I'm going to have a staggard hatch and need an inexpensive incubator for lockdown of the first batch. Would an inexpensive Little Giant do the trick? Would there be any reason to get the one with the forced air fan? Thanks!
That fan sure helps keep the air moving a bit and lessening the chances of hot spots and cool areas in the incubator. My first hatch with an egg turner was in a styro-bator without a fan. It was my first ever and I couldn't even track the humidity, so it was already going to have a lower hatch rate (50%). However, we got a fan after that and a hygrometer (is that what humidity measurers are?) and hatch rates raised up to usually at least 80% fairly consistently. If you get a styro-bator with a turner and a fan, though, you might as well look at a Brinsea because the price difference isn't as huge. The Brinsea's fan is built in (and you don't have to attach it yourself). You can buy a turner to go with the Brinsea, or if you are at home often enough, then it's really easy to turn the eggs because you just tilt the whole incubator. I get better hatch rates with the Brinsea. Maybe I just got better at hatching, or maybe the Brinsea is better. I attribute it to the Brinsea. But, yes, a fan is definitely a way to raise your hatch rate considerably no matter which incubator you choose.
I'm doing a staggered hatch as well. I already had an LG and bought a new Hovabator with a fan for incubating. Plan on using the LG for hatching. The LG is still air. I hatched in the LG already from stat to finish with mixed results. Lost some fully developed chicks at the end. So I dont think I'm much help here for you. I'm hoping someone else will have some good advice for both of us.
I have to hova bators the both have forced air. currently I am incubating in one and hatching in the other and its working great for me. We are saving up to get a sportsman Hatcher first, then the incubator. since we swicthed to incubating in one and transferring to the other for hatch, we are getting better hatches . i think it is because of the extra time it takes to take out the turners and everythign and get the incubator set up for hatch. now we just simply take ou the eggs on the date and put them in the other one so much easier.
one thing to keep in mind with the LG is that it's very sensitive to the temperatures in your home. I'm not sure where you live.. but if you are in a place where it gets really hot during the summer (like here in Texas) and you don't use AC you may want to get something that's better insulated. I tried using an LG last summer and couldn't keep it cool enough when our house temps shot up.. I did manage to keep two of the Brinseas running with fans pointed at them.. though there were many days when they didn't have to heat at all. This year I have added the Reptipro to my list of incubators just because it has a cooling function so it will be able to keep the eggs a bit more temperature stable.. So during hot spells it will be my main incubator. If you live somewhere where it isn't as hot during the summer.. or you routinely use your AC then it wouldn't be as much of a concern.
If you plan on doing staggered hatches on a regular basis, I'd suggest a better quality second incubator. If it is only this once, I'd probably go with the least expensive option. Plenty of people hatch in Little Giants and do well. You generally have to work a little harder and pay more attention to details with the less expensive ones. They are generally not as well made and don't have all the convenience features the more expensive models will have, things like humidity control and how easy they are to clean up, for example. The moving air in a forced air can dry the egg or chick faster than a still air, so you probably need a higher humidity during lockdown with a forced air. The other side of that is that the egg needs to breathe during incubation and hatch so it can get enough oxygen. The chick is a living animal that needs oxygen, both before and after pip. As long as you take the plugs out during lockdown, that should not be a problem with a still air. People incubate and hatch all the way through lockdown with still air incubators. You should be OK with that LG still air, just get it set up and running ahead of time so you can get it adjusted. But if you are going to do a lot of staggered hatches, I'd suggest a better one.
I've been doing a staggered hatch for a month or so. I have 2 GQF Genesis 1588. I agree with the others about getting a fan-forced bator. Holds the temp much better. I like the smaller table top models for my situation.
I have two LG Bators one with fan one without. Over time these bators tend to creep up or down in temp. They may run perfect for a few days but they will need adjustment many times over 21 days. I chose to switch to Hova-Bator Genesis 1588. This foam bator is excellent. I leave mine on for months at a time and it always reads within a couple of tenths of a degree from 99.5 I still use both the still air and forced air LG for hatching. Both do well for the lock down period but I prefer the still air due to it's ability to hold humidity better.
