Newbie needs help with LG first try

[Kittymomma]

I also put a strip on foam insulation between the base and the lid, a heavy book or something similar on the top helps keep things tight just be sure you don't put it over any of the vents. Another thing that is really important with any bator, but especially with the less expensive foam ones is that you keep it in a room that is draft free and has a stable temp. I started out with mine in the kids bathroom because it's an interior room with no drafts, but temp and humidity fluctuated too much with bath time so it came to live on my dresser--dh didn't like the peeping in the middle of the night but it was the best room in the house for the job.

This probably goes without saying, but I'll say it anyhow--keep the bator away from windows. Not only can drafts be bad, but even a short time sitting in front of a sunny window can bring on a fatally high temp spike. What else? Oh, run it for 24-48 hours before you set the eggs so you can get the temp adjusted properly. The lg's temp dial thingy is pretty sensitive so just adjust it a bit and wait 4-6 hours for it to stabalize before you try again. The temp will go down and stay that way for 12-18 hours after you put the eggs in, resist the urge to turn it up until the eggs have been in for a full 24 hours. It won't hurt anything if the temp is a little low for the first day, but it will be a time consuming pain in the behind to get it right again if you start messing with it before the eggs have "come up to temp." Don't ask me how I know this.

 

[kyle7630]

Ok, first off, thank you everyone for the advice. I am a member of several message boards because I have a few hobbies. This one is BY FAR the most informative,welcoming, and hospitable. I can alwayse come here for my chicken needs and leave happy.

To the meat, I have 1o eggs. I should have 2-4 more when I get home. I set my LG up 4 days ago in my mothers basement. It stays at a constant 70 degrees there. It (LG)has had a stable 100 for a couple of days and yesterday I put water in the basin for humidity. It is humid here in NC. I didn't get a hygrometer, but I do want one and I hope this hatch will be ok without. I didn't see anything about it in the LG manual so I imagine that it is optional. I plan to set the eggs this evening. It has a turner so how often should I open? I will follow all advice given to me on this thread with the exception of the hygrometeer, and that will be just for this hatch. I plan to get one as soon as I'm able. So it that it? Set the eggs, monitor the water, and wait till time to candle? It seems like one of those things that sounds too easy but kicks your butt. lol. Wish me luck and please don't hesitate to offer more advice. TIA

 

[kyle7630]

Well, I put 11 eggs in total. I had to toss half at day 14. Got a digital thermometer/hygrometer on day 15 and found the temp had been at 98+/- the whole time. Raised it to 99.5, lost 3 more but 2 hatched. It was my first time and although I lost 9 eggs, I still am excited about the two that made it. I will learn from my mistakes, try again and hope for a higher hatch rate. I came home from work and the two good eggs had a little hole and I could hear them trash talking. I stood bent over the bator until my back was soo sore, but I got to watch them hatch and it was well worth it. Can't wait to try again. My neighbors hen went broody so my source of free eggs is gone. I'll find some cheap ones around and give it another go. This was pretty awesome to me. And I have two chicks!

 

[mothersin2ition]

that is awesome! 2/11 for your first hatch is not too shabby!