Low hatching temp for large eggs?

[LaurenRitz]

I have the same incubator and I've had good success with it. I have a second thermometer inside that says the temp is (now) 99.5. Or rather, the red line hovers just a hair below 100.

Other than unfertilized eggs, my hatch rate is very high with just set and forget. This time I moved it because the afternoon sun was driving the temperature up, and I wanted the space in the sun for plants.

I just chose the wrong spot. It's now in another area of the house, with no sun, no drafts, and a blanket around it. Egg temperatures have risen to more reasonable levels since I measured this morning.

 

[MysteryChicken]

This test has been informative. Apparently my incubator doesn't hold temperature as well as I assumed. It goes up and down considerably with the ambient, and since the back of the incubator was against an outside wall that side is always cooler. The center is also warmer, and that's where the built in thermometer is. This morning some temperatures were as low as 92 against that back wall.

I moved it to a different location where the temps are more stable, but I may need to re-run this test at some other time. At this point, with the primary variable fluctuating so wildly, the conclusion would have to be rock solid for me to accept it.

1) moved the incubator
2) put a blanket over it
3) We'll see.

If I have a cold spot I put a paper towel over the lid in that area to help keep the draft off of it. I found doing this also help regulate the temp as well.