Hovabator 1588 preset temp question

[VTcreamlegbars]

I have the new version of the Hovabator 1588 and the preset temp was set at 100.5. My understanding is that the temp should be 99.5 correct? Should I leave it at 100.5 because the temp reading is happening towards the top of the incubator thus the temp down by the egg turner is presumably 99.5? OR Lower the temp to 99.5.
First hatch and I am attempting to do everything correctly!

 

[davemonkey]

Does it have the circulating fan? If not, leave it alone. If so, you have to decide (via research) whether the 1 degreee is going to hurt your hatch-rate.

Personally, I would not worry about it. I've been a degree too high during incubation, and hatch was 1/2 day early. I've been a degree too low, and hatch was 2 days late. These we mediocre hatch-rates, but I'm not certain that it was all due to temperature.

 

[VTcreamlegbars]

Thank you. I have set it for 99.5.

 

[mattman1978]

What you measure with is just as important as where you measure. I use a digital pharmacy thermometer. Get one, test it on yourself, then use it on the incubator. Digital pharmacy thermometers are factory calibrated. Anything else can be off by 2 degrees or more. Also, fans are highly recommended. I used two computer fans in my Little giant. One in the front middle and one in the back middle. They hang from the top by long 6-32 screws and blow up. Use a 12 V dc 1amp power supply to power them. Never put the thermometer near or over the heating elements to measure temp. Always in the back middle or in the side. You can strap it to the turner and use a clothes hanger to hit the button. Good luck!

 

[hildar]

Well if it doesn't have a fan and you do it at 99.5 then you will be having chicks a few days later then the day expected. If you have a fan then 99.5 is fine.

 

[Ridgerunner]

The 1588 is a forced air. I have the older model. The correct temperature should be 99.5 and you can take that anywhere in that incubator. It is only a still air that where you tale the temperature is important since hot air rises in a still air.

How well do you trust the thermometer you are using? It's not that unusual for thermometers to be off by a fair amount, enough to cause problems. You can get methods to calibrate a thermometer or maybe use a medical thermometer to confirm it is reading right.

Once you get a true reading, I'd try to get it a bit closer to 99.5, but even a full degree off you should get some pretty good hatches.

 

[VTcreamlegbars]

Thanks everyone. Calibrated and eggs are in! Day 1.