Hygrometers

[gaggleguy]

For anyone out there that uses Little Giant Still Air incubators, what kind of hygrometer do you use? Anything I can go buy at the store? I think I need to start using one but I don't know what to use or where to get one. Thanks.

gaggleguy

[Pathfinders]

At the risk of sounding curmudgeonly, I wouldn't use a Little Giant if you paid me. I bought one as my first incubator and after several dismal hatches tossed them and got a Sportsman. Haven't regretted it for a minute.

What sorts of birds are you hatching? Geese?

[gaggleguy]

All I have are chickens now. I used to hatch a lot of ducks and a few geese here and there. I've always been quite satisfied with my Little Giant incubators, and always with no hygrometer. I know they aren't as good as one of the more expensive kinds of incubator but I'm not gonna waste more money on a hobby that is already a waste of money. But thanks anyway :wink:

[chicken farmer]

If I were you I would first buy a better incubator. I used a Little Giant 9200 my first two years of having chickens and have thrown 200 eggs in the garbage while only hatching 12 chicks that only 8 lived :oops: . But anyway the best place to find a hygrometer is eggcartons.com

[kycalls]

Having some experience hatching eggs in an incubator in Kentucky I can honestly say it stays humid enough in the spring that you dont really have to worry about adding water in your incubator, I would add water to one of the little trays about once a week for the majority of the hatch..until the last 3 days of the hatch, just add some water to the little built in trays of your incubator.

I bought one of those little cheap hygometers from Feeders Supply for about three bucks and it works fine for me..

[Pathfinders]

But in the winter in my part of KY (northern) living in a forced air heated house, it's dry as a bone here. I start hatching in mid-December, and have to be sure I have enough humidity, rather than worrying about too much. But that's just me. :D

[kycalls]

It gets dry at my house in the winter too...good point. I keep my old redwood incubator in the basement and I dont get much change in temp and humidity down there.

You will laugh at me but I can gauge the humidity in my house by how hard it is to dry my hair in the morning when I am getting ready for work....and no I am not a pretty boy...as you can testify too.

Jerry

[Antwerptom03]

I use a little giant and have great luck with it. However I do not use a hygrometer.
Guess we should invest in one but as long as hatches are good I don't see any point in changing what I'm doing
What i do is make the temp adjustment knob bigger by adding a piece of luan cut in a circle about 1.5" around which makes small adjustments much easier. otherwise you'll go insane trying to adjust with that tiny knob.
I do shut off the dehumidifier in the basement so it's easier to keep the humidity in both my hatcher and incubator. if I didn't have a basement I'd have one hell of time hatching this time of year in the house.
I'd love a sportsman just can't afford one

[Pathfinders]

You will laugh at me but I can gauge the humidity in my house by how hard it is to dry my hair in the morning when I am getting ready for work....and no I am not a pretty boy...as you can testify too. Jerry

You blow dry your hair?

((ducking and running, very very fast.))

[Blackorps]

I have found the ones at Petco in the reptile section work very well.