Acurite Thermomter and Hatch Rates of the Star Foam Bator Design

[gmc]

Hi Folks,
maybe its just me but Acurite appears to be most widely accepted bator-mometer for hatching (walmarts probe on cord type), I am just curious if anyone has tested its accuracy? I read somewhere that to have an excellent hatch, the temp. must be held within +/- .5 degree. In building my new bator, I already had two of the trusted Acurites, which I have found both to be off by 3.5 degrees, (both off to the low side). I just happen to be using one of my more expensive certified dial therms. (no humidity) when I noticed. I now question the accuracy of the humidity readings. A quick reality check for any therm. is an ice test. Just curious.....I will be posting some other observations that I've made during the process once my testing is complete.

I would also like to hear about any successful hatches using the star foam bator design. I don't really know what is considered a successful hatch, 80% maybe?

gmc

 

[brooster]

If both of the acurites acurites are the same i would be second guessing the dial thermo. Have you compared to a baby thermometer? What is the star foam bator design?

 

[gmc]

I have two dial thermometers also that I had to pay for accuracy (already had these to working on another project). The two accurites were being used for outside temps. but I needed to check humidity. I am just stating what I see with mine. Easy to check with an ice test, I've never cared or questioned them before. Just a point to consider with accuracy being one of the critical factors. There's a very nice, cheap to build bator design that one of the memebers in this group did an excellent with. The link is posted below. I am using this same design.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=8510

gmc

 

[skeeter9]

I have 2 of the accurite thermometer/hygrometers with probe. One is right on, the other is off by a couple of degrees. I tested them against a medical thermometer. Obviously I don't use the inaccurate one for incubating. I periodically check my accurate one to make sure it stays that way!!

Lori