Incubator Temperature Problems ! ! (Reptipro)

[loveourbirds]

the temps sound fine. at worst you might try to adjust it down a half of a degree on top and see if that changes anything. is the sun hitting your eggs at all before you get them?

 

[TheTropix]

I’m sorry for your frustrations. I had bought a store type cooler (1 door) that had been converted to an incubator (for reptiles). It has a Helix thermostat, so I thought my temperature issues from a previous homemade one were history. Nope. I kept getting so close to a hatch, but they kept dying. I thought I was going to have to be medicated. Lol I’d put 3 of those Accu-Rite thermometer/hydrometer jobs spread out, and a 6" fan to make sure the temps were even. My husband came up with a good digital thermometer that he knew was calibrated. What I thought was 99 - 100 was actually 105 - 106!! I went to the Accu-rite website to complain, and they say that a 4 - 5 degree variance is an acceptable reading. 4 - 5 degrees?!?!?! I bought a calibrated thermometer with a probe (3 ft cable) from a seller on Ebay. This is the link to his calibrated thermometer page. By the way, as it turns out 98 on the Helix thermostat keeps the incubator at 99.5 - 100.1.
http://stores.ebay.com/Fredrich_Ele...1&_sticky=1&_trksid=p4634.c0.m14&_sop=2&_sc=1
I’m not associated with them, except for my purchase, but my hatches are now great. I don’t know if this might be part of the problems you’re having. (If you have a friend that does A/C work, ask them to bring their little digital thermometer and check your incubator temp). I have a plastic Easter basket (solid sides) that I put napkins in the bottom of, add about 3 tablespoons of water (just enough to get the paper towels/napkins a little wet, no puddles) and hatch the eggs in that. Makes staggering hatches a totally workable deal. I’ve been setting 6 or 8 eggs about 1 week apart (plus some my husband found and had me put in.. with no idea of how far along they were) Candled and sure enough they were alive (1 hatched today, 1 more to go). When I heard those eggs peep, or saw a little crack, they came off my "southern engineered" turner and into the Easter basket to hatch. Kind of a long winded story when the point is that the thermometers &/or the thermostat could be off a degree or 2 or 3... Mine was/is. Hope you get it figured out and can get your hatches up, and finally be able to enjoy it. I’m sure every single one of us feel your pain, and sympathize with you.
Best of Luck!!

 

[loveourbirds]

bad thermometers are probably the worst issue with first time hatchers. ive seen several people's posts that brisnea's built in thermometer registers just a touch hot. a lot of people think just because its digital, its right. like you said, most have a 4 degree variance. im kind of at a loss with her incubator though. always getting some to hatch, but never a good rate.

 

[TheTropix]

the only other thing I can come up with is, temp to high; not enough ventilation. what day # did you check the eggs on?

I think the problem in your case is more incubator related than your fault.

I agree that this isn't likely anything you've done wrong. Loveourbirds also reminded me that I forgot to mention that ventilation was a concern I had with my 'new' used incubator (it's kind of like a refrigerator with 1 glass door). I tore the bottom seal off the door. My husband cut me a piece of plywood so I could kind of block off the bottom 1/3, but still gets plenty of air from the 3 - 4 inch gap between the wood and the glass door.

 

[TheTropix]

Yup, Loveourbirds, I was suckered by the thermometer. But not anymore!!! (knocking on wood!) mmuuwwaaahhaaa I even had gotten eggs as far as hearing them peep in the egg, then die/cook, i'm now guessing.

 

[loveourbirds]

typically if you can hear them peep they have piped their first hole. if they didn't make it out, its usually temp to high, or humidity to dry.

 

[TheTropix]

You're right, my temps did them in. I bought into the wrong idea that ALL 3 theremometers were so off. They all read within 1 degree of each other. But ... Yes, they ALL can be wrong. Thank goodness my husband has a really good little probe theremometer, and it told the tale.

 

[loveourbirds]

I need to find some more thermometers. im thinking of building a large cabinet incubator and I want to make sure the heat is pretty even before I put all the racks and turners in. at least now I have 3 that I trust, so calibrating new ones wont be as bad.

 

[TheTropix]

Check this seller on ebay. His thermometers come with a calibration certificate. I know anyone can print anything they want, but the thermometer I got from him absolutely fixed my problem. They really cater to the cigar afficianados (sp?), so accuracy is as big a deal to them as it is to us folks hatching out little peeps.
http://stores.ebay.com/Fredrich_Ele...1&_sticky=1&_trksid=p4634.c0.m14&_sop=2&_sc=1

 

[loveourbirds]

ill look it up, is it "fredrich electronics" for some reason the link isn't working