- Apr 14, 2011
- 580
- 4
- 121
I feel lower than chicken poop.
Recently I decided I wanted to get some heritage breeds to raise. I really wanted chicks, and not from a hatchery, but couldn't find any from a breeder. I had several various breeds in mind. But I found two sales in the auction for Speckled Sussex eggs. I've never incubated before so I read up on it, even asked some questions here and felt I could do it if I got the right equipment. If I didn't do it right, well, it would cost me what I paid for eggs, but not the end of the world. Before I bidded on them I checked around for incubators. The only people around here to sell new incubators are Tractor Supply, Southern States, and a family owned feed and seed. All of them sell Little Giant incubators only. Then I found a listing for 2 incubators at the local college for sale. I talked to a man about them and he told me they were poultry incubators with egg turners. He said they were working and easy to use. So I ordered the eggs and went to buy one. Turns out they are not even poultry incubators at all. They are infant incubators. Maybe they could be made to work, but I'm not qualified to figure it out, not to mention the thing had plug ends that evidently fit a special hospital receptacle. Yes, I made a mistake, but the man lied to me.
So there I was, eggs ordered and no incubator. Nothing to do but get a Little Giant and go with it. So I got one on Saturday. I studied some more, mostly on BYC and came up with a game plan to go with. I've had some help from the good people here answering questions I've had, and I'm so thankful for everyone that has helped me out. I set up the incubator and did according to instructions to be familiar with it and have it ready when the eggs arrive, which will be tomorrow. I do plan to let the eggs sit for a while before I stick them in it.
Anyway, I've been messing with that thing for the past several days. I bought a hygrometer and a calibrated thermometer. For the life of me I cannot get that incubator to give a steady temperature at all. It ranges all over the place even when I don't mess with the dial. Yes, I have played with the temperature adjustment, but there have been hours of checking on it without doing anything and it the temperature will vary from 96 to 101 degrees. I have it set where the sun can't hit it, and the house has central air so the temps are pretty much even throughout. I'm at my wits end trying to maintain a temp between 99.5 and 100 degrees. It won't do it. At least I can't get it to. I've tried it with the vents plugged and unplugged. I tried it dry and I put water in it. Nothing seems to matter. My understanding is staying within that 1/2 degree is detrimental. But this thing will not stay set on ANY temperature what so ever. If the thing would read 95 one hour and 95 the next then I'd at least know I just need to get the dial figured out. But it will be one thing one time and then off several degrees an hour later. Then it will be different again. And that is without even messing with it.
I don't know what to do. I read on this forum that many people use this brand and do good with them. Maybe I got a dud. I could take it back and get another, but I don't feel very confident about doing that. I wouldn't have enough time to mess with it anyway and would be flying by the seat of my pants worse than I am now. I've searched all over the area and no one sells anything other than Little Giant, and it isn't feasible for me to buy something else anyway.
I know I didn't think this thing thru like it should have been. I had open heart surgery a few months back and my brain still isn't back to thinking as clearly as it did before. Nothing serious, but I'm have small issues with trying to think every little detail out on some things before hand. That was why I found a good instruction post on here and printed it out just so I could look at it and go by a procedure all spelled out 1, 2, 3 and not mess up. But I can't get the incubator to stabilize.
Am I possibly flipping out over something that isn't that big of a deal? I need some help because I don't know. I apologize for the long post. I've had to give up most everything I ever liked to do because of my health, and this just seemed like a good thing to try. I don't mind a challenge, but it seems the cards are stacked against me on this. At least for now maybe. So going with what I have, what chance do I have of getting a hatch of any kind? Anyone got any pointers they would share with me? I sure would appreciate it!
Recently I decided I wanted to get some heritage breeds to raise. I really wanted chicks, and not from a hatchery, but couldn't find any from a breeder. I had several various breeds in mind. But I found two sales in the auction for Speckled Sussex eggs. I've never incubated before so I read up on it, even asked some questions here and felt I could do it if I got the right equipment. If I didn't do it right, well, it would cost me what I paid for eggs, but not the end of the world. Before I bidded on them I checked around for incubators. The only people around here to sell new incubators are Tractor Supply, Southern States, and a family owned feed and seed. All of them sell Little Giant incubators only. Then I found a listing for 2 incubators at the local college for sale. I talked to a man about them and he told me they were poultry incubators with egg turners. He said they were working and easy to use. So I ordered the eggs and went to buy one. Turns out they are not even poultry incubators at all. They are infant incubators. Maybe they could be made to work, but I'm not qualified to figure it out, not to mention the thing had plug ends that evidently fit a special hospital receptacle. Yes, I made a mistake, but the man lied to me.
So there I was, eggs ordered and no incubator. Nothing to do but get a Little Giant and go with it. So I got one on Saturday. I studied some more, mostly on BYC and came up with a game plan to go with. I've had some help from the good people here answering questions I've had, and I'm so thankful for everyone that has helped me out. I set up the incubator and did according to instructions to be familiar with it and have it ready when the eggs arrive, which will be tomorrow. I do plan to let the eggs sit for a while before I stick them in it.
Anyway, I've been messing with that thing for the past several days. I bought a hygrometer and a calibrated thermometer. For the life of me I cannot get that incubator to give a steady temperature at all. It ranges all over the place even when I don't mess with the dial. Yes, I have played with the temperature adjustment, but there have been hours of checking on it without doing anything and it the temperature will vary from 96 to 101 degrees. I have it set where the sun can't hit it, and the house has central air so the temps are pretty much even throughout. I'm at my wits end trying to maintain a temp between 99.5 and 100 degrees. It won't do it. At least I can't get it to. I've tried it with the vents plugged and unplugged. I tried it dry and I put water in it. Nothing seems to matter. My understanding is staying within that 1/2 degree is detrimental. But this thing will not stay set on ANY temperature what so ever. If the thing would read 95 one hour and 95 the next then I'd at least know I just need to get the dial figured out. But it will be one thing one time and then off several degrees an hour later. Then it will be different again. And that is without even messing with it.
I don't know what to do. I read on this forum that many people use this brand and do good with them. Maybe I got a dud. I could take it back and get another, but I don't feel very confident about doing that. I wouldn't have enough time to mess with it anyway and would be flying by the seat of my pants worse than I am now. I've searched all over the area and no one sells anything other than Little Giant, and it isn't feasible for me to buy something else anyway.
I know I didn't think this thing thru like it should have been. I had open heart surgery a few months back and my brain still isn't back to thinking as clearly as it did before. Nothing serious, but I'm have small issues with trying to think every little detail out on some things before hand. That was why I found a good instruction post on here and printed it out just so I could look at it and go by a procedure all spelled out 1, 2, 3 and not mess up. But I can't get the incubator to stabilize.
Am I possibly flipping out over something that isn't that big of a deal? I need some help because I don't know. I apologize for the long post. I've had to give up most everything I ever liked to do because of my health, and this just seemed like a good thing to try. I don't mind a challenge, but it seems the cards are stacked against me on this. At least for now maybe. So going with what I have, what chance do I have of getting a hatch of any kind? Anyone got any pointers they would share with me? I sure would appreciate it!