I have a little giant incubator, and the temp has gone from and throughout 93 degrees F to 103.8 degrees F. and I've been trying to put my incubator in a box during the night, notching out the electrical cord, and making sure the metal screws in the heating system, that stick out on the top don't touch the cardboard box. I also put a down comforter and several blankets to insulate the box. During the day today, I took it out of the box. The incubator has this incredibly annoying light on the top that goes on and off whenever it wants with not a single reason. My incubator does not keep track of temperature. It just has a tiny little rod to spin. And when you spin it the slightest bit you possibly can, the temp fluctuates like CRAZY! I don't know what to do! I cant handle these eggs dying. I already had an extremely bad hatch with 2 that hatched very late and then died right after hatching.(Starting around 50 for sure fertile eggs) I am doing everything I possibly can, and have learned so much. I don't know what to do about my temperature. I will do anything to save these guys. Its their 2nd full day in the incubator. Its still air! I need it at 101.5!!!! Their brooder is absolutely perfect. The incubator is extremely cleaned, and germ free. I have tried 4 thermometers and spent around $30 dollars in different thermometers in the past day. I put water in at 40% humidity every day. And by hand, I turn each egg 3 times a day. (46 eggs) I go to highschool and have a ton of homework for my college classes, and I really need this to be less stressful, and less time consuming/worrisome. I cant live a minute without worrying about the temperature in my incubator. I want them to hatch right on time. It's winter, I know it can be a bad time to incubate. I want them to be somewhat mature around spring time. PLEASE! ANY TIPS!
I don't have much advice to offer as I use a forced air, but it's important to have your incubator in a room that relatively stays the same temp and humidity, my incubator for some reason always jumps between 37.8 - 38.0, even though I set it to 37.7, so I've had to set it to 37.3 to give it wiggle room and now it stays between 37.5 - 37.8 (Celsius), which is ideal for my climate. though by what you've said I'd guess it has something to do with the temp of the room. try putting it in a different room that stays the same temp, like I mentioned above. also having it near drafts sunlight or open windows affects the temp too. considering you have to turn them every few hours, it would do you well to cave in and buy a fully automatic. I bought a 60 egg fully auto unbranded Chinese bator for $100 on eBay and actually works better than you'd expect, you just have to get to know it. its worth it in the long run.
Did you calibrate the incubator before you put eggs in it. I turn my incubator on three to four days before I am ready to add eggs. That way you can see if it's going to stay steady temperature. Once you put your eggs in the temperature will fluctuate. If your temperature was correct when you started it will go back to what you set it at. Don't keep adjusting once the eggs are in. I have a still air hovabator and it is styrofoam. If the weather changes because the heat went on in the house that will make it fluctuate also. Just wrap your blanket around it if you think it's too cold. Each time you open it to turn your eggs it's going to change but it should go back. If you calibrated your incubator and it stayed steady previous don't keep adjusting it. I know I have repeated myself but I had to learn a few lessons myself. And just breathe keep a little note pad as to what you are doing and each time you incubate you will have notes of what worked and what didn't. It's all a learning process.
