Rocky start to incubating

[minus10gmt]

Got 24 eggs yesterday! My first incubation. Super happy but I got them off to a bit of a rocky start in the first 12 hours. The temp was fluctuating too much and I didn’t realize my high and low settings were off. It went down into the 97F range and even up to close to 101F max but not higher. I’m super worried that the variation may have caused an issue. These are fresh eggs (about 3 days old when they went in) from a young and healthy hen under 2 years. I now have the temp stabilized. Could I have hurt or killed them?

 

[Chookwagn]

I think you will be fine as long as the temp doesnt get over 102

 

[minus10gmt]

I think you will be fine as long as the temp doesnt get over 102

Thank you. I sure hope it didn't... I really don't think so. I know I'll be worried for the next 17+ days!

 

[Quailobsessed]

I don't think the temperature would be perfect all the time under a broody hen either

 

[Ted_Harrell]

In the future, you may want to turn you incubator on the day before and let the temp stabilize before inserting the eggs, good luck with your new little babies....

 

[minus10gmt]

In the future, you may want to turn you incubator on the day before and let the temp stabilize before inserting the eggs, good luck with your new little babies....

Thanks - I actually had it on for over 48 hours prior, but didn’t quite understand some of the very poorly written instructions at first, and also had a very hard time stabilizing the temp. I thought, wrongly, that i finally had it under control. That was not the case for sure! Let’s hope my adjustments are going to hold.

 

[Ted_Harrell]

Keep us in the loop and show us some pics when they hatch..

 

[minus10gmt]

Keep us in the loop and show us some pics when they hatch..

I sure will!

 

[NatJ]

in the first 12 hours. The temp was fluctuating too much and I didn’t realize my high and low settings were off. It went down into the 97F range and even up to close to 101F max but not higher. I’m super worried that the variation may have caused an issue.

If it did all of that within 12 hours, then probably did not stay at either extreme for a very long time. The shorter the time, the less chance of damage. I think your eggs have a pretty good chance, but you will know for sure when hatching day comes

 

[minus10gmt]

If it did all of that within 12 hours, then probably did not stay at either extreme for a very long time. The shorter the time, the less chance of damage. I think your eggs have a pretty good chance, but you will know for sure when hatching day comes

I appreciate that! Hoping for the best of course but kind of want to be mentally prepared for the other possibility. Realized pretty quickly why cheapo incubators are cheap. And such a headache. Long term hoping to build something better.