I have spent the past few days looking around and now I'm more confused than when I started. I have a little giant still air incubator and I have found that the desired temp at the top of the eggs is 101.5. I'm just wondering though, what are the plusses and minuses in variation at the top of the egg? For example: If the temp at the top of the egg is supposed to average at 101.5, is it ok for the temp at the top of the egg to get to 102.0, 102.5, 103.0 or higher? Also, what are the lower limits? I'm guessing that there would still be preferred variation of +/- 1 degree (say 100.5 to 102.5) but I just need a little conformation!
I have a small still-air Hovabator and I keep the temp at the top of my eggs between 99.5 and 100.5 Have been told too hot or cold and the eggs will die. Temps above 102 are too hot and below 98 is too cold. I'm still learning the whole incubator thing, but I have 2 great people mentoring me and everything has been going great
Think about it. The goal is to get the center of the eggs as close as possible to the recommended 99-100 F. Heat rises. So, if the top of your eggs are reading 99 F, the center of the egg is somewhere around 98 F. Which, in general, is too cold. It won't kill them, but it's too cold. I keep the top of my eggs reading 101-102, no more no less. My hatches usually take place on day 20-21, so the internal temperature of the eggs must be right. By the way, welcome to BYC to both of you!
