Problems with temperature control

[JitterbugFarm]

Hello,

I am currently using two similar incubators: Farm Innovators with circulated air & Little Giant Still Air. I purchased the Farm Innovators online and after I got the temperature to where it needed to be, I haven't had any problems. Well...after I received a couple of hatching egg orders which included a generous amount of bonus eggs, I outgrew the FI bator and needed another ASAP before my eggs went bad. The only one I could find locally was the Little Giant, and since I didn't have time to wait for shipping, I purchased it (I've ordered the fan kit online, but it hasn't arrived). I have two different thermometers placed in different locations, but they are always reading different temps; however when I place them in the Farm Innovator's bator, they read the same...so the problem is obviously within the Little Giant!

How do I get the temperature the same throughout the bator? Whenever one part reads just below 100, the other part is only about 95. I took out one of the red plastic plugs on the top, but do I need to remove both? The warmer temp is actually closer to where the plug is removed. I have eggs in it because the temp is "sort of" correct, but I just don't know what to do to regulate the temp... I'm hoping once I put the fan in, it will fix the problem...

I also have a little Brinsea Eco....love it....no issues there!

Thanks,
Tammy

Here's a pic of the set up in the Little Giant (I have the egg turner, but I had two eggs too many)


The Farm Innovators (the themometer on the cover is useless by the way)

 

[Mommy6]

Maybe because its still air and you have hot spots? I'd just make sure the highest temp doesn't exceed 102 and maybe rotate the eggs every few days. Oddly enough, my farm innovator cover thermometer isn't all that inaccurate, it usually hangs out around 99-100 which is the same as my digital thermometer. Hygrometer on the other hand is usually about 20% off from my digital.

I gave up on using 2 thermometers, they were driving me nuts! They would read the same, then an hour later be a degree different and then one would be ridiculously high a couple hours later. I candled last on day 14 and as of then, I only had to take out 4 and had 34 active embryos remaining... so the temp couldn't have been that off. Tonight I candle for lockdown .

Good Luck and Happy Hatching!!

 

[JitterbugFarm]

I'm so jealous that you're already up to lockdown! My Brinsea has the oldest eggs in it, but they aren't due for another 1.5 weeks! I agree that it's because it doesn't have the fan yet....I just hope the fan gets here fast!

I just wonder what removing the red stop plugs would do....I'm afraid to try!

 

[Mommy6]

Hopefully you will get it soon! I kept my vent plugs out, my humidity seems to do better without the plugs, not sure what it does for temps though... maybe take one out and see if it helps? I have a batch in my hovabator due April 16th too

.

I just candled my eggs and they don't all look the same... some fill the shell and some don't

. I don't think that is related to temp since they were scattered throughout the bator, but they're all in lockdown now. Hoping for a good hatch! Not that I like wishing life away, but I can't wait! This hatching thing is a serious sickness, lol.

 

[JitterbugFarm]

Tell me about it LOL I have THREE incubators going right now!

 

[Mommy6]

Makes me feel better about wanting to buy another one, lol. I have started collecting eggs for another round. Then I better quit, not really sure what I'm going to do with them all yet. It's just a really good solution to managing spring fever

 

[JitterbugFarm]

Not to be an enabler, but I got my fan in the mail today and after I installed it, all is well with the temperature Both thermometers are reading the same. I just hope I didn't do any damage to the eggs because after I installed it, I didn't think to turn the temperature down and it spiked for a few minutes

 

[Mommy6]

Yay! A few minutes wouldn't hurt anything

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