Who uses Little Giant Incubators?

[brownfoxfarm]

I use a LG - still air & no turner (except me!).

It must be set up somewhere that you'll be sure to check it often. You should also make sure to get it stabilized days before you add eggs. I keep a nice fluffy towel over mine to keep drafts from being a problem. Though it's in the same room as our house thermostat, there is a lot of traffic and though that is good for plenty of observation, it's bad for drafts sometimes. But last year we had some very good hatches with our Pilgrim geese (first year laying) using our Little Giant.

SO. It requires a lot of babying, BUT the price was right for us and we get a lot of good use from it. Someday, when I get rich from raising chickens and geese

I'll have enough money to get a more independent incubator, or two!

Joyce Brandon
http://brownfoxfarm.weebly.com

 

[Shellz]

Guess its just a matter of setting priorities. Can your family survive without you for several days during lockdown? I found this to be the most finickiest part of it all. Although it was easy to get humidity up, keeping it in a safe range was not! And when one has hatched, that brings humidity up again. I'm sure I lost a couple of chicks this way. Humidity got too high, once chicks started hatching. I did a staggered hatch, 4 days apart. There was one egg in each batch that never hatched. They both died at same stage of development. Fully formed, but heads tucked down - didn't get into position to pip the air cell. I blame humidity, because the 4th out of 5 chicks from first hatch, was slower hatching out than first 3. Then 4 days later, the last 2/3 hatched, but were even slower getting out. This was just my experience. I will know to keep an even closer eye next time, to keep humidity under 73% & not lower than 65%.

 

[Chicken Keith]

They sure do play head games, just like an ex I had too! Lol!


.... I was a basket-case for last 3 days! I drove my family NUTS!

Shellz, you crack me up. You're my new best chicken friend, LOL.

Seriously though, I read somewhere else from another poster who used an LG and said they got those glass pebbles like you can buy in a crafts store and put them all in the bottom of the LG, below the screen which helped keep the temp more stable. Never tried it but an interesting concept never the less. Good luck.

 

[Chicken Keith]

... I ran off to the land of Brinsea and never looked back. Not only did I never look back, I never had to babysit an incubator again, just set it and forget it.

Preach on, sister (hope i got the gender right! 8o) May i live vicariously through you, for just a minute? I promise I won't hang around long, but if you could just describe in intimate detail just what living one day with a Brinsea is like. Getting ready to salivate now! P.S. what kind of Brinsea do you have?

 

[grw40hp]

I have a little giaint that was still air i bought used tryed one hatch not much luck but was my first time i converted it with a incukit dc unit fan heater and tstat.will start 2nd hatch wensday.

 

[QuirkySue]

I have a gently used styrofoam hovabator still air. It has the turner which is nice but I hate it already. If I had the $$$ to blow I'd buy a Brinsea tomorrow, but I'm not sure how much to invest at this point. Cheaper to buy a couple good Roos and use broody hens?

 

[Shellz]

Broody hens are great! I made sure that the 2nd coop had nest boxes closer to the floor this time. A good broody will protect chicks from rest of the flock. Can't wait for broodies this year! I still like to incubate, just in case!
Hmmmm....marbles you say, Chicken Keith? Might have to try that!

 

[Peggy-Sue]

I wish we had a broody! We are going round 2 with our LG tomorrow morning! This time we are going to try running it at 100.5 to 101... OUr two chicks that hatched this time hatched on day 23 so maybe with the warmer temps will get fluffy buts on day 21!

 

[Peep_Show]

There's a thread on BYC called "Little Giant Incubator Tricks" which is chockful of how to make these boxes work to their optimal best.

I've had the same LG for over 20 years...just had to replace wafers and eventually the plexiglass window when they got all grody yellow from age. Still works great and great hatch rates....even with shipped eggs.

 

[circuschicks]

Hello, this is my first post and first time incubating.

I really appreciate all the good info on this site. I purchased a LG Still Air after much research, the deciding factor was the price $34.95 at TS. I set it up, really just plugged it in added the thermometers -5! 2 were the same the other 3 were way off. the plastic one that came with it seems to be right on. After reading about calibrating with ice I put a digital in freezer it was way off 5 dgrees. they are all brand new. was very surprised but I was able to get 2 the correct temp. Then I had an idea I make my own yoqurt and have a therm. for that it is very acurate and I can just let it stay in one of the small air holes at the top the furthest from the element. It is very good to see the temp just past the height of the eggs. I followed the directions to turn knob all the way up and watch carefully for it to reach temp 100 degrees then turn slowly down till light turns off, then leave it at least 8 hours and check to make sure it stays stable. i have it in a room with a lot of windows although it has been cold here in NW PA 0-10 degrees and not much sun, it is not in the direct sun. The LG seems to be stable in there it is very open room. I must have got a good one I started with 12 eggs from my own chickens mixed lot 4 red linked production 4 white leghorns 1 silkie roo mix I think with a leghorn. No feathers on his blue/black feet and a comb like a leghorn but that Blue/black color, very fluffy otherwise. These were from TS last March 2012. I also have 1 buff Orpington and 1 mixed ameraucana pullet greenish blue egg. And 1 Pure ameraucana hen & roo. she lays a beautiful Blue egg. So each day I collected eggs 2x a day and just thought these eggs are so nice and warm & clean that they just had to go in too! after a couple of days I have 32! I think I am ADDICTED! The first ones have been in since Sat the 2nd. and they all have something going on with Veining and embryos its all very exciting! I am trying dry hatching, it started at 19% and I have followed advice on here to put in some jelly jars with water in them and a sponge, now it has gone up to 29%. I am also hand turning -love the hands on. The LG seems to get right back up to 99-100 pretty fast and I do not touch the control knob at all. I am thinking because of having it full of eggs and jelly jars it keeps the temp up. I also when I take top off I put it on top of the box it came in so it stays warm when I put it back on. So far it is working great as far as I can tell with the chicks developing.

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