Incubator experts please help!

[PeepingK]

This is going to be a long question but I’d be very grateful if you stuck around to the end and offered your advice.

Where do I even start?

I purchased 3 dozen BCM Marans hatching eggs for $200 from a fantastic breeder a couple weeks ago. They are currently on day 17 and doing pretty good (only 1 quitter). The issue is that I don’t have a good incubator for lockdown…

I have 3 different incubators to choose from and I will describe the issue with each.
I am using 2 glass thermometers, one gqf and the other a little giant. Both seem to be accurate.



#1 hovabator Genesis 1588 forced air

When I initially purchased this incubator a few years back everything ran smoothly on my first 2 hatches. Sadly my luck ran out shortly after that. The issue is that once the humidity goes above 65%-70% the thermostat starts to go crazy and the temp will either soar to 105F+ or plummet to 95F or below. This rise in humidity is inevitable while chicks are hatching so I don’t see this one being a viable option.
It does state right on the control centre that the incubator shouldn't be operated over 65% humidity but I didn’t notice when I first purchased it -_-.


#2 hovabator 1602n with fan kit

I purchased the fan thinking it would help distribute the heat more evenly across the incubator but Unfortunately it didn’t help much with the hot and cold spots.
Temp varies from one side of the incubator to the next and from egg level to bottom.
The readings I got on the top of the egg were 99.5-102, and 96-98 resting on the floor.
If I choose to go with this one would I treat it like a still air and incubate at 102F since the temp difference from floor to top of eggs is so extreme?



#3 Farm Innovators 2450 forced air

The problem with this one is that half the incubator runs at 101.5 while the other half is at 97.5 (both these temps being measured at the top of the eggs roughly). The floor is also 2-3F lower than the temp at level.
The high humidity also seems to give this incubator trouble, dropping or raising temperature, though not as extreme as the Genesis.

So my question is which incubator should I choose? None feel like a good option but I don’t have another choice and lock down is in a day and a half.

Thank you for sticking around! Your advice is greatly appreciated!

 

[Debbie292d]

If this were me, I'd go buy a Brinsea. I wouldn't risk my eggs to something out of my control.

If you can't do that, then I guess I'd opt for #2 and do a two-day lockdown. I wouldn't set it to 102 as that means it'll be 104 and that'll kill or maim them.

 

[PeepingK]

If this were me, I'd go buy a Brinsea. I wouldn't risk my eggs to something out of my control.

If you can't do that, then I guess I'd opt for #2 and do a two-day lockdown. I wouldn't set it to 102 as that means it'll be 104 and that'll kill or maim them.

If I had the money I would. I’ve heard so many good things about Brisnea.
The only reason why I even bought these hatching eggs was because I was counting on the fan kit to make the temps more stable in the 1602n. This would be my first time hatching with it.
You said not to set it to 102 because it’ll be 104? What do you mean by that?

 

[Susan Skylark]

Some people actually lower the temp a degree during lockdown, whatever you choose, erring on the cool side isn’t a bad thing!

 

[Debbie292d]

If I had the money I would. I’ve heard so many good things about Brisnea.
The only reason why I even bought these hatching eggs was because I was counting on the fan kit to make the temps more stable in the 1602n. This would be my first time hatching with it.
You said not to set it to 102 because it’ll be 104? What do you mean by that?

egg were 99.5-102, and 96-98 resting on the floor.
If I choose to go with this one would I treat it like a still air and incubate at 102F since the temp difference from floor to top of eggs is so extreme?

102 is 2.5 degrees over what they're supposed to be, and that's what you're getting by setting it to 99.5F. So now you ponder setting it to 102, or did you mean just leave it alone? I maybe been confused about what you're saying there.

This is really just a matter of which one can you manage to keep the closest to 99.5F and 70%. If anything has to be sacrificed, then let it be humidity. Again, I'd only do a two-day lockdown so they're not exposed to anything too different for too long.

 

[PeepingK]

102 is 2.5 degrees over what they're supposed to be, and that's what you're getting by setting it to 99.5F. So now you ponder setting it to 102, or did you mean just leave it alone? I maybe been confused about what you're saying there.

This is really just a matter of which one can you manage to keep the closest to 99.5F and 70%. If anything has to be sacrificed, then let it be humidity. Again, I'd only do a two-day lockdown so they're not exposed to anything too different for too long.

Sorry if I wasn’t clear enough enough in my post, I really appreciate your advice!
The temp in the 1602n varies depending on where I have the thermometer. Around the edges under the heating element the temperature will rise and fall from about 99.5 and up to 101.5 or 102. So I’m guessing the average would be around 100.7?

The middle of the incubator is cycling from about 98.5-101.
All these temps were taken at egg level. The bottom of the incubator is a bit cooler.
Since the temp is only briefly staying at 102 before falling to 99.5 is this an okay temp?

Let me know if there’s anything else I can explain better!