Where to measure your temps in the brooders.

[crazyhen]

I have read the temps for this and that hatcher and they never say where to measure these temps! My hatcher is 1588 with the fan. It is reading 100.2-8 But, down on the hatcher floor at lockdown it is reading 97 to 98, according to a digital thermometer and glass mercury thermometer.. Is this normal? should I aim for higher temps on the floor of the hatcher after turner is out? The eggs seemed to be doing well until I took out the turnner. Now I am on lockdown, only one day left. I do not want to open the hatcher to ck the egg growth. What are the thoughts on this from experienced hatchers?

 

[WalnutHill]

A lot depends on the type of incubator, and the location of the heat source relative to the eggs.

In my cabinet, the heat source is at the top but the warm air is ducted to the bottom of the cabinet before it reaches the egg trays. So I measure temps at each tray, and keep the average at 100F.

In a tabletop, I use a "fake egg" that I can insert a thermometer into, Again I target 100F inside the "egg". Top will be warmer, floor will be cooler. It's the egg internal temp that matters, and turning helps keep it even.

 

[crazyhen]

Mine is the top fan type it reg. the 100.2-6 but at the level of the center of the egg it is much lower. 97-98 I am on day 20 should I up the temp?

 

[themenagerie]

Wow..I just posted the same question above... i hope we get answer.

 

[crazyhen]

I hope we do too. I have nice jubilee orp. eggs I hate to lose. I have 4 under a small hen and the rest in the bator. I know before I removed the turnner they were developing, so if there is trouble it will be with the temps on the bottom of the bator. The turnner kept them 1 inch higher off the floor of the bator. If it matters I think next time I will put some 1 inch supports under the wire floor when I remove the turnner and maybe they will hatch at the right temps. I can turn it up but with only 24 hrs left I will not turn it up very much. I am afraid I would get it too warm at this point. Who knows. If I hatched more than one batch a yr. I would experiment a little.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

I hope we do too. I have nice jubilee orp. eggs I hate to lose. I have 4 under a small hen and the rest in the bator. I know before I removed the turnner they were developing, so if there is trouble it will be with the temps on the bottom of the bator. The turnner kept them 1 inch higher off the floor of the bator. If it matters I think next time I will put some 1 inch supports under the wire floor when I remove the turnner and maybe they will hatch at the right temps. I can turn it up but with only 24 hrs left I will not turn it up very much. I am afraid I would get it too warm at this point. Who knows. If I hatched more than one batch a yr. I would experiment a little.

Many people actually drop the temp in the incubator a degree at hatchtime. I don't personally, but if my temp goes down a degree I don't adjust for it either. My thermometers sit on the grate with the eggs. I would not adjust as the range of 98-100 is, in my opinion, expected. If it were to push over 100 or dip under 98 I might adjust, but only after a small waiting period to see if it changed on it's own.

Automatic turner motors throw off a good deal of heat, so when you remove them you are loosing that added heat, plus the eggs are sitting lower in the bator. Also the change in humidty will alter the temps. I say, leave it as long as it stays in that range.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

I hope we do too. I have nice jubilee orp. eggs I hate to lose. I have 4 under a small hen and the rest in the bator. I know before I removed the turnner they were developing, so if there is trouble it will be with the temps on the bottom of the bator. The turnner kept them 1 inch higher off the floor of the bator. If it matters I think next time I will put some 1 inch supports under the wire floor when I remove the turnner and maybe they will hatch at the right temps. I can turn it up but with only 24 hrs left I will not turn it up very much. I am afraid I would get it too warm at this point. Who knows. If I hatched more than one batch a yr. I would experiment a little.

If it bothers you that much you could also consider hatching out in cut down egg cartons in which case the eggs would still be sitting verticle, albeit slightly lower, and in the "warmer" band of air.

 

[crazyhen]

Many people actually drop the temp in the incubator a degree at hatchtime. I don't personally, but if my temp goes down a degree I don't adjust for it either. My thermometers sit on the grate with the eggs. I would not adjust as the range of 98-100 is, in my opinion, expected. If it were to push over 100 or dip under 98 I might adjust, but only after a small waiting period to see if it changed on it's own.

Automatic turner motors throw off a good deal of heat, so when you remove them you are loosing that added heat, plus the eggs are sitting lower in the bator. Also the change in humidty will alter the temps. I say, leave it as long as it stays in that range.

That seems counter intuitive. A hen does not even get off the nest that last day or two. Or mine don't. It seems they know the meaning of lockdown better than we do

. I am all excited tomorrow will make day 21.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

That seems counter intuitive. A hen does not even get off the nest that last day or two. Or mine don't. It seems they know the meaning of lockdown better than we do

. I am all excited tomorrow will make day 21.

If you are talking about the temp adjustment down a degree...I'd have to agree. Supposedly they have a reason, though it's not activated the logic reasoning in my brain, therefore the reason I leave mine be...that and the fact I use and older model LG and adjusting those things are like Russian Roulette....lol

 

[crazyhen]

I think next time I will make a small frame and put it in that will raise the floor up. Its wire so the humidity would still be high. Hummmm. Keep your fingers crossed, I sooo want to see some pips tomorrow night. I will really be anxious Tues morning if nothing has happened between now and then. I for sure will be checking the hen then too. I am much to excited. I think I will get out and just walk abit.