New at everything...

[Frozen Feathers]

I just bought my first incubator, a still air Little Giant and was wondering is it just me or does it take forever to get the right temp on theses things? What exactly should the right temp be and how worried should I be about a fluxuating temperature, say about a degree, because that little knob is incredibly difficult to adjust and when I try to be picky, I end up sending the temp way off. I'd like to get this right before I start trying to hatch chicks!
Thanks for any help!
~Angie

 

[marie_martin]

I have the same bator and you are right about it being difficult to adjust that tiny knob. I have read here and been told that 101-102 in the still air model. I try to keep mine between the two. It does fluxuate some though. Not so much now that the weather has regulated some. I did not use the thermometer that came with it though. I leave it in for reference, but bought a hygrometer/therm. and I rely more on it but use the other for reference. It seems to show a bit higher temp on it, so I usually keep it about 101 according to the hygrometer. I had some humidity problems last time and I am hoping to remedy that this time.. What do you have going into the bator?

Marie

 

[Frozen Feathers]

Thanks, glad I asked because I always assumed it should be at 99.5 but have been reading otherwise. I definitely get a hygrometer. Any thoughts about humidity with this incubator?

I have Phoenix, Lakenvelders, Silkies (crossing black and white) and Black Japanese Bantams. I'm hoping that my Japs and Silkies well just go broody and I won't have to deal with the tiny eggs. I have an auto egg turner that goes in my incubator, but the cups are too big for little bantam eggs and I tend to be forgetful and just know I'll forget to hand turn them. I also have some really pretty Americaunas that I'm thinking of crossing with my Phoenix for some colorful laying hens. I think I might just do a test batch first, just take some from my laying hens that run with the Phoenix and Lakenvelder roo.

Thanks!!

 

[buc]

is it just me or does it take forever to get the right temp on theses things? What exactly should the right temp be and how worried should I be about a fluxuating temperature, say about a degree, because that little knob is incredibly difficult to adjust and when I try to be picky, I end up sending the temp way off. I'd like to get this right before I start trying to hatch chicks!
Thanks for any help!
~Angie"


it does take sometime to get the temp right, little changes at a time will do the trick, as for the right temp 99.5 .

 

[marie_martin]

Well, obviously my humidity was not high enough but it may be that my hygrometer is not reading correctly. I kept it around 40%-50% until day 18 and then about 72%-78% the last few days. And it was not high enough at some point. My babies membranes were shrink wrapped around them. I basically peeled the 5 I have out of the shells. The others did not survive but I am glad that I got these out. They were literally stuck. So I am keeping it at least 50% for the first 18 this time and then try to get 80% the last few days. Hopefully that will help. I don't have the turner, I just turn mine by hand. I think you can put the banty eggs in a turner if you put like a paper towel or a piece of shelf liner, that spongy,holey kind into the cups. That helps them not move around when turning. Good luck with your hatch. I am on day 9 with mine and my hen is setting on 8 eggs that are due any day.

Marie

 

[kstaven]

I have to argue with you buc on the temp. 99.5 is correct for a fan forced model. 101 is the correct setting for the still air they are refering to.

 

[tiffanyh]

You know, depsite what I had heard about the temps being difficult on these incubators and bought one that has been running great! It is in my pantry/mud room which is in the middle of the house and has absolutely no drafts and ever since i got it set (which took me about 1 hour) it has not moved once. It is thin enough though that I would assume a draft or warm room would affect it.

While it was warming, when it got to the temp I wanted (I set it at 100), I would turn it ever so slightly to the left to turn off the "light" indicator. It set pretty quickly. Oh, and the therm that came with mine is accurate--I calibrated it against 5 others and it is fine.

Good luck with your hatch and incubator, so far I am very happy with mine.