Take Your Pick
Posted by stan on May 17, 2004
Q: at what temperature should the in homeincubator be set at for chicken eggs?
A: Stan:
Presuming you have an incubator, the temperature should be adjusted to hold a constant 100?F. To monitor the temperature, place a thermometer in the incubator. The bulb of the thermometer should be at the same height as the tops of the eggs and away from the source of heat. Using two thermometers is a good idea to ensure you are getting an accurate reading.
Incubator temperature should be maintained between 99? and 100?F. The acceptable range is 97? to 102?F. Mortality is seen if the temperature drops below 96?F or rises above 103?F for a number of hours. If the temperature stays at either extreme for several days, the eggs may not hatch. Overheating is more critical than underheating. Running the incubator at 105?F for 15 minutes will seriously affect the embryos, while running it at 95? for 3 or 4 hours will only slow the chick's metabolic rate.
Good luck to you!
Jim Berry ( May 18, 2004)