Incubator issues!!

[Sara Smith]

So I've just started out with hatching chicks, I've had my chickens for 6 years and nothing has really went wrong. Until now! I've let my broody hens hatch their chicks, that's went okay. I bought one of the cheap incubators since I don't have $700 to spend on a high tech one, but that has turned out terrible. Here is my problem, I put eggs in to try and hatch and apparently my heat was too high. Not by the temp on any of the thermometers I had inside. My guess is probably because I live on the outskirts of San Diego, it doesn't get under 80 ish on a good day. So I don't have a room or place that is consistently between 65-72 degrees. Is it because it gets so got throughout the day that it would affect the eggs inside. A few eggs hatch much too early and my house smelt like baked death. It was disgusting. I know it was only once and my first time but I really don't want to fail at it again. Am I just not in the right climate for a cheap incubator or what should I do to make it work? I'm sure my inexperience played a role but I checked the temp often and it wasn't ever too high.

 

[sdm111]

IMO you need to get a better thermometer don't rely on the ones that come with incubators and monitor your humidity as well. The more hatches you do the better you'll get.

 

[Sara Smith]

Do you have any suggestions on which ones to get? I had read this before and bought another one but I assume that it would still probably fall on the cheap side since I only paid $10.

 

[sdm111]

I use these but it dosent have a hydrometer but I don't read my humidity after a while you get the feel for it http://m.ebay.com/itm/281332130344?nav=SEARCH

 

[Sara Smith]

Thanks for your help.