Little Giant Incubator Tricks

[quailtrail]

Definitely a light shell color makes canding so much easier. lol

You didn't mention comparing the air cell of the candled egg to a chart to know where is is supposed to be-- a specific amount of moisture neeeds to leave the eggs by day 7, 14 and 18. By checking this, you have enough time to adjust the humidity to make sure the right amt of moisture is in the egg on day 18. 

Do you have a diagram or chart of the air cell ond ay 7, 14  and 18?

sorry yes I compared to the chart. Most matched up but some hardly changed???

 

[Arielle]

Quote:
I wonder if those that don't change much died early or something else: differences in size of egg, difference in pourousness, or location of egg in the LG.

NExt question-- do you rotate the eggs into different location within the LG? Sometimes I rotate the top, rather than move the eggs to a different corner.

 

[CGinJCMO]

Sorry to interrupt, but I have a quick question: added a computer fan to LG , have it blowing up to one of big air vents in lid. Should I feel air moving? I see blades spin, but don't feel any breeze so I wonder if I really converted it to a circulated air incubator and therefor should be using 99-100° temperature or if there isnt enough air movement and I should be using the higher temperatures of 101-102°. I bought a new thermometer that has a probe that sometimes falls below the turner and shows the temperature is a couple degrees lower under there. I am attempting my last incubation of the year-successful or not (last two NOT thus the one more try). I do trust the thermoter, been tested with three oter thermometers.

Thanks,
CG

 

[quailtrail]

I wonder if those that don't change much died early or  something else: differences in size of egg, difference in pourousness, or location of egg in the LG.

 NExt question-- do you rotate the eggs into different location within the LG?  Sometimes I rotate the top, rather than move the eggs to a different corner. 

I keep them in the same place in the turner, I then moved these ones to a different incubator for lockdown. I didn't move them at all during lockdown.

 

[Arielle]

Sorry to interrupt, but I have a quick question: added a computer fan to LG , have it blowing up to one of big air vents in lid. Should I feel air moving? I see blades spin, but don't feel any breeze so I wonder if I really converted it to a circulated air incubator and therefor should be using 99-100° temperature or if there isnt enough air movement and I should be using the higher temperatures of 101-102°. I bought a new thermometer that has a probe that sometimes falls below the turner and shows the temperature is a couple degrees lower under there. I am attempting my last incubation of the year-successful or not (last two NOT thus the one more try). I do trust the thermoter, been tested with three oter thermometers.

Thanks,
CG

We can hold multiple conversations - -

Hold a fine thread over the hole and you will seee the movement . . . or not. Because of the added air flow, I oven cover that hole and make all the air push around the top of the LG to mix around. I do think the LG with a fan has greater air circulation and hence oxygen availabilty for chicks) than a still air. ANd I can adjust the temps by opening or closing one or two of the red plug vents, or partially covering one of the holes.

Measure the temp at the floor of the LG at the mesh to see if the air flow is stirring up the air: IF still air the temps will be very graded: coldest at the floor and at the middle of the egg height about 99.5 and hotest on top of the eggs (102), or if mixing well, the temps will be closer to 99 at all three levels. HOpe this makes sense if not, let me know.

 

[Arielle]

Quote: THat makes sense. ALlows the eggs to be at two different RH to maximize hatching.

I'm sorry I am out of ideas. If I think of something else, I'll bring it up.

 

[quailtrail]

@Arielle I just purchased new thermometer both digital so I can see how accurate the temps were. Maybe I should invest in a fan

 

[Arielle]

@Arielle I just purchased new thermometer both digital so I can see how accurate the temps were. Maybe I should invest in a fan

THere was a non-scientific study I read where the hatching results were markedly better using a fan in the LG. SO I put in a computer fan in mine-- my first effort at wiring anything!!! I was nervous and shaky, and plain scared!!! Lot cheaper than buying the LG fan-- which seems rediculously expensive! BUt it works so that is fine for those who wish to purchase the fan.

One of the little test I do o for th thermometers is to test all at the same time in a warm cup of water at about 100 degrees-- NOT scientific but helped me to see how each measured.

I also found a thermometer that measure the highest temp and THAT sscared me. After months of using it and realised that the hatches whent fine with the spikes, I stopped using it. I finally understood that it uses spikes of hot temps to keep the temp at 100 so the air temp fluctated a bit BUT the egg temps are slow to change, and their temp is the most vital factor.

 

[quailtrail]

@Arielle would a laptop fan work?

 

[Dragons4u]

I have the LG fan in mine and you can't feel any air flow from outside the box, but the fan is made more to circulate the air inside. All that is drawn in is by the low pressure created by the air movement of the fan, not the fan actively pulling it. And a 50mm computer fan is probably more than sufficient, but I personally wouldn't even let it draft off a vent. I would think having it pull air in or out would make holding the temp and humidty to hard to control. You want it to circulate the heat, not lose it.