Concerned about changing temp in incubator *When should i candle*

[Ally Rose]

My incubator goes from 98 degrees to 104 and all in between (maybe not 104 but something like that- the thermometer is hard to read) and i am concerned that it will harm the eggs. I looked at it a few minutes ago and it was around 102 degrees and i got scared. its a homemade styrofoam cooler incubator. Is it a problem if the temp varies like that? it never really gets too much higher than what it should be but I'm still worried. I noticed on the instructions sheet that meter farms sent it said that if the temp is higher, incubation is shorter, so does that mean a slightly higher temp is not bad? Please help I'm very worried its only day 2!

 

[Ally Rose]

PLEASE HELP!

 

[Aaron45765]

Well, I had the same setup as you and once it went to 110 F! But, about 10 days into incubation I switched to a Brinsea Mini Eco. Afterwards I got a cute duckling! I think your ducklings will be fine, but, you may want to keep a watchful eye on it.

 

[Ally Rose]

i check up on them ALL THE TIME and i just put in a dish of water, a new thermometer with a hygrometer and we got a target thermometer that you point at each egg and it tells you the temp of the actual egg. the bator just got really hot so we turned it off and now all of the eggs are a diff temp and we are trying to cool them down!

 

[Ally Rose]

The eggs are fine now its at a pretty steady temp it now only goes from 98 to 101 and its not all over the place all the time. One thing i am concerned about though is that the target thermometer has a laser so you can point it at whatever you are measuring, and i dont know if its bad for the forming chicks, i only used the laser a few times and now i just cover it with my finger while using the thermometer. I hope i didn't harm the eggs...

 

[dominicsaturday]

You will be fine!

I have an old stryofoam cooler that I found in my basement with a lamp above it!

Today, a duckling hatched and at least 8 out 15 others are almost bursting out of their shells.

Mine was the same way. The temps fluctuated. I think more important than the temp is the humidity! As it got closer to hatch day, I had to continually spray my eggs with water mist, as they were very dried out.

 

[Ally Rose]

Yes i spray them very frequently with water and i have a water dish in there too. Im very relieved thanks for the boost- i was worried for nothing and congrats dominicsaturday on your ducklings! I'm glad everything worked out for you!

 

[dominicsaturday]

Yes, optimism is very important when hatching these little guys!

I have 5 healthy happy ducklings crawling around the incubator as we speak. Many more on the way tonight. Some are late hatchers. Even my little guy who came out early (umbilical cord attached) is doing just fine right now.


Good luck!

 

[Ally Rose]

Uh oh now its too cold! whenever i check its about 95!!! AHH! are they dead? I think its been like that for a while.. uh oh

 

[Ally Rose]

Ok now... the eggs are 100 degrees but is it too late? They were about 95 for a few hours.... i know its better for them to be too cool rather than too hot but still I'm very worried and now I'm thinking they are all dead i just want the seven days to be up so i can candle them and see the damage