Little Giant Incubator Tricks

[aart]

They looked the same to me as well. Maybe it was a coincidence, but I have heard the same from atleast 2 other people. I'd love to try it again as I was a big fan of the new units.

Lots of variables with a hatch...but you did 'several' and 2 others did also, so...who knows?.....wonder if the change in the housing shape changed the air circulation?

 

[CGinJCMO]

I have an LG incubator running at school so middle school kids can experience it. I wanted them to hatch before spring break so I started them Wednesday Feb. 26. Day one then became Feb. 27. Day 18 will be a Sunday. I'm unable to get into the building on weekends. (makes me worry about the temperatures since I don't believe they keep it warm over night or over the weekend - I get cold when doing the ball games at night or weekend so I covered the incubator with the fleece blanket I use at the games) I'm going to have to hope that I can get to work Monday morning to pull the eggs out of the auto-turner before they start hatching. I haven't done this incubating thing but twice and I seem to remember that I had one start hatching on day 18 (don't know what I did with my incubating notes from last year to double check). I know some people have had chicks hatch while the turner is still moving. I just hope that they all wait for Monday, then that they all finish by Friday afternoon so I can take them home.

CG
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[McCoysOrps]

[COLOR=4B0082]I have an LG incubator running at school so middle school kids can experience it.  I wanted them to hatch before spring break so I started them Wednesday Feb. 26.  Day one then became Feb. 27.  Day 18 will be a Sunday.  I'm unable to get into the building on weekends.  (makes me worry about the temperatures since I don't believe they keep it warm over night or over the weekend - I get cold when doing the ball games at night or weekend so I covered the incubator with the fleece blanket I use at the games)   I'm going to have to hope that I can get to work Monday morning to pull the eggs out of the auto-turner before they start hatching.  I haven't done this incubating thing but twice and I seem to remember that I had one start hatching on day 18 (don't know what I did with my incubating notes from last year to double check).  I know some people have had chicks hatch while the turner is still moving.  I just hope that they all wait for Monday, then that they all finish by Friday afternoon so I can take them home. [/COLOR]

[COLOR=4B0082]CG[/COLOR]
[COLOR=4B0082]. [/COLOR]

Great story but the chicks will be fine even if they do hatch with the turner and they can survive up to 3-4 days with just the egg shell

 

[Arielle]

I have an LG incubator running at school so middle school kids can experience it. I wanted them to hatch before spring break so I started them Wednesday Feb. 26. Day one then became Feb. 27. Day 18 will be a Sunday. I'm unable to get into the building on weekends. (makes me worry about the temperatures since I don't believe they keep it warm over night or over the weekend - I get cold when doing the ball games at night or weekend so I covered the incubator with the fleece blanket I use at the games) I'm going to have to hope that I can get to work Monday morning to pull the eggs out of the auto-turner before they start hatching. I haven't done this incubating thing but twice and I seem to remember that I had one start hatching on day 18 (don't know what I did with my incubating notes from last year to double check). I know some people have had chicks hatch while the turner is still moving. I just hope that they all wait for Monday, then that they all finish by Friday afternoon so I can take them home.

CG
.

Take the eggs outof the turner on Friday. Be sure to leave the LG uncovered as hatching chicks neeed more oxygen at hatching. A little cooler is ok. You might find the hatch has been delayed if the night temps and weekend temps are lowered. The all have the same a mount of yolk to work with, but certainly and early chicks will start using the yolk faster than those still in the egg. Let us know how it goes!!

 

[chicNlove]

H
Holy Jesus

Do you have a fan in yours? I did not buy one but will if it makes a big difference in the hatch rate...thanks for the info an pictures...

 

[cmom]

Quote:
I did put fans in my still air incubators. I think it makes a difference, but that is just my opinion.

 

[McCoysOrps]

Do you have a fan in yours? I did not buy one but will if it makes a big difference in the hatch rate...thanks for the info an pictures...

You dont need a fan but it is good to have one but the hatch rates should be great I put around 12 and every time 10 or more hatch this time I have 41 I'm kinda scared but no you don't have to have a fan my hatch rates were always great without a fan so we will see

 

[mtman1849]

Okay fan is installed and working bringing bator up to temp I will either set eggs late this evening or tomorrow

 

[topdycke]

I am new to chickens and hatching and got the LG because it was readily available and so I would have the space for a dozen eggs. I added a fan and got a thermometer/hygrometer and then another thermometer (the cute one with the frog at Walgreens). That makes three thermometers to drive me crazy. I started the incubator up on Friday and have it going within a range from 98.6 to 100.4. Humidity without anything in it is steady at 15% I saw references between the old and new model but having not see the earlier version I can't compare. I will say that I wish that I would have just gotten the larger Brinsea with the thought of ending up with a better thermostat.

 

[CGinJCMO]

Quote:
School canceled for tomorrow so that's going to be 3 days in a row of not observing temperatures. Next time, I'll wait for after Spring Break. This is becoming even more nerve wracking than watching them hatch.

Thanks Arielle and Carson. I appreciate the insights.

CG