are temp fluctuations ok?

[BaileyBoy]

My incubator hasn't been able to get to the right temp so i have had to adjust it and constantly for the past 2 day (day 5-6 of incubation) my temp has been fluctuating from 99-102 degrees. Im trying to get it to hold at 101 but it may end up holding at 102. My question is 1) Did these minimal temp fluctuations kill the birds, 2) is it ok if i do end up holding the bator at 102?

 

[Duckopolis]

What kind of eggs are you incubating? Ducks, chickens, quail, etc?

 

[lazy gardener]

Does your incubator have a fan? Are these fluctuations happening during the cycle time between the heat coming on and going off in response to the thermostat? Or are they happening over the course of the day, perhaps related to the room temperature? I'm guessing that if your goal is 101 degrees, that you don't have a fan. Either way, if you do an average, it is 100 degrees (assuming that we're talking about short term temp cycling) The egg temperature won't change as quickly as the air, so you might be ok. The other question to ask is, How accurate is your thermometer?

 

[BaileyBoy]

the thermometer is very accurate and its on the row of the egg turner that doesn't have any eggs. I'm hatching chicken eggs. so are they ok?

 

[lazy gardener]

I wouldn't let it go above 102 degrees. You didn't say if you had a fan or not. That will make a difference. Fan = goal 99.5, no fan... (I think, but not sure) = 101 degrees. Good luck. Is the incubator full of eggs, or is there a lot of room to spare? If you have room, you might put in water bottles, or clean rocks to act as a heat sink and stabilize your temps. You might also want to experiment with tin foil baffles to try to hold the heat closer to the thermostat... (if this is a home made incubator) to get it to cycle quicker. Of course all of these changes are best made when not incubating eggs. Perhaps do some experimenting after your hatch. Also, when you candle at day 7, you can compare your results to other images to see if your egg development is on track.

 

[BaileyBoy]

I know all about the temp its a still air and its meant to be running 101 but all I'm rally asking is if they are ok even though there was that temp fluctuation. its a professional thermal heated hova bator