Incubating Quail eggs: Variations in temperature

[Kiki]

I have 3 thermometers, one meat style, one glass, and one electric hygrometer combo. I calibrated the meat style, but I’ve never calibrated one before and don’t know if I did it right. I have no confidence in the "boiling point" side of calibration, as water will continue to boil at temperatures over the boiling point. I am going more by the glass one, because that technology has been around a lot longer, and all of them that I looked at in the store were all reading the same, so I figured they had to be pretty accurate. It’s a large easy read so I am able to read it through the window of the incubator without opening it. The meat style is reading about 6 degrees lower from the glass one after calibration, and the electric one is all over the place, although I think it only takes a reading once every minute or so. I got it because it tracks highs and lows, but it takes forever to drop an old temp reading.

For my heat source I am using a ceramic heat emitter because it doesn't put out any light. I was going to change to a basking light I have, but it was crazy bright.

Sounds like you are going to be able to figure things out.

I am not sure about your heat source, I know zero about these type of lamps.
Is there a reason why you don't want it to use a regular old light bulb?

 

[Derrin]

It will affect hatch rate. But anyone telling you how much would just be guessing. Because this relies solely on the chick in the egg. I would say if I had to guess; from friends having a similar problem, it would be about a 60% hatch rate. Just from personal experience. I would say it is a safe bet to get chicks the first time. Yes you will pay a bit more but you can get the ratio you want and then incubate some of their eggs when they start laying. Also this would give you time to try to settle that incubator. Remember that an incubator; unless it is digital, will act differently each time you use it. I recently had mine perfect and hatched about 6 batches of eggs. Everything from chicken to duck to turkey. (I have an old cabinet incubator from before they were digital) It was perfect. I shut it down for a week and then wanted to start about 100 quail eggs. I turned it on and that perfect setting all of a sudden was holding at 102 because the backup was shutting it off. I had to turn it way down. Incubator is in the same place in my house, same temperature. Just a for instance for you.

 

[Sammbalina]

Sounds like you are going to be able to figure things out.

I am not sure about your heat source, I know zero about these type of lamps.
Is there a reason why you don't want it to use a regular old light bulb?

Ceramic heat emitters are a bulb that you put in a regular socket and it releases heat, but no light. I’m keeping it in my room, so I really don’t want the light. They are typically used for reptiles for basking spots. I have it pointed away from where the eggs will be with the fan on it to circulate the heat.