My incubator is heated using heat tape and a Helix proportional thermostat. It's been working perfectly for 4 years now... however, I always ever used 2 shelves at any given time. This year, it's completely maxed out (all 4 shelves). The temperature is stable, but it is not the same on the top shelf as the bottom shelf. From what I'm reading, I should be fine. Another problem is that there is no more room for the 3 to 4 clutches that are not yet laid. So I killed the hot spots for all the animals in the hatchling/incubator room (some sub-adults in there as well), and just raised the entire room to 88F. The RayTek gives me readings of around 87F where I will have the egg boxes in the room, so I should be ok. Normally the room was about 84F.

I will be producing about 4 times more than any other year this year... it certainly won't be boring in this house for the next little while! :S

Thanks for the reply!

Regards,
Bristen.


Quote Originally Posted by jglass38 View Post
Bristen,

Two things to consider:

1. Consistent, stable temperature - Keep those fluctuations to a minimum. A well insulated incubator and heat controlled by a proportional thermostat are the best ways to ensure this.

2. Keep it at 90 or under - I prefer not to go above 90. This would be the temperature inside the egg box.

Don't worry too much about the temp being different in different parts of the incubator. Big breeders use room sized walk in incubators. The temperature is different throughout but it is stable. BTW, I am breeding at 87.8 this year. That is the temp in the egg box on the top shelf of the closet incubator. I am putting my potential Caramel eggs lower in the incubator in the hopes that lower temperature will reduce the likelihood of kinking. We'll find out! Good luck!

Jamie