Still Air Bator Wafer Replacement - ADVICE please!

[lizzy14]

Hi all, I have another question for you. We are into day 7 of our first incubation with a Sears & Roebuck round metal incubator from my in-laws. I tracked down a replacement wafer to have on hand, because it was advised in my chicken book and somewhere on this forum and I finally have the correct size. The incubator seems to be working pretty well, though the temperature fluctuates more easily than I expected... My question is: should we keep going with the current wafer (which is very very old), and hope for the best, OR switch out the wafer sometime between now and hatch lock-down? I realize it's not the ideal time to change it...but what would you do in this position?
Thanks for weighing in!

 

[lizzy14]

Help me decide...anyone?

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Keep the wafer in that works. The first few days will need adjustments to temperature as the metal gets worked in it will swell easier resulting in a need to adjust it. After that work in period it will be steady. Small temperature swings is normal. Currently my incubator swings almost a perfect 2 degrees, 98.5 to 100.6 F. They average of the temp swings is what maters. A less sensitive thermometer will stay constant but I use a digital oral thermometer for fine tuning and take reading through the vent hole with a forced air (fan) incubator.

 

[lizzy14]

Thanks. DH had similar concerns, but was leaving it up to me. I am so nervous about those last four-five days of lockdown! Here's my next question (I seem to be full of them lately!) - do you know if you unplug it and plug it back in, will it keep it's temperature setting?

 

[Egghead_Jr]

It should. I'm not familiar with your model but the metal gas filled wafers are extremely dependable and keep a steady temp once worked in. If allowed to cool for few days it will be off some until worked in again but should get back to original temp in a day of fluctuation and warming up.

 

[lizzy14]

Good, that's what I was hoping. This would be very quick, we really need to move it to an area with more stable temps, now that the weather is warming up. I will take the eggs out before moving of course.