temp problems with hovabator

[KikiLeigh02]

Do you have one room or closet where the temp stays more consistent? Have you tried calling Hovabator? I'm not familiar with their customer service but maybe they could help you trouble shoot? Did you try checking the temperature with the analog thermometer?

 

[Clucking Lovely]

i have a digital thermometer/hygrometer, and 2 probe thermometers in the incubator at different places. there are 24 eggs in, and it can hold 40 eggs. I am thinking i can put it in a bathroom and try to keep the heat consistent there. Will try to call hovabator this evening after work. we're at day 5 of incubation - have i killed them all off by now?

 

[Ridgerunner]

Since yours has a fan it should not matter where you take the temperature inside. In a still air (no fan) warm air rises so it is very important where you take the temperature. To me that's a big advantage of a forced air, they are so much easier to manage.

Which model Hovabator do you have? How do you adjust the temperature? I had an old model 1588 that used the dip switches to adjust temperature. What a pain in the butt. Some models have dials or other methods that are very easy. Which one are you working with? what have you done to try to adjust temperature?

Where do you have that incubator? What kinds of temperature swings is the air around it gong through? They need to be in a relatively stable location. 14 degrees F is a huge swing. Do not expect to hatch anything with that. If the problem is location and the ambient temperature is swinging so much that it is causing the problem, wrapping it or insulating it can help. I'd hate to think how cold it would have to get for a 14 degree swing inside the incubator.

The way those are supposed to work, they heat up to a certain temperature, then the heater shuts off. When it cools off a bit the heater comes back on. I don't know how much the temperature has to drop for the heater to kick back on but it should not be much at all. I wonder if your thermostat has gone bad.

 

[Clucking Lovely]

the incubator is in my attic. it got colder last night, but 14F is wayyyyy beyond what i was expecting to see this morning. I wrap the incubator now in a thick towel. It has knobs on it. I have insulation, but with the egg turner and the fan i have no idea where or how to put it in the incubator. Ill have to check the model when i get home, i bought it used.

Even if i get it under control today, am I too late?

 

[Clucking Lovely]

So, update!
Day 8 candling shows 20/24 eggs with a baby inside! the little black dots were even responding to the light. Im hopeful again!!

 

[pennyJo1960]

put a towel over it that makes huge help I have one also

 

[Clucking Lovely]

Yup, i did do that

 

[Mosey2003]

I don't trust digital thermometers. What you want are some good, dial meat type thermometers, and you want to calibrate them in ice water and boiling water. Or at least some of the little "mercury" type that come stapled to a flat piece of plastic with the incubators when they're new.

You also want to place the incubator somewhere that the temperature doesn't swing, an empty closet would be good.

Be very careful wrapping with towels so that you don't block either the bottom vents or the top ones.

To change the temperature on the kind of unit you have, you want to turn the knob 1/4 turn at a time, and then check the temperature a few hours later (make sure you tighten the wing nut back down so that the arm can't keep moving). Ideally, you would have set it up dry before you wanted to incubate, and then watched and adjusted until it was where you want it, but that's neither here nor there now. Also, little bits of styrofoam or pieces of egg shell can get lodged in the vents of the bottom half, you want to make sure all those vents are clear.

This model (I'm assuming you have a 1602 if you have a turning knob instead of digital) is my preference specifically because it is SO stable with the temperature. I think you have a number of factors going on here, there's no way that it should be swinging that wide temperature wise.

I hope that's helpful.