Little Giant Incubator Tricks

[gpop1]

I'm in Citrus county.

yep 99.5 that's night time temp what do you do during the daytime when it warms up.lol

Im down near Lake O sw florida and you would need a fridge to incubate in my workshop this time of year.

 

[cmom]

Quote:

My incubator currently is in my garage.

 

[Arielle]

I am still stuck in Fl. So my DW is stuck hatching eggs in Mn.

She called tonight with a "major" problem. I mark all my eggs with the hatch date, and told her to move the eggs 2 days before they hatch to the hatcher.

One turkey decided to hatch 3 days early. My DW does not do well with things that do not always follow directions

I can totally understand your wife-- that is my world too . lol My first turkey poult showed up 3 days early, and the rest followed over the next 2 days . . . .having animals has helped me be more flexible. Hope your wife can see that way too.

 

[RetiredRon]

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[cmom]

I have an LG with a fan. Here are some of my LG tricks, to bring the humidity up at lockdown I put some paper towel under the wire and make sure the reservoirs are filled with water. The paper towel may get wet but that is ok. I also add a half pint mason jar with warm water and a sponge in it. The sponge acts like a wick. Also since you are using a LG incubator the small holes line up perfectly so you can squirt water into the holes and the water will go into the jars to fill them and don't have to open the incubator up. The temp will change and that is ok too don't adjust it just let it settle out. Sometimes I may need to put two jars in the hatcher. I keep the humidity around 35% during incubation and bring it up to around 75% during lockdown. The plugs are out during lockdown. The eggs need the added airflow. If the humidity goes down during lockdown I put a straw in a hole and squirt a little warm water on the paper towel. the moisture will spread out some but that is ok. I did put a milk bottle cap on the thermostat control which works great. Since I have been doing my hatching like this my hatch rate has went up and I have had 100% hatches which i never thought before was possible. Good luck...

Since this is an old post and I can't edit it I thought I would ad that if you use paper towel under the wire, it is a good idea to put plastic or something under the incubator so if moisture/water leaks out of the little holes in the bottom you aren't ruining whatever the incubator may be sitting on. I usually use a kitchen trash bag spread out under the incubator. Good luck and have fun.. If you can hatch in an LG you can hatch in anything..

 

[kyzerc]

I also have 2 little giants.The first hatch with quail was 26 out of 29 .I can put 5 theromenters in one,in each corner,one in middle and one in middle front.The one in middle front close to the heater varies from 104 to 110 degrees.So I usually just put one in right front.,where that one stays about 100.I put a fan in one to try to keep the temps even,but it didn't help much.I have hatched out about a zillon quail and silkies with them.I also had trouble with humidinty.I just put a digatil one in and it runs about 10 to 20% difference

 

[Arielle]

I started up the LG again.....ready for another season of hatching!!

Temps in the house fluctuate a lot this time of year......along with the crazy uop and downs of the odd weather this year, so I have needed to help my LG a bit:

Placed a few magazines on top to create a better seal between the lid and base. Holds the heat a bit better this way. Will need to be aware of the air holes that are covered and the possible effects on the embryos, like killing them, so with the fan running, have left the big hole open that is NOT over the fan.

Have come to appreciate the broody hens. Have two of those. One is on eggs. Would like the other girl to get back to laying.....

 

[cmom]

Getting ready for my yearly hatch. Saving up some eggs for the incubator for my test hatches. Tomorrow I'll finish moving birds around in the breeding pens. Most have already been done but I still have to do my Rose Comb Rhode Island Reds.

 

[duckhead18]

its day 32 i have 6 mallard ducks and hatch day was 28 i has some pipping that cracked 2 of them since then nothing has happened. and ideas???? temp 99.5 and humidity was 60 -80 i need help im about to start an ornamental waterfowl farm

 

[lightchick]

What's the best humidity and temp for a forced air little giant? I'm going to be incubating 50 Coturnix quail eggs.
Last time I incubated it was a still air so the temp was 100.5 and humidity was 60% and I upped it to 65-70% for the hatch.
BUT that made the chicks drown in the shell....so not sure what to do this time. I do a float test on the eggs instead of candling so would that make it a lot wetter inside the egg?
Thanks!