Success Rate ~Little Giant Incubators

[flyweed]

I just bought the Little Giant Hova Bator with fan for $42 locally...I am curious as to how accurate the thermostats are on these? Or should I turn the built in thermostat to high and wire in a more reliable thermostat? I also got rid of the thermometer that came with it and bought a digital one that reads both temp and humidity. I assume this will be more accurate.

What types of thermostats are most using in these incubators?

Thanks
Dan

 

[duck&chickencrazy]

I had 8 of 12 hatch on shipped eggs in my LG and i am not complaining at all.

 

[twigg]

Quote:
The thermostats are generally accurate, just difficult to adjust. They demand a fairly stable room temp, btw.

Anything better would likely cost more than you paid for the incubator.

 

[flyweed]

I am "running a test" as we speak....I have the hova bator down in a room just off of our family room, downstairs..the temp in that room is a constant 64 degrees. my digital temp/humidity gauge is sitting at a constant 99.2F and 36% RH.

So I am thinking I need to up both of these numbers just a bit for a successfull hatch.

Dan

 

[twigg]

Quote:
Well that depends on how accurate your thermometer is

At 99.2, if the thermometer is good, I'd leave it alone ... forced air, right?

Humidity could be upped a bit, and that might cause a slight temp drop .... keep on with the test it will pay dividends in the end.

 

[flyweed]

well it's a hova bator 9200 with an added circulating fan I put into the lid. I bought a (fairly expensive temp/humidity gauge) from a pet store...I am NOT using the included thermometer. I now have the temp at 100.4F and the humidity holding steady at 49% RH

Dan

 

[mom2fourbebes]

How do you raise the humidity in those Little Giant Incubators...My temp is fine but the humidity is at 32%....I'm getting eggs in a few weeks and wanting to get this thing right....any help you can offer would be appreciated...

Thanks.

Barb

 

[brkuk]

Add sponges to the bottom or one on the wire tray on the side. I love my LG. Great success first try.

 

[Snakeoil]

My last hatch was 14 eggs set 10 live chicks, right now I've got 16 more eggs in bator. The one that your URL goes to is a still air type, mine is a fan driven model.

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

Quote:
The one chick hatching two days early tells me that your temp is probably to high. Using the same thermometer I would drop the temp about a degree and a half.

The rest dieing in the shells at hatch time is ether:

to dry, an the chicks are stuck to the shell an cant pip the shell (you would probably hear chirping)

or to wet, an the chicks drown when they internally pip. (probably never chirp)

I assume its is to wet. I would try the humidity in the mid 30s for the first 18 an 60s for the last 3.