Incubator temp and humidity fluctuation limits? Need advice.

[sgray136]

I built a styrofoam incubator out of a meat packing box. I used a hotwater heater thermostat. I have found that the closest I can get to 99.5 degrees is a fluctuating range between 97.5 and 100.7 degrees. I can maintain the humidity pretty steady at 47% and may remove some of the material I am using to limit the water surface area in the water tray.

Is this fluctuation acceptable? I believe the range is directly related to the sensitivity of the thermostat.

Any advice?

 

[mswiggi]

It should be fine. Maybe try adding a fan? Eggs are a lot more resilient then people give them credit for.

 

[sgray136]

I have a PC fan running constantly. I'm not overly concerned about attempting to find a rigid consistant temp or humidity as I understand averages. I just don't know the amount of flux that will be tolerated. As it is now the temp is averaging just about 98.56 degrees. I hope that is okay?

 

[Queen of the Lilliputians]

My Question for you would be.. are you using a water weasel?

The reason I ask is because I had similar temps to yours (Accurite thermo everyone on here seems to use) said temps 98-101, more sensitive mercury/alcohol type said 96-104.. ambient temp at 99.5-100 right? Wrong.. spikes in my weasel because it doesn't cool down like the 'bator does.. so just keeps building up to max temp. I've had to turn the water heater therm down a bunch of times to keep the weasel temp in acceptable limits.. It was trying to build up to 104.. darn temps!! They'll drive you to the edge, I think.

 

[sgray136]

I'm using a digital thermometer/hydrometer I purchased from Wal-Mart and have the probe or sending unit placed inside of a water wiggler toy.

 

[Queen of the Lilliputians]

IMHO, in that case.. your temps are fine!

Edited to add: I'm pretty new with incubating, though.. so this is JMHO. I do know that 'in the wild'

the eggs go through a cool down when mom gets off the nest. And there is a theory about giving the eggs 15 min with incubator lid off every day.. is supposed to improve the hatch.

I think if your temps MOSTLY hold at 97, that could be a prob. But if they just dip to it every once in awhile.. that IMHO would be fine.

 

[sgray136]

Thank you. I guess I'm ready for eggs!

 

[mel58]

I found a couple of sites online that were from a college, usually from their agriculture depts and both said to try to keep it to a .5 degree fluctuation in both directions so according to them 99-100 is the acceptable range.

I can get that range with the lyon tx-6 I just bought but my little giant the best I could do was about 99-102.

 

[marcuscarr]

I recently read this in one of my chicken books...

99.5 is the target.

within .5 you will get a great hatch
within 1 you will get a good hatch
within 2 you will get a poor hatch
within 3 it is unlikely any will hatch

 

[pips&peeps]

Hi Marcus! How's your homemade incubator working? Do you need more eggs? I only have mixed right now.

Jean