OMG yesterday had a huge temp spike, and the chicks are due today..

[Lynnk]

Hi I hope someone can give me some information.
I made an incubator from a coleman cooler and used a crate fan for air circulation, pie plates on the bottom to hold water, which I have filled faithfully, with a grate over the top for the eggs. I have turned them faithfully until day 18. I have a digital thermometer that has helped me keep the temperature steady and holes in the cooler so I could cover or uncover to keep the temp correct. It has worked great and the occasional candling has confirmed that, they are due today. but yesterday, I checked in the a.m. and the temp was at 100, then about 2 hours later I went to check, and it was at 107!!!! I immediately opened the top, to reduce the temperature, checked a couple of eggs and could still see movement *although they are in there pretty tight right now.
I don't know how long the temperature was that high.

do you think any will survive or have I killed them or doomed them all?

I hope someone can either reassure me or let me know what they think at least as its driving me nuts.

I'm not even sure what caused such a big temperature spike as it has been pretty easy to maintain the temperature the whole time.


any ideas?

thanks

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

You are fine... It takes a long time to kill them. The inside of the egg has to get over 104.

 

[Lynnk]

Thanks SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much I feel much more hopefull now!!!!
I'll post pics when they hatch
Lynn

 

[blessedchickenmama7]

I've only hatched once, but mine did that right before they started pipping. Like a few hours before.

 

[Lynnk]

Cool! Maybe that's what it was about...
I've been so looking forward to these chicks, I sure hope they are ok.
Lynn

 

[Lynnk]

Just saw my first peep making a little hole in an egg!
YAY

 

[blessedchickenmama7]

Yeah!! So it must have been the pre-pip spike!! Keep us updated.