This was even though it was plugged into a surge protector. I had an especially bad experience after a brief power surge, going from 99 to 104 degrees in just a few minutes. It fluctuates greatly with room temperature variations and who knows what else. The fan does help keep the humidity up a little bit better, but doesn't really do much for the temperature. I have since purchased a fan and thermostat wafer and switch to replace the old ones. I purchased my Little Giant incubator used, with no fan or turner. This saves having to open it for fairly long periods to turn the eggs, which really plays havoc with the humidity and temperature. I have started using the Little Giant just for hatching, and using a Brower Top Hatch for the initial incubation period. I haven't used my Top Hatch very much, but I have used the Little Giant several times. I clean the bottom half (with a brush) with a bleach and water solution, and wipe down the inside walls of the top half with same. Some say these styrofoam jobs are hard to clean-I've had no problem. My percentage hatch still isn't what others claim, but it's a heck of a lot better than the 30% I was getting last summer. I have hatched close to 80 chicks (and a few Coturnix quail) since early Jan. Still have to watch the incubators closely though. A couple of times last summer, the temp spiked high for some reason (like something stuck on?), but it hasn't happened this spring. You probably won't find that it holds temps within a fraction of a degree, as the bigger cabinet units claim to do. These are supposed to be more precise, but I find the temp can vary by a degree. Little Giants use an electronic cuircuit board thermostat. Invest in a better one from poultry supply or I found a good accurate one for $10 at a camera/photographic suppy store (developing your own negatives take chemicals used at precise times/temps). The thermometers that come with them are almost worthless. I'm still searching for the best humidity (still have it too high, I think), but now have a handle on the temp. This spring, with the same room much cooler (65-70), my results have been much better. These incubators do not operate well in areas where the temps fluctuate much or get hotter than 80-85 degrees (the turbo fan puts out a bit of heat too). The only place I could put them where there was counter space *and* electrical outlet was a back room that gets pretty hot in summer because of poor insulation and windows that let in sun/heat. This because of the location of the incubators. My results were really dismal when using them last summer, but are much improved this spring. I put in 3-4 thermometers when starting them up, just to see what reads where. Even with the fan, there are definitely warmer and cooler spots. I may get another one as still air and use it as a hatcher without fan. I have 2 Little Giants, bought as still air models, then added the turbo fans (about $25/fan-makes the total about $60 per unit). See his finding HERE along with which incubator he kept and why. Jim tested the little giant and hova-bator to decide which incubator he'd use to hatch his eggs.
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