When is it too late?

lzufelt · Jan 29, 2015

I am having a lot of difficulty regulating my incubator. It could be for a variety of reasons- old farm house, drafts, incubator, first time, flat out doing it wrong- but to be honest I am just tired. It has been 5 days and the temperature fluctuates a ridiculous amount. It has gone as high as 102°F and as extreme low as 95°F. I have been able to keep it between 97 and 102 by always checking and adding hot water when it gets low and opening the lid as it climbs higher.

Here is my question: I have another incubator, it is much older and it is shorter than the first one that I borrowed. I have it turned on and its sitting in the second warmest location in my old crafty farm house. If the incubator will regulate its temp to be about 99.5 °F can I switch my eggs from the bigger one to the smaller one? I realize I won't be able to use my automatic egg turner but the amount of stress, frustration and exhaustion that I am feeling now, the manual work and actually being hands on is worth it!
After five days is it to late or are the risks to high in switching the eggs from automatic to manual and to a smaller incubator?

Lalegid · Jan 30, 2015

That sounds really frustrating! I think I would move them over too. What kind of incubators are they? Have you tried wrapping the incubator to try and insulate it? My spare incubator is a styrofoam one and it holds its temp best when I sit it on a square of foam and wrap it in a woolen blanket (only covering the sides, not the top). I cut the blanket and taped it on. Good luck with your hatch

AmyLynn2374 · Jan 30, 2015

lzufelt said:
I am having a lot of difficulty regulating my incubator. It could be for a variety of reasons- old farm house, drafts, incubator, first time, flat out doing it wrong- but to be honest I am just tired. It has been 5 days and the temperature fluctuates a ridiculous amount. It has gone as high as 102°F and as extreme low as 95°F. I have been able to keep it between 97 and 102 by always checking and adding hot water when it gets low and opening the lid as it climbs higher.

Here is my question: I have another incubator, it is much older and it is shorter than the first one that I borrowed. I have it turned on and its sitting in the second warmest location in my old crafty farm house. If the incubator will regulate its temp to be about 99.5 °F can I switch my eggs from the bigger one to the smaller one? I realize I won't be able to use my automatic egg turner but the amount of stress, frustration and exhaustion that I am feeling now, the manual work and actually being hands on is worth it!
After five days is it to late or are the risks to high in switching the eggs from automatic to manual and to a smaller incubator?

It's safe to move them. If you are having that much problems and the other bator is better it would be beneficial to them to be moved to a more steady bator and be hand turned. Just remember to turn them at least 3 xs a day, more is better but always an odd number before leaving them at night. Just try to make the move as quickly as you can and not keep them out of the heat more than 20-30 min. Good luck!

lzufelt · Jan 30, 2015

Thank you both for your in-put. I'm using the hovabator? And the shorter one is a no name.

I currently have the bigger one in a box and under a blanket and the temp is still fluctuating. I have a hot water bottle in it at all times and I replace it as often as possible.

When is it too late?

More options

lzufelt

In the Brooder

Lalegid

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AmyLynn2374

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lzufelt

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