Thermoconfused......2632 Hova-Bator first timer

I think I'm overthinking myself...so please feel free to tell me to relax and to stop doing that.

I have a 2632 Hova-Bator turbofan with turners.  I got it used and had to replace a few parts. (red plug, one window, screen for bottom)

I had no intention of incubating until spring but it was such a good deal I couldn't pass it up.  It even came with quail turners.  However, my girls started hiding their eggs, and we found them in a batch of 11, plus a surprise from a hen we didn't think was laying yet.  We think the girls are trying to give a broody some peace and letting her have the nestboxes all to herself.  So I set up the incubator and gave it only 12 hours to stabilize.  No problem because the temp was up and running at 99-100 really quickly and very stable.  Our house is very well insulated and is always exactly 72 degrees.

Here is where my problem kicked in.  I started reading on here all about humidity.  I got nervous so I ran out that day and got myself a hydrometer at walmart.  It came with a digital thermometer on it.  That digital thermometer contradicted the analog one from Hova-bator by about 1 1/2 degrees to the negative.    Now I'm concerned because The analog says I'm right on, the digital says I'm at 98 1/2. 

Now no matter how much I try to adjust the temp down, the incubator stays the same temp?

I stick my clean and sanitized meat thermometer (digital) in the hole and now it reads 102!!!  OMG!  Now what?  Is it 102, 98 1/2, or right on at 100....

Now I'm reading I should have calibrated the hydrometer, and that some folks have two, one for the room outside, one inside, two inside etc.  Well I panic that the one from walmart stinks (being polite) and I go out and get one at petsmart.  Then I come home and I start the experiment.  This new one is off by 1% to the negative.  So I know to add one percent.

It has replaced the walmart one in the incubator. 

How am I supposed to get an accurate temp reading?  What do I trust?  Do I just do an average of the three temps I'm getting?  When the walmart one is done calibrating (74% at 8hrs now) do I add it's temp to the inside, or just use it for outside humid and temp?

Someone stop me, calm me down and tell me to relax??

Laney

From that post you have to wonder if I'm keeping good notes????

I have two spreadsheets!  One for ever time I check the temp and Humidity....

and one set up for candling on Day 7 and 18.......

I'm trying to teach my daughter about good record keeping.  She doesn't generally see the farm records for the other animals (feed, worming, vet etc)

So she is helping me fill in the records on these eggs to get her started.  She's 13 and old enough.  Soon she'll have to start keeping her own records on her goats.  She just negotiated a deal to buy 2 dairy goats for $50 for the pair...provided she lets the original owners have the babies they are currently carrying.

So, yup, keeping obsessive records   Falls right in line with my personality.

Thanks for the advice.  I've been thinking I should go with the original thermometer but I think I just needed to hear someone say it.  Right now humidity is at 42%.  I'll leave it like that unless it goes very low.  Should be fine though as the humidity in the room is running at about 48%.  I only plan to open it up in a temp emergency or to candle on days 7 and 18 and to remove chicks.  Another hard thing to teach my daughter who wanted to candle again on day 2.....


Laney