Temperature fluctuations

[JeremyKSullivan]

I have a home built cooler incubator. My heat source is 2 light bulbs. I've been adjusting it to try to get the temperature right. My open air temperature ranges from 99.5 to 101. Starting at the low temp, the lights come on for 1 minute then kick off. The temp continues to climb slowly for 2 minutes and 30 seconds before reaching the high temp. The temp then slowly decreases for 2 minutes and 45 seconds until it reaches the low temp and the lights kick back on. So my cycle is from 99.5 to 101 in 3.5 minutes and from 101 back to 99.5 in 2 minutes 45 seconds. Is this sufficient for a successful hatch?

 

[MeepBeep]

Should be perfectly fine... My home made hatcher swings from 98° to 102° but using the method below, I know my eggs hold a darn near perfect 100° when inside...

To verify take a small cup, jar or container about the size of your eggs (I use 2oz and 4oz baby bottles) some people use a ziplock bag rolled up, fill that container with water and after a few hours take the temp of the water, check it again in 24 hours... This will give you a VERY close approximation of the average internal egg temp inside the incubator, and that is what is really important...

 

[donrae]

It's the nature of a thermostat to do what you're describing, they all do something like that.

I've heard having heat reservoirs in the incubator can help stabilize the temp. I use pint jars of water (with lids, so humidity not changed), some folks use rocks. Either one hold heat and help keep temp steady overall.

 

[MeepBeep]

I was asked a question by PM about what kind of water container I use to test the temp, so I figured I would add a similar reply here...



That is my 4 oz bottle that I use for peafowl eggs, I have since swapped out the digital thermometer for an analog glass one so I can just glance at it vs turning it on/off...

Notice I just flipped the nipple upside down, it's a newborn nipple with a single hole and the thermometer slides right in and doesn't leak, or at least doesn't leak enough for me to worry about...

I also use 2 oz bottles the same way for chicken and guinea eggs... The 2 oz bottles are a little harder to find but they can be found online pretty easy, just look for 'preemie' bottles...

 

[donrae]

I was asked a question by PM about what kind of water container I use to test the temp, so I figured I would add a similar reply here...



That is my 4 oz bottle that I use for peafowl eggs, I have since swapped out the digital thermometer for an analog glass one so I can just glance at it vs turning it on/off...

Notice I just flipped the nipple upside down, it's a newborn nipple with a single hole and the thermometer slides right in and doesn't leak, or at least doesn't leak enough for me to worry about...

I also use 2 oz bottles the same way for chicken and guinea eggs... The 2 oz bottles are a little harder to find but they can be found online pretty easy, just look for 'preemie' bottles...

Oh, I love this idea! thank you so much for the pic, I'm way more a visual person and could kinda follow your post but this is, well, worth a thousand words.