Too many incubator choices

[debilorrah]

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You must have some BIG eggs. I have 8 in mine with 4 turkey eggs and there is TOTALLY room for 10 more eggs.

 

[gumpsgirl]

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I second this. I've used an LG one time and it is the last time I will EVER try to hatch in one again. They aren't even worth the cheap $59 it costs to buy them. Just sayin'.

 

[ThePamperedPullet]

We must own the only LG that was made on a Wednesday or something because we ran over 600 eggs through ours this past season and had 90% to 100% hatches every time. Just getting ready to fire it up for a special run of eggs. Draft free room and don't dink with the thermostat once you get the high range set and we run ours dry. Works great. Send your unwanted LG's my way. I'll pay shipping.

 

[The Sheriff]

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Dang! I just unloaded my LG on Craigslist this afternoon! Decided to keep the Hobavator as a back-up.

 

[gumpsgirl]

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They must just like you! They one I used clearly hated me.

 

[Junkmanme]

Although I haven't tried them yet (actual incubating and hatching), I have 2 "Little Giants" that I have "repaired" (purchased used). One has a turner. The heating element in the Little Giant is 40 watt, I believe. The heating element in the hovabator is, I believe 25 watt. The Little Giant, therefore, should have a quicker response to the thermostat. The thermostat in the Little Giant is electronic adjustable. The thermostat in the hovabator is wafer-type. AGAIN, the thermostat in the Little Giant should have a quicker response time.

I read on the Internet an "Independent Experiment" comparing "Little Giant" and "Hovabator" using sophisticated electronic measurement equipment. "Little Giant" won hands-down.

As I said, I haven't incubated in mine yet, but I expect to do so by New Years or shortly thereafter. Then, I will have some practical opinion to express. I suspect that the biggest reason people express "Poor Luck" with the Little Giant is because they "fiddle with" the temp control too much. (It is small and very sensitive.) I have put a LARGE "knob" on mine to make it easier to adjust in smaller 'increments'.

JUST expressing a "different opinion"....acting "the Devil's Advocate" here.........

-Junkmanme-

 

[muddstopper]

I have never used either the LG or the hovabater, so wont comment on them. My biggest concern with either model would be the styrofoam enclosure. Plastic is easier to clean and disinfect.

Fiddeling with the thermostat can cause big problems. I had a devil of a time getting my Brinea adjusted. I had it in the back bedroom behind closed doors away from any drafts, or at least I thought. Then I noticed cold air blowing up my leg when the airconditioning kicked on. The cold air from the floor vent was blowing right at my incubator. Closed off the vent and covered with a towel, and no more problems adjusting the incubator temperature. Just set it and forget it.

 

[17roses]

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They must just like you! They one I used clearly hated me.

No... my Little Giant works great too. I have a turner in mine but no fan. This is my second hatch and I have 5 chicks out of 6 eggs again and there is still time for that 6th egg. I think the secret is to leave it alone. Mine is even stationed by our front door. The temp can flux from 98 to 102 but I just ignore it. I open it every other day to wet the sponge so it will stay at 50% but several times it has gone down to 20%. I also move the eggs from the front to the back of the tray when I do the sponge but of course I have been super busy lately and only did that 4 x this hatch. That is it. I think it doesnt work because people panic and play with the knob which is super sensitive or other panicy things. Both sucessful hatches have been from my chickens but I did start a batch from fertile eggs I bought in the flea market but it was in the back room and I didnt have it warm enough so most only partially developed.

It is possible that shipped eggs might not be as hardy. I dont know.

Edited to say the 6th egg hatch so my first 100% hatch.

 

[Sunny the Hippie Chick]

I got a used Lyons Turn X6 off of ebay. And I hatched 21 out of 23 eggs. And all but 3 eggs were shipped to me. Pretty good I say.

 

[wegotchickens]

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I got over 30 banty eggs in mine

I love it! I turn it myself and add water myself but still get great hatches. Not as good as my broody, but close!!