Turning up the heat

[MomFoldingLaundry]

I read somewhere that it’s good to turn up the incubator for quail from 99.5 to 100 degrees during the second half of incubation. But most sites just say 99.5. Yet...I’ve noticed I get better hatches when I turn up the temperature intermittently during the second half of incubation. (I’m always scared to leave it high, so I’ll do 100.5 for 12 hours, or 100 for couple days.

what’s been your experience? Anyone else experiment with turning up the heat?

 

[Nabiki]

I don't. I get decent hatches.

 

[CovidtimeQuail]

I doubt that the half degree increase to 100 degrees makes too much of a difference in the second half. I also doubt there's much danger either though. If you're sure your temperature is correct, 99.5 and 100 degrees both sound okay. I wouldn't mess with it much more than that though.

When I glance at scientific studies of hatching, it is abrupt changes in temperature or overly high or low temperatures that affect hatch rates. Most studies find best hatch rates somewhere in the range of 98 to 102 degrees.

After my first sad hatch, I remind myself not to toy with the settings too much.

 

[FloorCandy]

My brinsea has more control, the nr360 goes by .5 degrees, I think the brinsea is by .1 or .2. When I got the brinsea I set the temp based on my calibrated thermometer, I think it was not off by too much, I had it set at like 99.8or 100. And I just watched how they hatched, if a lot spread into the next day I raised it a bit for the next hatch. Now it’s set at 100.2 100% of the time and most hatch right on time with just a few stragglers the next day.If I go up to the next increment, I had one pop out the night before. I can generally count on the incubator being ready for more within 24 hours of hatch day, if one or 2 haven’t hatched, they turn out to be duds or late quitters. I do not adjust during incubation.