Little Giant NIGHTMARE!

[harryg6167]

Well it's not always the incubator. Had great results with the LG still air. All hatches were
89-94%. So I went and got one of the hovabator,forced air, with the egg turner. Had my worst hatch
so far with it. (47%) Anyways I am now in the process of getting rid of the hovabator and
sticking with the LG for small hatches and the 2 sportsmans for bigger hatches.(even though it's
not always the 'bator).
As far as the LG being Chinese made...doesn't Miller Manufacturing make them in Glencoe,Mn.?
Just wondering, at least mine was supposedly made there according to the box. But, mine is slightly
on the older side also.

 

[Serrin]

In defense of the LG units, I just hatched 18 of the cutest little fuzzy butts ever!

I will qualify this however by admitting that I added a fan prior to setting eggs. This made stabilizing the temps ever so much easier!

EdistoChicks, if the fan unit you are using is from an old computer or such, as well as the power supply converter, the problem could be in either the fan, or the converter. If you have another converter, try using that one instead. If you have another fan, try that as well. If you're still coming up with a big fat zero, I'm not sure what to tell you.

If this is an air circulation unit made specifically for the LG to convert a still air unit to the circulated unit, then YES! Take it BACK! It's sad, but true, these things do happen.Ever so often one gets past quality control that is a dud.

It's frustrating to say the least. But don't give up on the LG. Once you get the hang of them, I think you'll find that you like yours. Especially when the end result looks something like this!

Just a few of the 18 we hatched out from 3-4 to 3-6 and all from the LG 5200. Yes, it's an older unit from the days when we still made such things in this country. And I wouldn't trade it for the world!!

I wouldn't have these precious little fuzzy butts without it!

 

[dianneS]

I know a lot of people complain about the LG incubator, but mine has always worked quite well for me. It always holds a very steady temp and I don't use a fan at all. Maybe just some of them are lemons?

 

[Madcap621]

Question. Has anyone figured out WHY the LG is so miserable? I was given one to use to hatch eggs for someone -- they had tried with it but had no luck. It took me a full 5 days to get the temp to stabilize, kinda'

It is holding pretty well within 1*+/- [as opposed to 0.5*]. So NOW I am trying to figure out the humidity. This one has the fan-kit installed and working. What I am wondering is if it could be broken down into it's components and those parts used to make a 'better' bator from a syrofoam chest?

2nd question: Those of you having good results. Do you use the 'dry hatching method' or the 40-45% days 1-18, then 60-70%. How do you controll the humidity? Fill the center? Fill one single channel? Both single channels? Help and advice, please.

I am comming down to the wire here --- eggs due today or tomorrow. The Hova-Bator I had planned to use lost it's fan. Am going to try to replace it this evening and get it back up to speed. Failing that, I will have to at least start my eggs in the LG.

 

[PeepsInc]

I just wanted to stick up for the LG still air. I think it's operator malfunction, more than mechanical most of the time. I've hatched way over 150 eggs with mine. I get great hatch rates....Fill all 3 chambers, & mist the eggs with a fine mist once a week. Then mist daily on day 18,19,&20.............As the saying goes, It's a poor carpenter that blames his tools for shoddy work!

 

[txchickie]

Quote:
Same here. We've had SEVERAL 100% guinea egg hatch rates with our still air LG.

 

[EdistoChicks]

I am using a fan kit from LG. I think I will just take the whole thing back and just buy some chicks from tractor supply next week. I wanted it to hatch some guinea eggs and I think I am going to try and find some keets rather than getting eggs. At least that way I will know I will end up with something.

I just think LG should have come up with a better way to power the fan than those clamps. One fell apart completely and at that point we had to "rig" it to stay together. I will be lucky if the store let's us take it back. I think a brinsea looks like the ay to go but I am having a hard time letting my hubby get one. He is afraid I am into another "hobby" that will cost more than what I get out of it. I guess if I was going to hatch a ton of eggs, it would be worth it. Thanks a bunch for the input. I am definitely not cut out to incubate

 

[Chickenaddict]

I too am an unsatisfied victim of the LG bator..... I used it a total of 3 times and it was alll over the place as far as temps go without touching the darn dial. I had the crappiest hatches with that thing and couldn't get one serama to hatch in it. Problems with the humidity, temps swings, fan maiing lots of noise ect ect ect. I HATE IT! The reason I got mine was because I had a broody hen on standby for some shipped eggs, the seller was a bit behind and the broody gave up day before the eggs got here. I ran out to fleet farm and bought the whole setup with fan and turner. The fan was $30 and the turner was just as much as the bator. All in all it was about $120 out of 10 of those shipped eggs I got 3 chicks, those were some spendy chicks.... 2 ended up to be roosters

I think i'd have better luck sitting on the eggs myself....

 

[EdistoChicks]

That is funny! I would probably end up with all roos too.

 

[Chickenaddict]

Quote:
I had the same problem with those stupid clamps for the fan kit. I'd keep an eye on ebay for a decent gently used or sometimes brand new incubator anything but an LG