Little Giant Incubator Tricks

[Pyxis]

Is anyone having the problem that your LG drowns chicks even if you add no water to the incubator at all during incubation? I have a brinsea incubator in the same room and it never happens with that so I don't necessarily think it's the room's humidity that is too high.

 

[cmom]

Quote:
I am in the process of changing a wafer thermostat in one of my incubators. The one that was in it died.

 

[cmom]

Is anyone having the problem that your LG drowns chicks even if you add no water to the incubator at all during incubation? I have a brinsea incubator in the same room and it never happens with that so I don't necessarily think it's the room's humidity that is too high.

I haven't had that problem.

 

[Arielle]

Quote: THe important part is that the weight loss is right on. 60% works for your location and set up. ( FOr me it is too high)


Plugs must be removed to have enough air flow-- as the eggs reachthe 18th day , they use more oxygen, and then when internally pip, the level of use increase more and of course once they hatch they need huge amts of oxygen. Hende the need for good air flow and remove those plugs at day 18 before internal pipping. Some LG users throw them away, I still have one.

YOu can choose to put hem in an egg carton ( bottoms cut off) for hatching , just be sure to check for those that externally pip at the bottom-- they cannot hatach in that position and need to be turned over or then lay on their side. I started by laying eggs on their sides originally . NOW I keep the eggs the same from incubating to hatching-- some discussion has revealed that this gives the best hatch rates.

Dont be afraid to open the incubator a nd check on the eggs-- "lockdown" is a mis nomer and you can go in. Be aware of the humidity and to keep it up , especially if an external pip. SOmetimes they dry and the chick cannot proceed. Especially if the feathers dry to the white papery membrane.

Good luck.

 

[quailtrail]

Have 8 hatched and in the brooder. 2 that pipped Thursday and Fri were shrink wrapped but chirping so I assisted them. One was all twisted up head pointy end just trying to chip away at the egg. Resting now so I hope it survives. The other was chirping so loud but when I helped it out it popped right out but was covered in a pea soup stuff. I'm not sure she will susurvive. They are both resting in the bator. My splayed and curled toe is taped up again - keeps getting out, and sitting up in a cup. Hoping she will be ok. She took a little bit of water chipped quite a bit and then fell asleep sitting up right.

 

[Arielle]

Is anyone having the problem that your LG drowns chicks even if you add no water to the incubator at all during incubation? I have a brinsea incubator in the same room and it never happens with that so I don't necessarily think it's the room's humidity that is too high.

The benefits of the candling or weighing is to get the humidity at the right level to have the air cells at the right level.

I have used AC if necessary. THe stryrofoam holds water, and this is most evident right after washing and drying; it takes a surprizing long time to dry.

Sorry I don't have a brinsea to give youa good comparison; I dohave a coolerbator and it warks about he same as the LG. Usually for best results I need to open the vents more if I have a lot of eggs, or large eggs; for few eggs or smaller eggs I need less ventilation. If that makes sense . . . .Perhaps that is one of the benefits of throwing away both of the red plugs. IDK . . .

 

[Pyxis]

The benefits of the candling or weighing is to get the humidity at the right level to have the air cells at the right level. 

I have used AC if necessary.  THe stryrofoam holds water, and this is most evident right after washing and drying; it takes a surprizing long time to  dry. 

Sorry I don't have a brinsea to give youa good comparison; I dohave a coolerbator and it warks about he same as the LG.  Usually for best results I need to open the vents more if I have a lot of eggs, or large eggs; for few eggs or smaller eggs I need less ventilation. If that makes sense . . . .Perhaps that is one of the benefits of throwing away both of the red plugs. IDK . . . 

The weirdest thing is I also have a styrofoam homemade incubator and I never have this problem with it, but with both LGs I have I do. I'm wondering if the solution is to add more air holes for ventilation? I just don't know. I might end up just stealing the heating element and thermostat for my homemade incubator.

 

[Peep_Show]

With my LG I actually elevate it off the surface it rests on so there's more airflow underneath. I have a computer fan in the corner of the incubator that I only turn on when the hatch gets too humid and then I take both red plugs out. Up to lockdown there's one red plug in and one half-resting over the hole. At lockdown I open one the full way. At hatch both come out, otherwise it gets really drippy in there as hatching adds more moisture.

I really think the elevation helps. Just make sure whatever the incubator is resting on doesn't cover the underholes. (I use the lipped lid of a plastic tub container...the bator rests on the lips and air flows underneath)

 

[Sylviaanne]

I may need some help here. We are going into lockdown and my eggs don't have air sacks as large as shown in the diagrams. They are not a great deal smaller but you can see the difference. I have not added any water for humidity, only what is in the air of the house. Unfortunately, it has been raining every day for over a week and intermittently before that. Lots of humidity. It has been running from about 29% (rare) to 60% (rare). Usually, it was between 30 to 45%. Since we are on the verge of lockdown, is there anything I can do? Thanks, Sylvia

 

[Arielle]

Have 8 hatched and in the brooder. 2 that pipped Thursday and Fri were shrink wrapped but chirping so I assisted them. One was all twisted up head pointy end just trying to chip away at the egg. Resting now so I hope it survives. The other was chirping so loud but when I helped it out it popped right out but was covered in a pea soup stuff. I'm not sure she will susurvive. They are both resting in the bator. My splayed and curled toe is taped up again - keeps getting out, and sitting up in a cup. Hoping she will be ok. She took a little bit of water chipped quite a bit and then fell asleep sitting up right.

keep trying to feed her as often as possible when you are home-- only takes a day or 2 usually to fix those feet.

THe babies that need help hatching seem to do better if they can push their way out of the shell-- I tried just opening the cap and letting the chicks finish and this resulted in better sucess. Just my experience-- others may have a different experience.