Cold Eggs... Maybe?

[XxPandaxX]

My eggs surface only feels lukewarm. The thermometer reads 90 for the ones in the back, farther from the heat lamp (this is fine with me, they'll still hatch) and the ones nearer to the light read about 101 degrees.... One near the back he has a third row to hisself) is almost... Cold... Not cold. But not warm. Still that area is reading 90 degrees. I moved him up a bit. What should they feel like ...?

 

[nicolemac]

sound like you need a fan for your incubator, all eggs should be around 98-101 degrees,

 

[Sally Sunshine]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/hatching-eggs-101

TEMPERATURE
With a Forced Air Incubator (fan model) you can get the best hatch rate by keeping the temperature at 99.5º F. throughout the entire incubation period. HOWEVER, when using a Still Air incubator (no fan) at 102º F. The reason for different temperatures is that with a fan model the circulating air warms all around the egg while still air temperatures are warmer at the top of the egg than at the bottom. Therefore, increasing the temperature at the top of the egg will compensate for the egg's cooler parts. The temperature is measured at the level where the embryos develop (at the top of the egg). Minor fluctuations (less than ½ degree) above or below 100 degrees are tolerated. Temperatures only a degree or two above the recommended temperatures can kill chicks within 15-30 minutes depending on how high the temperature is and the developmental stage of the embryo. A high temperature tends to produce early hatches. One that runs consistently cooler tends to increase incubation times and produce weakened chicks. In both cases the total chicks hatched will be reduced. Prepare your incubator and run it for several days before adding eggs, to be positive you are maintaining correct incubation temperature. NOTE: It is common that when adding eggs the temperature will drop but should come back up to correct temperature within an hour or two. Don’t rest the thermometer's bulb touching the eggs or the incubator. Incorrect readings will result.

CALIBRATION! YES! It’s IMPORTANT!
Calibrate the thermometer you are using for your Incubator. I use 3 thermometers! You need to make sure your thermometer is reading correctly, Even one degree may cause serious problems with your hatch!
A simple method without specialized instruments and knowledge is to compare your thermometer/hygrometer with other devices. If your thermometer (or the one you compare it with) goes at least from 0°C to 100°C then you can also calibrate it with crushed ice. Thermometer should read 32 degrees in a mixture of crushed ice and a little water. If it reads, say, 30 degrees, then you can either adjust the thermometer until it is correct (if the style of the thermometer permits adjustment), or else you will at least know your thermometer reads 2 degrees too cool, so you can adjust your thinking--and your incubator--accordingly.
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More information on Calibrating your thermometer/hygrometer ~
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-a-styrofoam-quotstill-airquot-egg-/step4/Calibrate-your-thermometerhygrometer/
http://www.swowea.org/Thermometer%20Calibration.pdf

Probe thermometer & water weasel (Water Wiggler, Water Snake) found on Amazon or Ebay make for EXCELLENT internal temp guides! If you cant find a water wiggler you can make your own with ziplock filled with water folded in half!
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Examples of thermometers and hygrometers
I personally like to keep a digital one that also keeps track of “highs and lows” along with 2 incubator thermometers AND a PROBE!
More Important than make/model is CALIBRATION.
It NEEDS TO BE SPOT ON!

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