Egg care question?

I understand not to mess with the eggs. My questions are is every 2 weeks ok for candleing? And airing out the incubator once a week ok? I have them in a DIY cooler incubator hooked to a thermostat egg tubs reading 88.6 but i do not have pc fan inside.

If you're using a quality thermostat, ambient temperature outside the cooler is fairly stable, and don't open the incubator often I think the fan is not totally required. I check my eggs once a week to make sure temps are still right in the egg container (temp gun the eggs directly). I only look for veins 24 hours after laying. Later on, if there is something going on that will impact the veins I'll notice it from outside the egg just the same.

Edit: one thing that's helpful for keeping temps consistent after opening the incubator is to have bottles of water filling the empty space. When you pop it open and it's all air, the air floods out and mixes with outside air and you lose your temps. Water is a very good conductor of heat, so once it heats up it will hold that temp and help maintain stability as you open and close the doors.

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Originally Posted by bruster

I understand not to mess with the eggs. My questions are is every 2 weeks ok for candleing? And airing out the incubator once a week ok? I have them in a DIY cooler incubator hooked to a thermostat egg tubs reading 88.6 but i do not have pc fan inside.

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Although it's not necessary, I candle every week or two just out of curiosity. Airing out once a week is fine as well. I use a cooler incubator as well and have never had the need for a fan. Works fine without...

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Originally Posted by MrLang

If you're using a quality thermostat, ambient temperature outside the cooler is fairly stable, and don't open the incubator often I think the fan is not totally required. I check my eggs once a week to make sure temps are still right in the egg container (temp gun the eggs directly). I only look for veins 24 hours after laying. Later on, if there is something going on that will impact the veins I'll notice it from outside the egg just the same.

Edit: one thing that's helpful for keeping temps consistent after opening the incubator is to have bottles of water filling the empty space. When you pop it open and it's all air, the air floods out and mixes with outside air and you lose your temps. Water is a very good conductor of heat, so once it heats up it will hold that temp and help maintain stability as you open and close the doors.

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bottom of cooler is lined with water bottels. 11in flexwatt hooked to herpstat. Room is heated and temp fluctuates 2-3 degees. Veims all seemed good there were two that were not fully covered id say a bit over half with some on top too.

I will check the actual egg temp as well. Didn't think of that.

I don't candle but once (before placing them in the incubator), I open the egg boxes once every other day during the last 5 days of incubation.

In other words I put the eggs in and for get about them.