Incubator questions

[Mrs. Light Sussex]

1. I'm currently using a rcom fully automatic incubator, I noticed the using the automatic settings, the first 18 days the temp is set to 99.2 degrees but during lockdown it is set to 98.6. What is the logic behind this?

2. Using the aforementioned incubator at the aforementioned incubation temperatures, hatching begins on day 19 with some of the eggs hatching fully developed healthy chicks, the rest of the eggs will hatch thru day 21. Who has their days wrong?

 

[Ridgerunner]

1. I'm currently using a rcom fully automatic incubator, I noticed the using the automatic settings, the first 18 days the temp is set to 99.2 degrees but during lockdown it is set to 98.6. What is the logic behind this?

Good question. Have you considered sending RCom and e-mail and asking them? They might know.

When it gets close to hatch the living chick in the egg generates heat. One problem commercial hatcheries that may have 60,000 eggs in one machine have is getting rid of that heat to stop the eggs from cooking themselves. It may have something to do with that, but that's just a guess.

2. Using the aforementioned incubator at the aforementioned incubation temperatures, hatching begins on day 19 with some of the eggs hatching fully developed healthy chicks, the rest of the eggs will hatch thru day 21. Who has their days wrong?

How many times have you used that incubator? How consistent is this? Some of my hatches, with an incubator or broody hen, are over within 24 hours of the first one hatching. Others can drag into the third day. Each time can be very different. There can be different reasons for this: heredity, how and how long the eggs are stored before incubation begins, or just differences in individual eggs. I'll assume you started them all at the same time.

Have you confirmed that thermometer is reading correctly? Is it actually at the temperature it says it is? I don't trust any thermometer or factory presets. They can be off.

RCom is a good incubator and should be a forced air, you should not have this problem with one of those. But especially with homemade incubators you can get spots that don't stay the same temperature. That can cause uneven hatching. Again, I really don't think this is your problem with that incubator, but if that kind if spread is consistent you can try moving eggs around during incubation to try to balance that out.

 

[Orpingtons43]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/from-eggs-to-adults.1255389/page-7#post-20178454 I am so sorry for interrupting your thread but here’s a link to my “hatching journal” if you’d like you can join! Also good luck on your incubator/hatch.

 

[Mrs. Light Sussex]

Good question. Have you considered sending RCom and e-mail and asking them? They might know.

Good Idea, don't know why it hadn't occurred to me. I sure hope they know, lol.

When it gets close to hatch the living chick in the egg generates heat. One problem commercial hatcheries that may have 60,000 eggs in one machine have is getting rid of that heat to stop the eggs from cooking themselves. It may have something to do with that, but that's just a guess.

Interesting thought. If it was true, I would expect them to lower the temperature only on hatch day, but based on my experience (as mentioned in question no. 2) I see the merit in lowering it already from the beginning of lockdown.

How many times have you used that incubator?

This is the third hatching.

How consistent is this? Some of my hatches, with an incubator or broody hen, are over within 24 hours of the first one hatching. Others can drag into the third day. Each time can be very different. There can be different reasons for this: heredity, how and how long the eggs are stored before incubation begins, or just differences in individual eggs.

Every single time, not that 3 times is that many...

I'll assume you started them all at the same time.

Yes, they were all set at the same time.

Have you confirmed that thermometer is reading correctly? Is it actually at the temperature it says it is? I don't trust any thermometer or factory presets. They can be off.

Yes, as far as I can tell it is accurate. I tested it using 2 child thermometers.

RCom is a good incubator and should be a forced air, you should not have this problem with one of those. But especially with homemade incubators you can get spots that don't stay the same temperature. That can cause uneven hatching. Again, I really don't think this is your problem with that incubator, but if that kind if spread is consistent you can try moving eggs around during incubation to try to balance that out.

Yes, it is forced air, utilizing 4 fans to circulate the warm air. Temperature is even throughout the incubator.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Yes three times isn't a lot but it is setting a pattern. But you've eliminated several variables so lets look at some possibilities.

It could be heredity. My eggs consistently hatch one or even two days early whether under a broody or in my incubator which has been calibrated. Some people have consistently late hatches. Don't discount heredity.

Where are you getting the eggs? How are they stored? If they are stored above 80 degrees F (27 C) they can develop a little. The warmer they are stored the more they develop. Could this be a factor?

I've read that smaller eggs often hatch earlier than larger eggs. That has not been my experience but a lot of people say they have observed that. Some hens lay eggs with thicker or thinned egg whites than others or with more porous shells. That might affect how fast they lose moisture which might affect how early they hatch.

 

[Mrs. Light Sussex]

Some of the eggs are from my flock of Plymouth Partridges, others are from other breeders in my area (not more than a 40 min. drive). All are different breeds of large fowl. The eggs are either kept in the nest boxes or in egg cartons on my kitchen counter.

I will make a point in the future to track of which eggs hatch early.