temp question

[mom'sfolly]

The incubator is set up, running and I am not very patiently waiting for eggs. The temp in the water wiggler is holding steady at 98.5, which I know is a little low. This is a homemade 'bator and the temperature setting is a little difficult. What I want to know is if it is better to keep a slightly lower temperature, or should I keep fiddling to get it that one degree higher? I'm going to try to confirm that the temperature is reading accurately. Will a cooler temperature kill eggs? Or will it just delay the hatch? I know from reading here that a too high temp will.

Thanks,

Karen

 

[arlee453]

I'd keep bumping the thermostat up just a bare fraction at a time. Then wait at least 6 hours and check again.

The range in the WW should be between 99.5- 100 and I think 98.5 is too low to get a good hatch. While it is true that a hair too low is better than too high, having it too low can cause other problems and it's worth the extra effort to get it closer to 99-100.

It took me over a week to get my last bator running steady, but once I got it set, it's been in a very steady range - worth the aggravation of setting.

The first bator I built, same thing - took a while to get it adjusted, but then was right on. When I fired it up again for this batch of eggs, I did not have to adjust it at all again - it warmed right up and held temps perfectly.

 

[seminolewind]

I agree with Arlee.

 

[mom'sfolly]

I confirmed my temp with 3 digital fever thermometers and two read the same, so I'm going with my thermometer being accurate. I upped the temperature and it seems to be holding steady at 99.3. Now if the eggs would just get here, darned post office.

 

[Alleyoops25]

I have to say going to much higher above 100 you will have a horrific problem at hatch. I had mine set at 101 and I 3/4 of my hatch was early and they were born with their intestines on the outside of their bodies. Truly horrible. I was told it was a humidity problem. But i had the same luck the second try. I backed the temp. off to 99.5 and they all came out healthy and happy. Good luck!!