**Need a New Incubator, LG is being replaced LOL**

[farmgirlforever18]

I have an Lg lost my first hatch due to unstable temp ect. but im i=on my second and its holding good you just have to know when to adjust the temp and when to leave it alone

 

[bufforp89]

My LG has always worked great for me....I love mine, cheap, easy to replace/fix....Just have to know all their quirks and how to use them

 

[alaina]

@ bufforp89: wanna share some tips???

 

[ShelsSilkies]

Awesome reply & love your spirit! Thank you @Orange Ribbin for the laugh, since Im currently a CBM as I type lol

Also I agree with @Alaina, any tips @Bufforp89~ on keeping the LG steady?

 

[Orange Ribbon]

Quote:
I think we need a CBM counseling group so we can all learn to smile again. Until then, just pretend the little blue man on the right is an LG and do this:

Ha, ha! That made me feel a whole lot better.

 

[AugeredIn]

I don't like the LG particularly but I have used one successfully before. I bought the LG before I knew better but after we were hatching with a homemade. The homemade worked way better. The best tip I was ever given for the LG was to incubate in a closet without a vent inside an air conditioned house. The closet walls and doors act as added insulation against humidity and temperature changes. The second best tip was to tape the dang thing shut.

 

[blazensasha]

I have an LG and I have had great hatch rates with mine,the only times I did'nt was 2 times from eggs that weren't mine.

 

[andalusn]

I have a Brinsea Octagon 20 ECO with turner and I am very please with it. Currently its working on hatch #4. I think you would also have good luck with the Hovabator but I have never used one so can't speak to it. Just going off what others have posted. There are many topics on this subject. If it was me, doing something different I would make one. Most seem to have a great experience. If you can afford the money and plan to hatch lots of eggs at one time the Octogon may not be what you want long term or you will need more than one. The home made ones are just that.. made to order so to speak and the builders like the challenge of it all.

If your on facebook and like the Brinsea page they are offering a coupon good until mid month I believe.

 

[Rebecky54]

Quote:
Not mine, but for tips, refer to this cheat sheet.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=14596-incubation-cheat-sheet

Becky in NoDak with a Brinsea Eco (but thinking of another one -- just don't know what yet)

 

[mammacarol]

I'm a newbie at incubating and I have to say it was a much more rewarding experience than buying chicks at the feed store...although they are always so cute and sweet, I'll probably not be able to stop myself from indulging now and then.

Bought an LG to hatch refrigerated eggs from my sweet hen who was killed by a neighbor's dog...another neighbor gave me 6 fresh from her hens. I didn't have a choice under the rushed circumstances, however the LG has been solid...once I figured it out. Luckily I placed it in a basement room without windows...I think that was key in avoiding drafts causing temp changes...it stayed at 99.5 without intervention for the full 18 days. Day 18 I played around with it a little to get the humidity steady and 65+% (my biggest challenge as we live in Jackson Hole...6200' and very low humidity). I ended up plugging both top vents, taping shut the 8 small holes on top, placing the whole thing across a large cookie sheet of water so the water would evaporate up through the bottom holes, then wrapped the base in kitchen towels...all which brought the humidity to a steady 65-70%. The only time it went up for a little bit was when a chick hatched. Of the 12 eggs I incubated, one of my neighbor's fresh-from-the-hen didn't hatch, and I felt fortunate to have 2 of my 6 refrigerated eggs to hatch.

(Oh, yea, I also set my iPod next to the incubator and played continuous Yo-Yo Ma throughout the day turning it off at night so they could rest...and put a little vase of bleeding hearts on the top to encourage little girls to hatch along with a few of my sweet GinnyGirl's feathers.

I did have to open the incubator once to pull the Hercules' shell off Una's head. Oh, boy, was I afraid to do that after all the warnings about not interfering and keeping the incubator closed. Una was the first hatchling. Shortly afterwards Hercules came busting out of a tiny (for his size) hole. Well, Una couldn't resist and had to stick her head inside that shell...she was probably wondering how in the heck he did that! I watched the whole thing and was, 'no, no, don't do it!' But, true to form, she didn't want to listen to her Nonna...and she did it anyway. Well, I watched her struggle for about 10 minutes and finally got a quick escape plan in my head and then the courage up to release her. Today she is 4 days old and still the 'alpha chick' ... after Hercules, that is.

One batch and I think I'm addicted.