Its FINALLY here!!---incubator temp issues on genesis

[adrian]

Yes, do check with at least two other thermometers to see whether that's accurate or not. 101 is too high a temperature for a forced air incubator. 99.5 is what you want to aim for. I would say about 40-50% is probably best, as for humidity. A good idea is to watch the air cell growth. If you have a gram scale or can pick up a cheap kitchen gram scale from Walmart, you can weigh the eggs weekly or bi-weekly to see their rate of weight loss. If I am correct, about 13% is lost during incubation – this is moisture that is lost as the air cell grows.

When you do set the eggs, make sure the incubator has run at the right temperature for at least a day, and that the eggs are room temperature when they are set. I'm sure you know about turning – if you don't have an egg turner, write an 'X' and an 'O' on either side of the egg, so as to allow 180 degree turns. Turn an odd number of times a day. I like to turn 5 times a day, but most only do 3 turns a day with great success. Mostly the reason I turn so much is because I tend to hatch exotic or otherwise finicky eggs.

Yet again, I'd be happy to answer any more questions! You'll find hatching birds is very addicting.

 

[k625]

I am hoping that maybe the thermometer may be off. I dont want to have to try to adjust this thing...looks a little complicated lol. It did run overnight, and still looks like its mainting the same temp as well....looks like 101 still, but it stayed constant lol.

They eggs are room temp, I collected most all of them last night, and some I have had in carton from a friend for trial run for about a week or so. I have been turning them from side to said daily as I had read on here

I do have an egg turner as well, so no need to worry about the x and o lol. I am sure I would forget to do something crucial like that! I will post later after I get my hygrometer with the digital read out on it, and at least 1-2 more thermometers!

Im hoping Tractor supply or my local ace hardware will have hygrometers or thermometers so I can pick up an extra

Adrian, thank again for your help...would you mind pm'ing me and maybe give me your phone number in case of emergency lol.

 

[Intheswamp]

As mentioned above, Wallyworld or maybe Target would be a good source on hygrometer/temp units.

The most precise thermometers normally available to us are clinical/medical ones. Comparing regular house thermometer units (whether digital or analog) to each other is a crapshoot...they may give you the same reading but still be off a couple of degrees. They really need comparing/calibrating with a more precise thermometer.

The precision of hygrometer part of the units can also be checked for accuracy by using the "wet salt method"...several threads about it. Here is a little (on-going) experiment that I've been doing that might interest you. I haven't set the incubator up yet to do the next stage of testing but you'll see what I'm talking about in regards to comparing to a precise thermometer...

This starts out with testing the hygrometer parts of the units and moves on to testing the temperature parts:
Wallyworld Digital Thermometers/Hygrometers

Of the units I'm tinkering with, the Accurite with the outdoor probe is the one that *I* am finding to work the best.

Unless you have a high-end unit the little cord that is connected to your friends unit is only a remote temperature sensor (which can be used in a water wiggler). It will not read humidity through that sensor. To read humidity the main unit will have to be inside the incubator.

ETA: I didn't see much in the way of thermometer units at TSC that really caught my attention...try Target or Wallyworld, they'll be cheaper and have more of what you're looking for. Also, it seems that at Wallyworld they're located in the vicinity of the hardware department.

Best wishes,
Ed

 

[adrian]

When people mention medical thermometers, do they simply mean thermometers one would use to check for a fever? I've heard they are rather precise, but what annoys me is that they are not on consistently - at least the ones I have found. They turn off soon after giving the reading. So if I want a really accurate thermometer, what do I get?

Thanks,
- Adrian

 

[k625]

Thanks Ed, that is all v ery informative! I picked up the hydrometer from my friend, and it is the acurite one that you speak of. You have a picture of it on the post that you linked. It was the one on the left.

Eariler it was up to 99.7, then i went out for a few, and it had slipped down just about below the turner, and then them was about 98.7, I pulled it out a little where its not resting on the turner, and its just about back up to 99.7. The humidity reading is 58% right now as well.

is 99.7 ok?

 

[adrian]

I think 99.7 sounds good. 99.5 is considered ideal, but 99.5-100 is also within the ideal range. If it holds at that temperature for a day or so, I would say all is well.

 

[k625]

its doing some fluctuating...I dont know if its becuase of the weather here.. ITs been raining every day, on and off, and is supposed to for the next week. Some times it starts to get warmer, then it cools off again when it rains. Now my temp is 99.3 !!!!

I dont see why I am getting such a fluctuation when this litte thing is in a closet lol, but I guess its just the frustrations of an incubator lol!

 

[adrian]

99.7 to 99.3 isn't as big of a fluctuation as you think.

My incubator shows one thermometer at 99.3 and one at 99.5 - 99.7 quite frequently. I just average it off.

I've never had problems with losing many eggs to temperature spikes, even when 99.5 became 100.5 or 98.5. So within a degree or less, there's not much to worry about. Should it get worrisomely low, just put a towel over the top of the incubator and peep in to see if it helps. I wouldn't worry, though.

 

[k625]

Ok, so do you think it would be safe to put in the eggs now? It has been a total of 24hrs....or should I wait until I go to wallyworld and p/u another thermometer,and another hygrometer tomorrow to make sure everythin is in check?

 

[adrian]

Quote:
If you think the temperature doesn't fluctuate more than a degree, it is probably safe to put the eggs in the incubator. However, you can't be sure of the temperature unless you have a few thermometers. That said, the Genesis probably is set at a safe temperature.