NEED TO VENT! I hate this stupid incubator

[tebs78]

I had used an old still air incubator for the last three days on an egg that was due to hatch, if you recall. My only black australorp. I got some replacement eggs on the BA eggs and only two developed. I am on day 18 today and I am pretty positive the eggs/embryos have died. I got a batch of eggs early so I had to use the still air again (gentle giant) and the incubator has been running for two weeks and the temp is good for a long stretch and then suddenly it spikes. THREE times it has jumped to 103.1 and burns all the moisture out of the bator. Then it went down to 98. I tried candling yesterday didn't see any movement, so I am not really looking forward to doing it again. WHAT is wrong with this bator?

I have it in the only room in the house with NO windows/drafts, nothing. Its not cold its not hot in there. The temp stays around 70-73 in there at all times. GRRRR AHHHHHH I am to scared to candle. I know for sure one is dead because I can see its not as far along as the other. The other I had seen movement two days ago and yesterday didn't see any signs.... (

I sure hope my gold sex-link eggs do something. I put them in Last Friday morning (1st of February)

sighhhhhhh

 

[silkiechicken]

Is it possible that your wafer is going out? Might want to check that as often when temps go awry, it's time to get a new one.

103.5 to 98 is not a death sentence per se. If I read right, this is the still air one you are having problems with? If so, I had a still air where if you put the T probe at the bottom to top of the egg, there was a 4 deg difference!

Don't lose hope yet.

 

[tebs78]

what is a wafer?

 

[tebs78]

Well the chick IS alive, but its infuriating because I work 12-hour shifts and if it goes way up it could be hours before I find it....i looked at the two local stores for a replacement gentle giant, and they want 50 bucks. The origional price was 29.99 or 39.99 so 54.99 seems high. This is a borrowed incubator and I have to replace it.

 

[silkiechicken]

In many simpler incubators, there is a gold color disc thing in there that has two or so discs stuck together. This round flat pancake thing is the "wafer" and is the thing that tells the thermostat to turn off or on. If it breaks internally, it won't tell the thermostat to turn on and off at the right times. If you call your local feed store they may have them in stock.

 

[KKluckers]

You have a little giant? Right? Mine will have a temp spike too, if i let it run out of water. I dont know why it does this, just does. I keep water in the two troughs on the side (in the middle) full at all times.

 

[hart31]

Quote:
A lot of heat energy is used as water turns from liquid to vapor. That is how a "swamp cooler" or water cooler cools a tractor cab or a room in a house, by pulling heat from the air. My home made circulating incubator will also show a spike when the waterpan runs dry. If I leave it dry the thermostat gradually adjusts it back downward. When I add water after the pan is dry the renewed evaporation will cause a slight drop in temps unless I add water that is warm enough to cause a temperature rise because of its own heat.

Try adding water at 99-100 degrees every day so the bator won't go dry. If the humidity stays too high open another vent.

 

[tebs78]

I wondered that too christina so I went to fill it, because the humidity read 20%, BUt when I went to fill it, it was more than half full on all compartments.

Though this bator is a few years old, its only run maybe 10 loads full. It worked okay last year and I had some great hatches, Not sure what the deal is now.

Yes its a gentle giant still air.

 

[tebs78]

Thanks for the advice. I do add hot water and it steams up the windows, lol. I guess I will try adding water every day. Look at the wafers too. Can't hurt much huh?

 

[hart31]

make sure the water you add isn't too hot either, that can also cause a spike. :|

They can be frustrating