Temperature drop...how much is too much?

[Blooming chicks]

I have the LG still air and I typically keep the temp right at 100 degrees. Last night it really cooled down outside (and in my house) so the temp in the incubator dropped to around 97. Do you think they are still okay? I candled 2 days ago and everything was still looking good--movement inside the egg and good air cell formation. I am just bummed that I may have lost the eggs due to the drop. I have 2 eggs in there from my Rouen female that was taken by the resident fox yesterday (despite my precautions against predators)--and I really wanted her ducklings. The eggs are at day 15 today. Has anyone had a similar experience with temp drops?

 

[Kedreeva]

They should be just fine. There is a person here whose mom stuck her dozen araucana eggs in the fridge on accident and they were doing ok last I heard. My own temps sometimes go up or down depending on the air conditioning being on, but a couple degrees down is better than a couple degrees up. And especially with duck eggs, they are a lot more tolerant of a little lower temps than chickens.

 

[pgpoultry]

You should not have a problem.

I have had eggs that have felt pretty cold when the broody has gone AWOL for a while which have hatched out fine.

Good Luck,

Sandie

 

[Blooming chicks]

Thank you...I feel better knowing that others have had similar experiences and still were successful. I am looking into a better incubator with self regulating temperature & humidity controls.