Help! Temp too high.

[Mcranton]

Got it. From what I read it doesn't look good. I feel so bad! I bought these eggs and up to yesterday everything was going good.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

What was the temperature during the first part of incubation? 102?
Things like this happen all the time. Hopefully the eggs weren't expensive or they survive.
Internal egg temperature can be quite a bit different from an instantaneous incubator reading. Temperature rises and lowers slowly.

 

[Mcranton]

Most of the days it was at 100.4 and every other day I found it at 102. Occasionally it went to 97 when I opened the cover. 105 was a shock this morning so they were probably at that all night.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Keep in mind that a lot of those readings depend on how quick the response time of the thermometer is. Also, the incubator temperature will fluctuate from when it is heating to when power isn't applied to the element. There are different lag times. And, as I mentioned earlier, the internal egg temperature will not fluctuate as rapidly as the incubator temperature.

When I use a still air, I make sure that the top of the eggs stays near 100 or so for a day or two and then I focus on keeping the room temperature stable. I usually just set it and forget it.
I have used an old still air before and found the control to be much more fickle.

Keep your fingers crossed. All may still be well. Don't discard eggs unless they leak or stink till day 25.

The most critically important piece of equipment you can have when incubating is a guaranteed accurate thermometer. Wal-mart, pet shop and even some incubator company thermometers can't be trusted. Most are guaranteed to be accurate to +/- 2F.
And most fail that accuracy.
Once you get an known accurate one, if it is an instant read, keep in mind that the temperature will fluctuate, sometimes seemingly wildly, in order to keep the egg temperature somewhat stable.
On instant reads, I check the temperature both just before the heat element kicks on and just before it turns off.

 

[Mcranton]

Keep in mind that a lot of those readings depend on how quick the response time of the thermometer is. Also, the incubator temperature will fluctuate from when it is heating to when power isn't applied to the element. There are different lag times. And, as I mentioned earlier, the internal egg temperature will not fluctuate as rapidly as the incubator temperature.

When I use a still air, I make sure that the top of the eggs stays near 100 or so for a day or two and then I focus on keeping the room temperature stable. I usually just set it and forget it.
I have used an old still air before and found the control to be much more fickle.

Keep your fingers crossed. All may still be well. Don't discard eggs unless they leak or stink till day 25.

The most critically important piece of equipment you can have when incubating is a guaranteed accurate thermometer. Wal-mart, pet shop and even some incubator company thermometers can't be trusted. Most are guaranteed to be accurate to +/- 2F.
And most fail that accuracy.
Once you get an known accurate one, if it is an instant read, keep in mind that the temperature will fluctuate, sometimes seemingly wildly, in order to keep the egg temperature somewhat stable.
On instant reads, I check the temperature both just before the heat element kicks on and just before it turns off.

 

[Mcranton]

I will keep my fingers crossed! Thanks so much.

 

[Mcranton]

Newbie here again. It is day 14 and I just candled my eggs that had been over heated to 105.5 on day 8. I think I see movement in one! Now I am worried about having only one chick hatch. If it healthy, will it be OK in a brooder all alone? I have two older silkies in a pen that could be close beside the brooder. Will this help the little one?

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Newbie here again. It is day 14 and I just candled my eggs that had been over heated to 105.5 on day 8. I think I see movement in one! Now I am worried about having only one chick hatch. If it healthy, will it be OK in a brooder all alone? I have two older silkies in a pen that could be close beside the brooder. Will this help the little one?

My very first hatch I ended up with only one (bad thermometer) and he's now my 3 1/2 month pet roo...lol I will say, I had to sleep beside the brooder the first two nights to keep him quiet as he wasn't happy being a lone. After that, I moved the brooder to my bedroom beside my bed so I could get some sleep...lol Less than 2 months later I hatched my second hatch (ended up with 12 that are now 8 weeks.) I had to move my single roo (Peep) to the playroom and he adjusted so well being able to see the new chicks. (I was having problems with him at bedtime. It would take him a couple hours to settle down to sleep.) So, it might help if the other ones are close by.

 

[Allisha]

I think your temperature is too high, in my opinion. I always kept it below 100 F, and if not all, almost all have always survived. It's better to have your temperature low rather than high. One or two might live, but I definately do not think that they all will live. But practice makes perfect, and sometimes it takes a few times to find out the things you are doing right or wrong.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

I think your temperature is too high, in my opinion. I always kept it below 100 F, and if not all, almost all have always survived. It's better to have your temperature low rather than high. One or two might live, but I definately do not think that they all will live. But practice makes perfect, and sometimes it takes a few times to find out the things you are doing right or wrong.

It depends on what type of incubator they are using. If they are using a still air bator it should be between 101-102, preferrably closer to 102. If it is a forced air/circulated air then I would agree as they should be maintained around 99.5 degrees.

After going back and rereading, she is using a still air, so her temps should be between 101-102.