Forced air incubator temp question

[4chickns]

I have a Brinsea mini Eco with 11 silkie eggs (shipped) in it. The temp seems to have been very steady over the past 12 days, right at about 99.5 (so says the brinsea glass thermometer) I have a digital thermometer that I know to be very reliable, which reads just over 100 sometimes on top of the eggs, but usually just under. I originally had 14 eggs, but recently removed 3 clears and now have room for my thermometer to sit on the bottom, next to the eggs. It is reading 98 degrees! How can there be thermal layering in an itty bitty forced air incubator! I obviously checked the temp on the bottom for a day before adding the eggs, but once the eggs were in, I could only place the thermometer on top of the eggs to double check temp. All 11 eggs seem to be developing right on time, humidity has been well controlled and all air cells are on track (except the one large, saddle shaped wonky thing).
So, my question is, do I turn the temp up or leave it since development looks good so far. 98 seems extremely low to me! The incubator is in a very temperature controlled room free from drafts. Any advice from the hatching experts is certainly appreciated! I have read so many hatching articles on hear leading up to this hatch, but I have no idea what to do in this situation. We have only hatched under our broody little hens before, which has proven to be much less stressful of an experience.
Thank you!

 

[Zapa]

Hello,
Poorly insulated plastic incubators are tougher to regulate. I'm not too familiar with the Brinsea mini Eco, but i know of it. If i were to guess i would say your temp difference is due to thermal conduction from the plastic on the bottom to the broad flat thermometer.

A few suggestions:
Take the digital thermometer sensor and place it on the bottom right beside the other thermometer and put a toothpick under the other thermometer to get it just slightly off the plastic. Try to get a good calibration with the trusted thermometer this way. If the toothpick causes the thermometer to read higher then my hunch is correct. This means your eggs are also experiencing this conduction on the bottom. Wrap the bator in a towel or blanket to assist in insulation if this is happening. But monitor closely as this will likely raise the temp and you will need to readjust.

The reading from your trusted digital thermometer on the bator floor will also give you an indication if you have layering going on if it reads less and proves your other thermometer accurate with the toothpick underneath.

Can't tell you exactly what's going on, but i believe this is the best way to figure it out quickly.

 

[4chickns]

Hello,
  Poorly insulated plastic incubators are tougher to regulate. I'm not too familiar with the Brinsea mini Eco, but i know of it. If i were to guess i would say your temp difference is due to thermal conduction from the plastic on the bottom to the broad flat thermometer.

A few suggestions:
Take the digital thermometer sensor and place it on the bottom right beside the other thermometer and put a toothpick under the other thermometer to get it just slightly off the plastic. Try to get a good calibration with the trusted thermometer this way. If the toothpick causes the thermometer to read higher then my hunch is correct. This means your eggs are also experiencing this conduction on the bottom. Wrap the bator in a towel or blanket to assist in insulation if this is happening. But monitor closely as this will likely raise the temp and you will need to readjust.

The reading from your trusted digital thermometer on the bator floor will also give you an indication if you have layering going on if it reads less and proves your other thermometer accurate with the toothpick underneath.

Can't tell you exactly what's going on, but i believe this is the best way to figure it out quickly.

That was very helpful, thank you! I propped the thermometer up a bit and it went right up to 99.5, so it seems it is the poorly insulated bottom. I had initially planned on putting something under the incubator to help with insulation, but the instructions said to place directly on a hard, non porous surface, so I decided to follow along. I did just place a towel underneath and I will monitor closely for a while in case the temp rises too high.
Thanks again, I appreciate your help!