Little Giant Still-Air Incubator-HELP Troubleshooting please

[rodriguezpoultry]

This is my third attempt at the incubator. I think the first two times we had a HUGE flux in temp. It was steady for two days before moving the eggs over, but since I had to keep opening and closing the lid in order to rotate...constant change in temps.

I now have 36 eggs in the incubator. Eggs from the fridge, from outside and from under broody hens (I left all the ones with development in similar stages under the hens).

In the middle of the incubator (closest to the heating element), the temp reads 103.3. The thermometer reads approx. .5* to 1*F higher than actual temp. I have placed no eggs in the row closest to the heating element. The rest of the incubator runs anywhere from 101.1 to 101.7. So far, so good.

Just hoping that this time works out for me. I've been keeping a tab on the temp and will put a hygrometer in there later today once the temp settles.

 

[aprophet]

good luck on the hatch I just picked up a hovabator I am trying to use as a hatcher I added a fan it was already drilled for a 3" computer fan , but I am going to try to use it still air style I was lucky on the price ($25) a guy was getting out of reptiles it seems like if you can keep the surrounding temps stable they hold temp and humidity well.

 

[SunChick]

I am really disliking the still air too due to fluctuating temps. I have 2 incubators one with the fan and one without. Guess which one I HATE lol. Definitely going to get a fan unit for it. I have the still air set up for a staggerd hatch and the temps are swinging between 98.4 and 101 and we just went on lockdown. Crossing fingers it doesn't get much higher than that.

 

[they'reHISchickens]

I may be crazy , but I figure as long as the temp is somewhere between 99 and 101 i am doing well. After all, doesn't the hen have varied temps as she moves them all around under her?
But we have added a fan to our LG. And added weatherstripping alogn the edge, weight on top for keeping it closed, and keep it on blocks inside a large box and covered with a blanket to stabilize temps. And we use a turner.
I try to forget it's incubating except for keeping an eye on the wireless thermometer reading next to the TV.

 

[funfeatheredfeet]

Hey! I have a question and this may sound stupid, but, I'm new at all this chicken biz.... You said you have eggs from the "fridge" in your bator! Am I gettin this right...eggs from the refrigerator can be hatched? Say, what??!! I just got my first incubator and have been learning alot reading, haven't got any fertilized eggs (I'm looking for some) but could you tell me what this is all about...eggs from the fridge? lol....I just had to ask! Please....tell me, I just want to know all I can about this. Thanks!

 

[pkw]

I have been told that you can't hatch eggs that has been incubated. I wish you lots of luck.

Actually I have a Little Giant still air incubator and the temps were really fluctating in the location I had the incubator. I moved the incubator to room where there are no drafts and the temps are pretty steady in the room and now I am not having a problem with the temps fluctuating. I was really worried because the temps would go as high as 117. Recent candling shows the embryos are growing.

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

See, a few years ago, I had a still-air incubator that was duct taped, masking taped, etc. I had a 100% hatch. I used sponges soaked in water, and a turner. Temperature was 101.3*F throughout and the humidity was at 72%.

I finally had to get rid of it, the turner burned a hole in the side.

SEVERAL of the eggs that hatched were refrigerated, so I'm not so worried about that. If it happens, it happens, if it doesn't, nothing wasted!

The REALLY good hatch that I had (100%), there were eggs in there from a male that had passed on about a month before. None of his females were fertilized, so I had to go look in the fridge for his eggs. Found them. They'd been in there for about 2 weeks? They all hatched. It could have been a fluke or ridiculously lucky, but I never discount an egg just because it's been in the fridge.

 

[aprophet]

Quote:
sometimes when the eggs are stored on the door of the refrigerator they do not get as cold as when they are in the back of the refrigerator the door runs a little warmer thats why most who make refrigerators put the butter dish holder on the outside so you can actually cut the butter most of the universities recommend eggs be stored @50-60* F depending on what species it is some go longer then others at these temps

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

These eggs were stored near the front of the refrigerator, but not in the door. So, we'll just have to wait and see if anything develops. I won't be candling until next Tuesday at the earliest. Can't wait to see how many are still alive by that point! (Please let there be some alive!!!)

Yes, the preferred temperature is around 60*F. The fridge is nearly 20* below that, but without having a proper chiller and finding out that Dad was using them to eat (which is why they were in the fridge), I just had to take what I could get.

Thank you all for replying on here! I just hope something comes out of this incubator.

The temp has been fairly steady considering, but the latest temp was 100.9*F, with the lowest reading being 99.8*F.

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

So far so good. I've noticed that the temp in the incubator changes according to the time of day. The shades are drawn, but I'm sure some heat still gets into the room. The eggs are in the closet in the dark, so no more heat should come from it. Just an interesting discovery...


I'm all a tither! Can't wait to candle and see what's going on in there! I could probably candle today, but I'm going to try and handle these as little as possible.