Incubator troubleshooting

[QuailRaiser]

Hey all, I've got a bunch of Coturnix on day 23, was autopsying them, and while the first 6 were infertile, the next two had live chicks in them... maybe a day within hatching??? I put them and the rest of the eggs back in the 'bator and although those chicks probs wont survive i'm stilll confused. I'll give them two more days.. im thinking too low initial temp, but it was always telling me 38.0 (what i usually hatch them at)... so confused had a hatch 4 weeks ago with the same machine and close to a 90% hatch rate.... broken wafer??? anyways, thoughts, comments, and ideas welcome...

Cheers!

 

[dc3085]

I've noticed the wafers do lose a degree or so of accuracy as they wear out. The one I just changed out was adjusted all the way and it would only reach 99 exactly. If you notice the wafer seems looser or has needed to be adjusted that could be it.

How many thermometers have you checked your primary against?

 

[QuailRaiser]

2... and the 'bator was bought in january, bc old one died.. So thanks for the ideas DC, but I'm really stuck..

 

[dc3085]

If it's new I doubt it's the wafer then. the one i just changed was well over a year old.

Were they your eggs or shipped?

 

[QuailRaiser]

my eggs... they are all different hens, from alberta, bc etc.. so no inbreeding. they weren't kept for longer than 7 days anyways.. UPDATE!!!! now one has pipped.... SO confused!!!!

 

[dc3085]

How'd this turn out?

 

[TwoCrows]

It is always a good idea to use two thermometers....the one built into the incubator and one inside the bator. The one on the machine can go bad. I regularly rely on the one inside the bator instead of the one built in.

 

[QuailRaiser]

I bought one of the scientific ones... and a $10 walmart one as well... and I have 5 pips now and one chick on its way out.. day 26????

 

[TwoCrows]

If the temp was too low, they can come late....congrats!!!

 

[QuailRaiser]

thanks!