Temp drop in my incubator

[HollyShevaun]

The heating element stopped working in my incubator, I'm on day 18 and the temp is slowly dropping. Does anyone have any suggestions. I feel terrible and am going to feel terrible if I have to walk away from them at this point.

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

Obviously, replacing the heating element or using another incubator would be optimal, but assuming those aren't options, other BYCers have reported success using a heat lamp to hatch chicks.

 

[Mvan42]

I was going to suggest a heat lamp and a styrofoam cooler... it is harder to regulate temp and humidity unless you make a home made incubator (I haven’t don’t this). I just had two that a broody left on day 23 which were still alive in the eggs. I put them I. A styrofoam cooler with heat lamp and they hatched with assistance due to humidity lower... good luck

 

[HollyShevaun]

I unplugged for about 20 min and it seems to be OK. I'm on Day 18 and was worried for them...the alarm for the temp started to go at 6 this morning and Google wasn't really helpful.

 

[HollyShevaun]

Thank you for your replies. Definitely going to bring the heat lamp in just incase.

 

[littlepip]

I managed to incubate eggs successfully for 2 days using a heat lamp before I used an incubator. it does work, but you'll need to check on it a lot. with heat lamps the temp isn't always consistent. make sure you have an accurate thermometer.

 

[CluckNDoodle]

I unplugged for about 20 min and it seems to be OK. I'm on Day 18 and was worried for them...the alarm for the temp started to go at 6 this morning and Google wasn't really helpful.

I hope it works out for you! I was too late when I tried to step in for mine the first time I had a broody abandon eggs but I was really surprised at how stable I was able to keep my temp when I put a seedling growmat under a clear plastic bin and a regular bulb in an adjustable height office lamp over it. Now that I've hatched using incubators many times, looking back, I actually think the set up would have worked well to finish the incubation of the eggs my broody abandoned if I had stepped in sooner. Fingers crossed for you!