What is the secret to keeping heat/humidity steady (day 18) LG bator?

[clacasse88]

This is the 2nd time I've attempted to incubate eggs. The first time was a nightmare trying to keep temp. regulated -- basically the entire 21 days. This time the first 18 days were fine. We got it regulated & didn't try to tweak temp. at all. It did excellent holding temp steady and did ok with keeping humidity at 50%. Today is day 18 and removed egg turner & have been attempting to get humidity up to 70%. What is the secret to keeping humidity up? I only have 8 eggs in my batch does this make a big difference? I have 2nd incubator going that is chuck-full and holding temp & humidity perfect.

Should I get rid of the Little Giant incubator & get a better regulated one? 'Hova' one? I've been reading a lot of not-so-good results with the LG incubator.

 

[Cindiloohoo]

SOOO glad I started with a Hovabator!! I have read that you can fight the LG's by putting paper towels in to give more suface area to increase humidity. It's the surface area of water that matters in increasing humidity anyway, NOT THE AMMOUNT OF WATER. Maybe that's the problem with the LG's is not enough surface area in the water pan? I have never had one, but my best friends has the same issues with her LG trying to incubate ducks which need more humidity in the first place to get good results. IDK, but I wish you luck!!

 

[ethingtonart]

I'm using a LG still air incubator, and to get the humidity up I've added several wet sponges. It seems to work pretty well.

 

[bigstack]

I had the same prob with mine. My DW had some really small tupperware type bowls, funny shaped ones. I filled the bottom with them covering everything except the vent holes. then wadded up papertowel balls added them to the bowls. Now staying at 75-80% Might be worth a try. sponges work too. tall as can fit.

Good Luck and God Bless!

 

[clacasse88]

I just love this website. It's so nice to know there are others in the same scenario! And, so quick with responses.

Hmm. This morning I added warm wet papertowels and sponges. I kept the sponges under the vent holes so I could use a turkey baster to add more warm water when needed. Everytime I try to boost the humidity by adding water to the sponges, I have an overflow of water underneath the bator, thereby having to add a towel underneath the incubator. I'm afraid once I don't pay attention to the humidity that the temp will spike on me. I had that problem the last hatch.

I am going to find small containers and fill them up with water. I just don't want to keep opening & disturbing, but I guess the sooner the better and get it over with.

I may look into getting rid of my incubators and getting the Hova one.
Thanks for all of your suggestions.

 

[MagsC]

I have other incubators, but three LGs. I just put the thermometer/hygrometer in there and once it goes below what I want, I had water to the tray.
I also have kept humidity up before my placing a damp town UNDER the incubator, for some reason that seems to work pretty well.
I had a more difficult time keeping up the humidity when I didnt do it!

 

[IggiMom]

Lots of people get good hatches on the LG, but you have to watch it a little. I think it is a great starter incubator, in that you really learn what you are doing. You can't just turn it on and forget about it.

Re regulating the temp. It helps to have more mass in there, if you don't have a whole bunch of eggs. So your little bowls of water to help with humidity will also help with the temp.

THEN--have a good thermometer. If you haven't thrown out the one that came with it, do so. Turn up the heat (or down as the case may be) just a TEENSY bit. Here is what I do. If I want to turn it up, I watch until the little light goes off, and right that minute I turn it up just enough to turn it back on again. But I am talking a SMALL TURN here. If you think you have turned it but you are not sure, you probably have.

If you want to turn it down, reverse this. Wait just until the light goes on, and then turn to the left JUST A LITTLE BIT until the little light goes off.

Then--check it in about two hours. Give it a nice long time to regulate. Don't turn it again for a couple hours, unless of course, you turned it too much and you are cooking your eggs or something.

Another thing I do to regulate temp. Put some small olive jars or jelly jars, something like that, full of water in there. Again, this increases the mass.

For goodness sake, don't throw your incubator away. If you want to, give it away, someone will want it. Or if you are going to upgrade, wait until your new incubator is full, which of course, you will vow not to get too many eggs, but you will, and then you can start filling up your LG again. Or use it as a hatcher.

Good luck

Catherine

 

[satay]

Quote:
Move to Australia. Just jokin. I have the opposite here. I have probs getting my humitidity down enough as it is such a humid climate.

 

[suburbanminifarm]

I concur with the sponge and paper towel thing. Also, I add H2O using a drinking straw fed through one of the vent holes, using a syringe to push water thru the straw. Viola, no opening the bator and letting out heat and humidity.

 

[clacasse88]

Move to Australia. Just jokin. I have the opposite here. I have probs getting my humitidity down enough as it is such a humid climate.

Australia is one of my top places I want to visit

How do you eliminate the humidity?​