Vent and temp question

[bice14]

Hey, I have read the popular articles but I am still confused about ventilation. Im at day 3 of incubation and my temp is starting to climb a little bit. It is at 100.8 right now and seems to be slowly climbing.

Are the vent plugs for relieving humidity or are they for reducing temps when the eggs begin to emit heat of their own? Should I start venting a little bit or should I just adjust the temp on the thermostat to get it at 99.5 - 100.0?????? PLEASE HELP A BEGINNER!

OH, I have a hovabator 1602n with a fan if that matters.

 

[Bill 101]

You should have venting all through the incubation/hatching process. Your thermostat should keep the temperature at 99.5 even with the vents open. If you have the vents closed now opening them may bring the temp down a bit, but you want it to stabilize at, or as close to, 99.5 as you an get. Your best source of information on running the Hovabator is the instruction manual that came with it.

 

[bice14]

Ok thanks. My instructions just say that the vent plugs are to be left in and only pulled when moisture is too high. My Hovabator has small holes throughout it for ventilation.

 

[Bill 101]

WOW, don't understand those instructions, but you may not need all of them open. It depends on the size of you incubator & the amount of eggs you have in there. I would say the minimum would be 1 at the top & 1 at the bottom

 

[Mehjr10]

Good Info here, if you have not seen it.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/hatching-eggs-101