temperatue question for newby :)

[Calmay]

Hello! I am happy to be trying to hatch babies for the first time! want to make sure I have the temp right so am seeking wisdom
I bought 2 different hygromter/temperature digital devices and the temperature reads 100.6 (sometimes a little lower but generally around this number). I wanted to make sure by chicken eggs were really at the ideal temperature so also bought a Braun ear thermoscan thermometer to measure egg shells. so the egg shells vary in temp but some of them are 101.6, 100, 101, and lowest was 98.8. I am using a Janoel 10 egg incubator. I did have to adjust the temperature to correct to thermometer readings. my question is: is it best to keep the settings I have based on the thermometer reading next to the eggs OR is the shell temperature really telling me the eggs are a little too hot and at risk? maybe turn down a notch and risk some of the eggs being too low temp OR is it really just the average temperature of different egg shell readings that I should use to guide any changes in settings! LOL I just want to have healthy babies. Thank you all!!!! Chickenless Mother hen

 

[sniper338]

My incubator runs at 99.8 and i leave it alone and leave it closed.

 

[Calmay]

Thanks
when I candled the eggs at day #14 they are a little small. I think I may have had temperature originally too low?
My thermostat now says 100.8 so I'll just leave it there but now they may hatch at day 24ish?

 

[junebuggena]

Are you using a still air incubator or one with a fan?
For still air, you want the temp to be at about 101, and you need to move the eggs to a different spot every couple of days.
For an forced air incubator, you want the temp to be about 99.5.

 

[Calmay]

Thanks for your answers
I am using a small incubator with a fan- I don't think the fan is super strong and read along one of the threads that the Janoel 10 mini egg incubator is more like a still air incubator?
I'm thinking I might have the right temp now based on their stage of incubation- they seem a little under-developed by 1-2 days but are moving around so alive. I just don't want to cook my darlings.
Thanks again for any help