Hatching in a hovabator

So I have had a few batches now and some chicks will hatch on the 18 th day all the way up to 4 days late????? In the same incubator. They are on a turner with a thermometer on top of the eggs and I always check and it's right on the mark so is this a hovabator thing or whats going on?? Everytime I go to shut off the bator and clean it there is either a pip or a chick sitting there squawking at me cause it's oh so lonely as I already pulled everyone out.

I have 3 thermometers at different places in my incubator. They NEVER say the same temperature. There is a strong liklihood that the outer corners of your bator are cooler and the centre is warmer. In that case, your eggs will develop at slower/faster rates.

Moving the outer eggs to the middle and middle eggs out can help with this a little.

Is this one of the bators you got from me? I found if it was anywheres near a furnace duct or window my hatch would be funky like that, but if placed in an area where either thing was not present my hatch would be normal. I also had my thermometer along the outside edge and this gave me the best hatch where most would hatch at day 20-22

It's not specifically the one from you as I rented 2 from chickencrazygirl as well. So have had 3 hovas going for the last months and they have all been wonky like that. There in my bedroom which is the warmest room. Also had them in the livingroom but doesn't seem to make a big difference.

When you candle eggs do you shuffle them around or pick them up, candle, and replace in the same spot? The bator might have hot/cold spots, so if you shuffle them around as you candle, at least it might even out a bit

Turn the top 1/4 turn 3 times a day.

Size of egg can have an influence as well. Small eggs hit temperature quicker and can sometimes hatch a bit sooner. The big eggs take longer to make optimal temperature and can be a little delayed. I agree with the others, rotate the eggs. I even do that with my more reliable incubators.

Ya when I candle I just pick up look and replace in the same spot. Will do the 1/4 turn of the lid on the batch and see what happens. Thanks for all the input.

BriarwoodPoultry wrote:When you candle eggs do you shuffle them around or pick them up, candle, and replace in the same spot? The bator might have hot/cold spots, so if you shuffle them around as you candle, at least it might even out a bit

They both have circluating fans so should not be any hot and cold places. Chicks do hatch normaly one day before they are due to at times, plus a hatch even in my sportsman can take 2 days to complete. Don't think it is the hovabators going wonkey just chicks coming out when they want to.

Both my circulating and the uncirculating hova have differing temps. The uncirc has layers of temperature and the circulating has cols and warm corners. That's why I turn the circulating ones.

Oh, for a Sportsman!