Ready to toss the bator, eggs and all (updated!)

[TattooQ27]

This was supposed to be a fun project but I am not having fun yet. The temps in my LG were stable for HOURS before I set my eggs and now I can't get them stable for the life of me. I set them at noon on Sunday and the temp is constantly going from 98.0 to 102.3 and it doesn't even matter if I don't touch the control knob at all.

The temp was at 99.4 when I went to bed last night so I didn't touch anything. This morning when I woke up the temp was still 99.4 so I again left it alone. I went down to check the temp at 10:30 and it was still 99.4. Then at 12:30 I checked again and it was up to 101.8. I turned the knob not even a hairs width and waited till now and it is back down to 98.2. I know the knob is super sensitive but there isn't any way I can turn it less than I am. Most of the time I am not even turning it enough to visualize whether or not it has actually even turned. Humidity, at least, has been stable the whole time.

I am getting so frustrated that I just want to open the garbage can and toss it all out. If it wasn't for my super nice DH who spent the money to get me a second setup after I broke the first (brand new) one I would just give up.

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So I decided to take Sonew and Paganbird's advice (a few others too) and behave....not play with the temp knob for a while and just let things be but first I had to misbehave a little. They are on day 4 now so I figured I would candle them and see what if anything was going on in there. I have lots of experience candling eggs from years of bird ownership/breeding so I was pretty sure I could do it correct. Well it seems that a solid 18 of the eggs are developing, another 4 are iffy but promising and 2 are clear as day. I know it's way way too early to count my ducklings but seeing definitive veining in 18 was a huge surprise and now I think I can walk away and let things be.

Thanks for the advice! Now I am off to drink my tea

 

[Katy]

That is where my LG ended up....tossed onto the trash can after years of messing with it. That was the best thing I could have ever done with it.

 

[sonew123]

Quote:
your only 2 hours from me! Dont give up all bators can be testy--mine is like that 3-4 days it will run at the same temps and bang a spike--There's really nothing you can do but just be very aware of whats going on outside the bator that might trigger it to rise-cold breezes etc...Im on my 9-10th htach? and I have issues with something everytime--I think we all good and bad-keep going you should be fine your so early in your hatch dont give up

 

[Jenski]

Sorry you are having trouble. Is your room temperature fluctuating? This can affect bator temps. Very frustrating, I know. It helps to keep the bator in a room that stays pretty stable temp-wise, and/or block nearby vents.

One other thing that can help is CAREFULLY wrapping a thick towel around the bator. You can leave a flap of it over the top too, but be careful not to block airholes.

Good luck!

 

[Countrywife]

best advice I ever got- stop messing with it. You have it stable. If it fluctuates that little bit, don't try to move it. A hen doesn't keep it perfect all the time, and she gets babies.

 

[Paganbird]

Your eggs are probably just fine.
When I used an LG, it was a still air & the temps went all over. As long as they stayed between 98 -102 I didn't get too worried.
If there's a small spike of a degree... give it a couple hours to go down. I don't think it will affect the eggs unless it is a sustained temp of above 104 for several hours.
On the other end, lower temps aren't too bad either. Several hours at 98 degrees probably won't do anything to your hatch. A couple days at 98 degrees might delay your hatch a bit... but they'll still hatch.
Incubating is stressful.
Have a cup of tea & try to relax.
Repeat after me, "Everything is gonna be just fine, everything is gonna be just fine, everything is gonna be just fine. "
Deep breath...
There, I bet you feel better already, don't you?

 

[TattooQ27]

Quote:
LOL, well if we ever get our house sold so we can move then perhaps I can talk DH into a bigger better one but for now it's my only option. I think when the day comes that I can get something better I might throw a party and let my family help destroy the LG.

 

[Katy]

Quote:
LOL, well if we ever get our house sold so we can move then perhaps I can talk DH into a bigger better one but for now it's my only option. I think when the day comes that I can get something better I might throw a party and let my family help destroy the LG.

I now have 3 Genesis 1588s and 1 1590 which is the older version of the 1588. They cost a bit more than a LG, but I have very good luck with them.

 

[IggiMom]

Tatoo, I agree with Pagan. Don't touch it for a while. If it is between 99 and 102 just leave it there. Tell those eggs, 'if a hen was on you, she would get up now and again. So deal with it!.'

Catherine

 

[TattooQ27]

Quote:
MMmm, tea does sound good. Perhaps trying to hatch eggs for the 1st time when 7 months pregnant and with a fussy teething 15 month old was probably not the hottest idea. Add to that a very mouthy hormonal 11 year old and yeah, what was I thinking...

At least my son is behaving today...well at least until he gets off the bus anyway.

I need a vacation!