Little Giant Incubator

[tlscott54]

I have a chance to purchase a Little Giant Incubator with fan and egg turner included for $50.. Would this be a good first time incubator? Don't have a lot of money right now but would like to try hatching some eggs

 

[WalnutHill]

It is a good first time incubator. There are two models, the older ones just have a square lip all the way around and only two small water reservoirs, the newer ones have locating "handles" on the lid that fit in the base. The newer style is a little more airtight and has much more accessible water channels. Both work reasonably well. The newer style is much better at hatching time because it is so easy to top up the water channels. I have both styles, and use them regularly.

Start with cheap or free fertile eggs if you can. But don't set any eggs until you can get a bowl of water at 99.5F for at least a week without touching the knob.

Most of the inexpensive incubators, Little Giant included, have temperature controllers that are quite sensitive to temperature changes in the surrounding air and can swing wildly. If you have a constant temperature place like an unheated basement, a place out of direct sunlight where it won't be disturbed is the best.

After a few incubation cycles in my office, which runs 58-75 degrees, I decided I did not like the Little Giant controller. So I cranked the knob to all the way up, and wired up a cheap STC-1000 digital controller, and I use that to maintain very steady incubator temperatures. Search this forum for several threads about these controllers...if you can wire a receptacle or light switch, you can wire one of these controllers. Or there are several designed for reptile terrariums that have a remote probe and receptacle, and are plug and play.

The turners are very functional in the Little Giant. I use mine for turkey eggs and can turn eggs up to 94 grams in it (but those are so big, you can't fill every hole). Just be sure the mechanism at the back doesn't get hung up in the power cord.