How do EXPERIENCED hatchers live thru an incubation?! Temp issues NOW!

[Mrs MIA]

There is definitely something to be said for good quality thermometers. If the numbers are on the glass, then I'd trust it. I had one that came with an incubator, and the glass tube was just clipped on. Another was glued on, and it was impossible to use after it separated.

I guess the point is, fluctuations are a normal part of incubating even when hens do it, so don't panic.

Keri, your story is classic!!

 

[ksf59]

As I look in my bator right now, at one of those exact same springfields. I would not trust it, trust the mercury one. My springfield is 1 to 3 high on temp and up to 25 high on humidity. Right now, my bator is 41 perecnt and 99.5 forced air with certified instrument, but the springfield has it at 102.3 and 59 percent. I am surprised i got any thing to hatch last time, but did have some hatch. From my eggtopsies I decided to take my stuff to my lab at work and verify against a standard. and boy was that thing so wrong. I will be putting a mercury in next time I open, just to confirm my other digiatl, but it was close enough on calibration to work. Last time I used the sprinfield, and tried to keep em dry, but when I threw out some clears, and some had evaporated to anout 1/5 the egg, I was wooried that I had killed them all. Was just a bad set of eggs. the fertil eggs deveopled fine, but i hathed about a day early and about 50 percent were fully formed and never pipped. I think I was jsut to dry all the time. I will keep thsi set at 40 to 44 day ! to 18 and try to 50 to 60 at lock down. My temps have been right on from 99.3 to 99.7 so far.5 days and counting

 

[ArizonaDesertChicks]

This is my first time hatching with an incubator and I share your frustration!

I have that same springfield thermometer plus an acurite that shows 2 temperatures and a meat thermometer in my homemade incubator. I frequently get 4 different temperature readings even though I have a fan running in my incubator. Even the 2 acurite temps are different from each other.

It's frustrating because even though I can get the bator running a steady temperature, I don't know which one to trust and don't know which temperature my eggs are being incubated at. I tested the thermometers ahead of time and they all seemed about the same with my house temperature - I think they show different temps depending on where they are located in the incubator, but.... I have a fan - shouldn't be that varied.

 

[Mrs MIA]

I've never used one of the Springfields. I usually use the wireless remote sensor from my weather station, so I guess my thoughts on digitals are biased. Sorry if I misled anyone. I've just tried to use the liquid thermometers and had them prove to be very inaccurate.

I guess I would follow the basic rule of thumb... if they're hatching early, turn the temps down a bit. If they're late, turn it up, and note the temperature that it needs to read to get hatches at the right time.

But as far as the original question goes, the answer still stands. We hereby order you to keep hatching until it doesn't freak you out anymore.

 

[lexgold]

OMG I feel your pain. I'm doing my first hatch in the Hovabator with the same thermometer set up. When I put the eggs in the temp PLUMMETED! Of course I then turned the thermostat way up and nearly cooked them! Every time I add water the temp goes up. I adjust the thermostat a little bit when that happens to lower the temp and then turn it back up when it drops again, and now I'm reading on here that you should NEVER adjust the thermostat! How our our nerves going to handle this experience???!!!!

 

[pardenx3]

Quote:
We have the same digital one you do, and had a decent hatch. I would trust it more.

 

[PeepsInc]

I bought an oral thermometer. After shaking it, I put it in the water tray in the bator. The water is going to be closer to the egg's core temp than the air will be. Then I calibrated the mercury thermometer to the core temp reading. Air temp can fluctuate with out changing the eggs core temp. Just something to consider.

 

[lemurchaser]

Quote:
One thing to be careful about with that is that water is evaporating which cools the water. A more accurate way would be a closed container of water with a hole in it for the thermometer. Or a water wiggler. My water temps are consistently cooler than my water wiggler temps.

 

[aveca]

Hope it gets more enjoyable for you. You will get better at it , just dont give up. It looks to me like you are doing pretty good if that glass therm is on top of the eggs the temp is as it should be. Those are the most important in a still air.

Over the years Ive actually found it relaxing and a little miracle in the making. The top glass thermometers are very accurate and they do not want you to exceed 101 with those and 99 - 100 being perfect. the surface of the egg should not get hotter than that . that is what the manufactures recomend.

The problem is the different readings are too confusing, IF YOU NOTICE THE SURFACE OF THE DIGITAL IS GOING TO BE HIGHER TOWARD HEAT SOURCE AND WILL READ HIGHER TEMP FOR THAT REASON. Glas temp lays flat on eggs, digital is what about 3/4ths inch thick so that is your difference. They gave you the glass thermometers for that reason they are directly on the surface of the egg so that temp is what the surface of the egg is and it is correct if it says 100 . follow the glass thermometer for surface temps.it was made especially for that job by manufacturer, does that make sence?


I am a not terribly thrilled with batteries that could potentially leak gasses into deveolping embryos. But so far no one has had that kind of experience outright so thats good.
I do have a digital on the side down towad the bottom that reads 92 while top glass read 100. glass reader laying on empty spot where unfertile eggs were removed reads about 98 so thats actually good. Keep a close eye on the surface GLASS readers only as above they were made for this. if it spikes turn the knob just a pinch down ward and wait then again till you get it adjusted. most important keep your eyes on the top glass it should not exceed 101 .

I have had 2 times when the temps went a little crazy so did careful tiny adjustments and waited till it leveled out , once on day 5 for reasons I sure cant explain, it just started going crazy for no apparent reason after 5 days of settled humid and temps.. so again just tiny adjustments till it leveled out.

If it goes up too high temps you can crack the lidwhile making tiny adjustments at a time with the top.

Then again when we removed all unfertile eggs on day 13 so big empty space left a void and no playback heat from those liquid filled eggs.
so anticipate that happening. I am just tweeking the temps and it has settled back to surface readers at 100

 

[aveca]

You know I was thinking too.

If humidity rises actual air temp goes down a bit.

100 and dry air like 6% humidity is pretty tolerable

100 and 90% humidity is unbearable

so wouldnt actual air temp with high humidity and temp a little lower say like 94 and 75 % humidity be about perfect?

I guess that would be a question for the experts.