the wire flooring. Just don't cover the air holes on the bottom. I know it's hard but you really shouldn't let air temp inside your incubator throw you off. You really need to known what the temp "INSIDE " the egg is. And the way I do that is with a zip lock bag. I fill it up little more than 1/4 full. Then fold it over and tape it, now I use a baby thermometer and check the water temp by sticking in between the fold. Make adjustmens according to read out. Now with all being said. I don't use a Turner, so I'm not sure if you can use the zip lock bag tricks are not. I don't use my LG but one twice a year. So turning eggs by hand isn't that big of a deal. Wish you luck.

 

[chickkrzi]

Sorry and another thing I do is put my thermometer in the middle of my clutch and tie strap it to a small piece of wood so its high is same as center of egg. Just remember even with a auto egg Turner you may want to move your eggs around some ( eggs on outside move to the inner most side) at least once a day. As you have already found out air temp is not even though out a incubator. Again good luck!

 

[cmom]

I am breaking out one of my LG's. I have a broody sitting on some eggs. I have to move her to a brooding pen. I put 8 eggs under her and the last time I checked she had 5 more under her so she is sitting on 13 eggs the last time I checked. When the eggs hatch and she gets off the nest to care for the chicks, I will take the unhatched eggs and candle them and any that look viable will go into the LG. The chicks are due to start hatching on March 2nd. I tried to break her broodyness but she was determined so I gave her some eggs. I think someone else did too.

 

[chickkrzi]

I have 2 ducks go broody at once. I candle there eggs yesterday when they where out getting a bath and something to eat. They are sitting on 16 eggs. I need to separate them but not sure on how I need to do that without scaring one off.

 

[mtman1849]

Quote: If it is to much trouble could you please post a picture of this thanks, Just reading this post has given me hope for my LG up until now I haven't got a 50% hatch rate on in but I will try this on the hatch

 

[cmom]

I installed fans in my still air incubators. I think the because of the air being circulated, the temperature stays more even throughout the incubator. There is only 2 ways to hook up the fan. If you don't have the wires right the fan will blow in reverse and all you need to do is reverse the wires so the fan blows in the right direction. I have my fans blowing up towards the top of the lid of the incubator so the air isn't blowing down on the eggs. If the fan blows down on the eggs, when they start to hatch the air blowing on them can cause the membranes in the eggs to dry out and the chicks to stick in the shells. I took some tubing and made some spacers so there is air space between the top and the fan.

This is my still air Hova-Bator I installed an AC fan in. I wired this one to my heating element.
This had wire nuts I cut off and put new ones on.


This is my LG I installed a DC fan in. I put a separate adapter on it. With this incubator I would
have to cut the wires and lengthen them, I put an adapter on.

 

[chickenman166]

My incubator is not working the heating unit is warm but the mane metel ring is not heating up and this is the first time I used it..... any one know what to do?

 

[cmom]

My incubator is not working the heating unit is warm but the mane metel ring is not heating up and this is the first time I used it..... any one know what to do?

It's hard to say. It could be the heating element is faulty or it could be the thermostat is faulty. If you recently bought it new, I would take it back and exchange it. If you have had it for awhile (less than a year) it may still be under warranty. Maybe you can look on a place like Craigslist and fine a used one for parts.

 

[chickkrzi]

If it is to much trouble could you please post a picture of this thanks, Just reading this post has given me hope for my LG up until now I haven't got a 50% hatch rate on in but I will try this on the hatch

You don't have to use a 12 volt adapter. You can use a 10,8 or even a 6 volt. I used a 9 volt. Your fan just won't run as fast. Also remember to push the air upwards away from eggs not down on your eggs. Just add a few spacers to hold it off lid of your incubator. Good luck