please help! my incubator temp got to 107°!

[Tabatha]

This is day two of my very first attempt at hatching. Yesterday and all day today, my thermostat has been keeping between 99 and 101. About 20 minutes ago (because I'm neurotic...see my post in the hatch along category) I check on the eggs again and my temp reads 98°...so I up the thermostat a smidge...literally the smallest movement that could invoke any change in the position of the dial. I walk away. I just checked the temp and it read 107°! Now I'm really freaking out! How can I help this thing maintain a regular temp range? I've closed the windows...my air vents are closed...I turned off the ceiling fan...I keep the door closed...I even took out the light bulb. The temp inside this room is pretty consistent. So...is it just the heating element causing the high temp read? should my eggs still be ok?

 

[Tabatha]

Ok...I Get It. Im Newbie Dumb...But I Don't Want To Learn My Lesson By Having Rotting Eggs Explode In My House.

 

[bobbi-j]

No reason to get offended because you didn't get an answer immediately after you posted... People don't always respond if they don't have an answer for you. Now, onto your question. When I incubate, the incubator sits on the counter out of the sunlight. Sometimes the furnace is running, sometimes the a/c. That's what the thermostat in your incubator is for - to adjust to the surrounding air temperature. I make sure the temperature is consistent for at least 3 days before I set eggs. (I don't know why 3 days and not 2 or 4, it just works for me). Even then, the temps will fluctuate some. If it's up or down a degree or two, I don't adjust anything right away. I give it some time to see if it will work itself out. How long was the temp that high? If it was just for a short period, the internal egg temperature may not have gotten high enough to do any damage. I would wait another 4 or 5 days and candle them to see if there is any development. You will be able to see clear development by then. Veining, and a dark spot. Go to the educational section here on BYC and look at the very good pictures on what they should look like at different stages. The reason I suggest waiting several days is, development will be very noticeable by then.

ETA - Even a hen doesn't keep them at a regular temperature for the whole incubation period. They get off the nest, go eat, drink, relieve themselves and stretch their legs for a bit. You know that the temperature will fluctuate then. I just reread your first post, too. I would think it wasn't high enough for a long enough time to damage them.

 

[Tabatha]

Thank You So Much..So, Just Don't Open Or Touch, Just Give It A Few Days Then Candle? And If I Check The Temp And It Is 98.8...Don't Turn It Up If It Has Basically Been Running Between 99.5 & 101? They Were Not Exposed To That Temp For Long,Maybe 30 Minutes, If That. Im Constantly Checking On Them...I Don't Know What I'm Expecting To Happen...Lol. Im Worse Than A Kid. I Was Just Amazed That I Could Screw It Up That Quick...Lol. I Wasn't Offended...Just Nervous And Just My Sarcastic Humor. I Think Im Making This Too Complicated...Now I Know Why Chickens Act So Crazy Sometime..lol

 

[KansasRodeo]

I had a temp of 108 thru the night, The chicks still hatched. It's been as low as 90, it's a booger to maintain the temp in my home made bator. But the eggs seemed to be ok. I've hatched chicks in Texas while the outside temp averaged 110 for a week strait.

 

[bobbi-j]

Thank You So Much..So, Just Don't Open Or Touch, Just Give It A Few Days Then Candle? Yes, exactly. And If I Check The Temp And It Is 98.8...Don't Turn It Up If It Has Basically Been Running Between 99.5 & 101? You got it! They Were Not Exposed To That Temp For Long,Maybe 30 Minutes, If That. Im Constantly Checking On Them... I've hatched many batches of chicks and I check a lot, too. Especially at hatching time. I have been known to sit up all night just to watch a chick hatch. Why? I have no idea. I don't help them out (it's never ended well for the chick). I just like watching them hatch. I Don't Know What I'm Expecting To Happen...Lol. Im Worse Than A Kid. I Was Just Amazed That I Could Screw It Up That Quick...Lol. I Wasn't Offended...Just Nervous And Just My Sarcastic Humor. I Think Im Making This Too Complicated... Yes you are, so now sit back and relax and enjoy the process!

Now I Know Why Chickens Act So Crazy Sometime..lol

 

[desertegg]

Please let us know what happens! I had my incubator go high like that, and none of my eggs hatched. It was my first (and only) attempt with an old, used incubator. I just figured the incubator was no good, but now I don't know... I had rocks inside to act as a heat sink and everything.

 

[Tabatha]

Ok...so day 4...let me just say that I've already had a REALLY bad week. Icing on the cake? SOMETHING grabbed Lita (my first and only silkie female and the mother of these eggs who was SO spoiled that she rode on my dashboard around town and would sit in my lap forever just watching the other chickens). It had to have happened as soon as she went in the coop to roost for the night, and right before my husband locked up the coop (he didn't notice the carnage on the floor because of the dark and missed her in the count because she usually cuddles under Ozzy, my roo). So, this morning when we let them all out of the coop...carnage. She fought so hard; there was a trail of feathers leading to the creek that divides property lines. Ozzy is running around like crazy all day trying to find her. She was his only female, as my other chickens have not fully excepted the silkies into the flock. So he's depressed...my hubs feels like it's his fault...I just want these eggs to hatch so badly because I could still have a price of her and carry on her beautiful disposition and genetics. Should I candle them or wait until tomorrow?

 

[bobbi-j]

I'd give it one more day so any development is obvious.

 

[KansasRodeo]

Just hatched 2 more from the aquarium. Had temp up to 106 for half a day. OOPS. still hatched ok. 22 more to go, adding 2 a day. Fun Fun Fun.