Chinese Incubator Temperature

[texasmomma]

I bought one of the cheap Chinese incubators. I wasn't careful and I got the one with the angled control panel.

I am using an incubator warehouse thermometer/hygrometer inside the incubator. I was able to keep the temp stable for the first 18 days. Humidity was a little up and down, but ok.

When I added water for the lockdown, things started to go wonky. The humidity was sky high. I finally got that better. However, the temp never would go back to 99.5. I have the control panel set to 39.5C, which it seems is the highest it will go, but that doesn't give me a high enough temp inside the incubator.

Does anyone know how to make the temp go higher with the control panel? I'm hatching now, and the eggs seem to be doing ok, but I did have one splay leg chick out of the 11 or so that have already hatched. If I am going to use this incubator again, I will need to be able to get the temp up during lockdown. I don't have another incubator to use as a hatcher.

Thank you!

 

[chickster5003]

What type of incubator do you have?

 

[madamiec]

If it is the one I'm thinking the top is flat....I know several people have to put towels around their incubators to get them up to temp. Hatching temp is a degree lower typically so keep that in mind. Hopefully someone with the Jonel knockoffs can help you. I'm thinking that is what you have? I have a Top Hatch and an IncuView.

 

[fried green eggs]

Did you calibrate your hygrometer and thermometer before you started ? I have a couple of the incubator warehouse hygrometer/thermometer with the probe and they are not accurate. Do you have a digital meat thermometer or something you could stick in to get another reading? I have a Janoel 48 and I put 1" thick styrofoam insulation around the sides of the bottom tray and put duct tape over it to make the Styrofoam more durable. The styrofoam is low enough on the sides so the top still fits well and the bottom tray will pull out easy enough for cleaning. Now it only takes 10 minutes to get up to 37.5 C which when I calibrated mine - is dead on 99.5 F I hope the rest of you hatch goes well!

 

[texasmomma]

If it is the one I'm thinking the top is flat....I know several people have to put towels around their incubators to get them up to temp. Hatching temp is a degree lower typically so keep that in mind. Hopefully someone with the Jonel knockoffs can help you. I'm thinking that is what you have? I have a Top Hatch and an IncuView.

Yeah, I have it in the styrofoam it came in AND I have towels on the top. Still struggles.

 

[texasmomma]

Did you calibrate your hygrometer and thermometer before you started ? I have a couple of the incubator warehouse hygrometer/thermometer with the probe and they are not accurate. Do you have a digital meat thermometer or something you could stick in to get another reading? I have a Janoel 48 and I put 1" thick styrofoam insulation around the sides of the bottom tray and put duct tape over it to make the Styrofoam more durable. The styrofoam is low enough on the sides so the top still fits well and the bottom tray will pull out easy enough for cleaning. Now it only takes 10 minutes to get up to 37.5 C which when I calibrated mine - is dead on 99.5 F I hope the rest of you hatch goes well!

I did not, but my thermometer is not a probe. I put the rest of the eggs into my Brinsea and the thermometer too. I runs a little warm compared to the incubator warehouse, but not enough for me to question it.

I have the styrofoam around it. I knew i was taking a chance on this incubator. Im glad that I didn't fill it completely for this run.

Thanks!

 

[SkyeSussex]

noti think i bought the same one as you from eBay. I Candled my eggs today, on day 11 for my guinea eggs and day 4 for my chickens but got nothing i think something is quite wrong with my temperature.

 

[usaRd baregson]

wht tYp of incubtOr u hAV

 

[fried green eggs]

I did not, but my thermometer is not a probe. I put the rest of the eggs into my Brinsea and the thermometer too. I runs a little warm compared to the incubator warehouse, but not enough for me to question it.

I have the styrofoam around it. I knew i was taking a chance on this incubator. Im glad that I didn't fill it completely for this run.

Thanks!

I'm glad you have another incubator. My Janoel only had Styrofoam on the corners when it was shipped to me. I wonder if you called Ebay Customer Service if they could help you return it - for not as advertised?

 

[KelseyBoxer]

I have a cheap chinese knock off incubator "HHD". Tried 3x last fall to incubate turkeys with no development at all. It could have been the quality of the eggs. I broke 1 open for the last attempt and the bullseye was there. Tried the incubator again 3 weeks ago with my own flocks chicken eggs. After 4 days I saw the temp swing up and down. It seemed to be a regular cycle. My probe thermometer read as low as 96 degrees on the down swing. I poked an egg with the probe and internal temp was 94! These eggs are hatching now in my little giant forced air syrofoam.I have 3 chicks so far, maybe one more later. I will never use that incubator again. Please be careful with cheap imports. You get what you pay for.