Babies hatching on day 18?!

[theycallmechickmagnet]

I got this new incubator just over 2 weeks ago. It's the "Farm Innovators Pro Series Circulated Air Incubator with Automatic Egg Turner, 4250" from tractor supply store. The thermometer was really off so we had to buy a separate one to keep in it. Our set temp on both incubators is 103°f and that brings it up to the right temperature range. It was so crazy, when I had it set at 99.5 the eggs were ice cold. Everything has been developing just fine, out of 41 eggs in each incubator, only 3 stopped developing. Now it's day 18 and to my surprise there are 3 babies hatched! 2 bantams and a normal size one. I'm just so shocked, I didn't think they could possibly get ready that fast. I looked in the eggshell and there was absolutely nothing un-absorbed. This incubator is incredible. With our old incubator, our babies hatched in 21-25 days. The babies hatched so far are all healthy and doing great.

**We left the egg turning tray in but just unplugged it, so the eggs were at a bit of an angle. Idk if that has anything to do with them hatching so fast
**Also at first with this batch of eggs, when we were first figuring out the incubator, I had thought I killed them all with the cold temp for a few days. Then the temp was too high for a few days. But then I figured out the perfect temp. Could that of had something to do with it?
**The whole time, the humidity level was 40-80%

 

[chckndaddy]

Wow, that's pretty interesting. do you happen to know if maybe the eggs were being sat on for a few days before you put them in. I may be wrong but I'd imagine changes in temperature wouldn't cause faster development. I would probably guess that they had already started developing before you put them in.

 

[SpicyDill]

Incubation temps that are too high can lead to early hatches, although I'm also told that bantam breeds tend to hatch sooner, anyway. Definitely check the calibration on the thermometer you're relying on for an accurate temperature.

 

[theycallmechickmagnet]

Wow, that's pretty interesting. do you happen to know if maybe the eggs were being sat on for a few days before you put them in. I may be wrong but I'd imagine changes in temperature wouldn't cause faster development. I would probably guess that they had already started developing before you put them in.

Nope we collect our eggs every day! I think it has something to do with the temperature in the incubators

 

[theycallmechickmagnet]

Incubation temps that are too high can lead to early hatches, although I'm also told that bantam breeds tend to hatch sooner, anyway. Definitely check the calibration on the thermometer you're relying on for an accurate temperature.

I don't know whats wrong with this thing but I don't think either of the temperatures are accurate. It says 95°f on the on the thermometers I bought. There's like 5 bantam eggs that are behind that are near the front of the incubator so it definitely has something to do with the temp. I don't have an issue with it tho because they are all healthy. Everything except the front row has hatched now, but there is still 1 day left on the timer

 

[SpicyDill]

Have you calibrated the thermometers you're relying on?

 

[theycallmechickmagnet]

Have you calibrated the thermometers you're relying on?

no, how do i do that?

 

[Yardmom]

It may be that certain places in the incubator are slightly warmer than others.

 

[Mellowmalt]

It may be that certain places in the incubator are slightly warmer than others.

front row hasn't hatched yet which I'm presuming is nearest the viewing window, ie the coldest spot in the incubator.
The fastest I have hatched a bantam was 19 days and 12 hours.
18 days is quite impressive but it does indicate temps are possibly a degree too high but if you lower temps then the temps on the front row might be too low.
As long as they are born healthy that's the most important.

 

[SpicyDill]

no, how do i do that?

You can calibrate a thermometer with icewater (should read 32F, and if it doesn't, that tells you how far "off" it is).