Is this TOO much of a fluctuation in temp?

[incubatingisfun]

cool
ive never used a homade incubator

 

[mrbstephens]

Quote:
I've never even used an incubator!

 

[One Acre Wonder Farm]

I don't have any homemade incubator experience.... but... if you are swinging from between 98.8 and 102.4 your average temp is 100.6. Do you have a fan? If you have a still air incubator then this temperature is just about right (if measured at the top of the eggs). I'm guessing that the internal temp of the eggs will be your average temp (rather than the eggs warming/cooling with the air temperature of the bator).



Hopefully someone will come along that has lots of experience and can help!

 

[Mervin]

What are you using for your thermostat? I'm not familiar with incubators per se, but thermostats generally have a span above (and sometimes below) the setpoint. For instance, if the setpoint was 100 and the span was 2, then the thermostat would run the heater until it go up to 102. I believe somebody else mentioned added water bottles. Since the water would cool more slowly than the air surrounding it, it acts as a heatsink. It will absorb heat from the atmosphere than slowly give it off to the surrounding air keeping the air at a more constant/stable temperature. I would look into adding more heatsinks and adjusting the span on the thermostat if you're uncomfortable with the fluctuation. You might also consider introducing a fan to keep the air moving. I really didn't see one in the photo.

 

[Southpaw970]

I've only hatched eggs once.

I made a still air incubator out of a 10 gal aquarium turned on its side and taped a thick clear plastic bag for the "door". I used a lightbulb with dimmer switch on one end to control the heat. I had a mason jar filled with water in there too.
I had the thermometer sitting directly on top of the eggs. My temps fluctuated from around 98 - 104

Once or twice it spiked to 108. I thought they were gonners for sure. I guess the main thing was keeping a close eye on it so the temp didn't stay too high for too long.

I also rotated the egg carton everytime I turned the eggs to help compensate for the warmer/cooler sides towards the lightbulb.

I set 8 eggs - 2 candled clear. (They were from my EE. She lays really thin shelled eggs with a defect on 1 end so I don't really count those too much anyway in my hatching "experiment").

I ended up with 6 in lockdown - 4 of those hatched. 1 died before pipping. The other egg was too dark to tell that it would have candled clear. So technically 4/5 developed chicks hatched. It could have been beginners luck though.

Good luck with your hatch! It is an amazing experience!

 

[mrbstephens]

Quote:
I do have a pc fan in the incubator. It's to the right of the light.....hard to see in the pic because of the light.

The candy thermometer is saying 98 - 101. I know this thing is accurate, because I calibrated it.

I think I'm just gonna GO FOR IT!

I have two eggs from my darling EE who passed away last week which is what got me building this thing anyway.

Trying to decide if I should add more eggs, because really there's room for 6! The only thing is if I wind up with roos, I'd have to rehome them.

Decisions, decisions!

 

[Cindiloohoo]

Quote:
I do have a pc fan in the incubator. It's to the right of the light.....hard to see in the pic because of the light.

The candy thermometer is saying 98 - 101. I know this thing is accurate, because I calibrated it.

I think I'm just gonna GO FOR IT!

I have two eggs from my darling EE who passed away last week which is what got me building this thing anyway.

Trying to decide if I should add more eggs, because really there's room for 6! The only thing is if I wind up with roos, I'd have to rehome them.

Decisions, decisions!

Oh I am SOOO pulling for you to get those to hatch!!! I'd put more in if you can. That's a great temp for a homemade bator!! GOOD JOB! Nice little bator you have, I'm sure they'll do just fine.

Make sure you post pics of those babies!!!

 

[mrbstephens]

Quote:
I do have a pc fan in the incubator. It's to the right of the light.....hard to see in the pic because of the light.

The candy thermometer is saying 98 - 101. I know this thing is accurate, because I calibrated it.

I think I'm just gonna GO FOR IT!

I have two eggs from my darling EE who passed away last week which is what got me building this thing anyway.

Trying to decide if I should add more eggs, because really there's room for 6! The only thing is if I wind up with roos, I'd have to rehome them.

Decisions, decisions!

Oh I am SOOO pulling for you to get those to hatch!!! I'd put more in if you can. That's a great temp for a homemade bator!! GOOD JOB! Nice little bator you have, I'm sure they'll do just fine.

Make sure you post pics of those babies!!!

OK, but I only have space for 1 more hen in my little coop. Will you buy my extras?

 

[Mervin]

Quote:
I do have a pc fan in the incubator. It's to the right of the light.....hard to see in the pic because of the light.

The candy thermometer is saying 98 - 101. I know this thing is accurate, because I calibrated it.

I think I'm just gonna GO FOR IT!

I have two eggs from my darling EE who passed away last week which is what got me building this thing anyway.

Trying to decide if I should add more eggs, because really there's room for 6! The only thing is if I wind up with roos, I'd have to rehome them.

Decisions, decisions!

Good luck! I don't have incubator experience, but I think it should be okay. I think somebody else on here said that there is probably some variation under a hen too. It sounds pretty reasonable to me.