Incubator temperature

[Mellowmalt]

ok so I know this question gets asked a lot and I know it is meant to be at 37.5 C but I came across a recent article stating that maybe 36.7 C (which is 0.8 degrees lower) is best.

https://avicultura.info/en/five-incubation-control-points-to-improve-chick-quality/

The only reason we know that 37.5 C is best is because in testing different temperatures that tended to produce the highest hatches but this article seems to imply that maybe we got it wrong and a lower temperature would produce healthier chicks long term actually.

If that were the case is anybody willing to do an incubation at a lower temperature. 36.7 seems a bit low but if 37 C works and actually works better then that would be briliant news as that would mean I can let my incubator fluctuate between 37 and 37.5 degrees and not worry about keeping it rock steady at 37.5

Thought I'd share the article and see what people think. I have never tried incubating at 36.7 degrees. It has always been said that low temps cause hatches to be delayed so how cold is too cold?

Is there an answer to this or is it just that not enough research has been done on the subject yet?

It would be great to have a table that shows with results of trial experiements which conditions cause what results.

 

[JustAChickenLoverOverHere]

The most common temp is 37.5 C, I have never tried any other temp, but I have heard even one degree less or more (in fahrenheit) for a few hours can kill the embryo. Not sure if it would have much effect, but you won't know if you try, right?

 

[kyeschicks]

Interesting

 

[Mellowmalt]

After doing more research I have discovered several new things:

partridge incubator temperatures need to be 35.5-36.5 C
Goose eggs do best at 39.5 C
Ducks do best at 39C
quails are 37.2 C

But then when it comes to chickens there is no clear data. Some people say meat chickens do best at 37.8C whereas laying hens already experience increased mortality at 37.6C!

ref:
http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1516-635X2003000200007
https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/37318899.pdf

Furthermore the last article describes an experiment where chicken eggs were incubated at 37.5 C and for the last week temperatures were dropped by 3 degrees C (34.5C for whole last week) yet mortality rate was unaffected (compared to 37.6C in final week which increased mortality)

I have to admit I only achieved a 33% hatch rate with some cuckoo dutch bantams this month and I was incubating at 37.5 - 37.6 but seeing how partridge and some specialist breeds seem to do better at lower temps than meat birds I think my temp was too high.

It also stipulates that if embrio mortality occurs in first week then temps are most likely too low and if mortality occurs at day 19-21 then temps were too high.

Edit: I have some more dutch cuckoo eggs that have just gone into the incubator and I will be going 0.3 degrees lower this time, I will post the result in 3 weeks time