convert or buy new

[aart]

Hygrometer testing is pretty easy

To test a hygrometer you will need:
1/2 cup table salt
approximately 1/4 cup water
coffee cup
hygrometer
large re-sealable freezer bag
1. Place 1/2 cup of salt in the coffee cup, and add the water. Stir for a bit to totally saturate the salt (the salt won't dissolve, it will be more like really wet sand).

2. Place the salt/water mix in a re-sealable plastic bag, along with the hygrometer, and seal the bag. Note: make sure none of the salt/water mix comes in direct contact with the hygrometer.

3. Let this bag aside at room temperature for 8-12 hours, in a location where the temperature is fairly constant.

4. After 8-12 hours, check the reading of the hygrometer. It is best to read it while still in the bag.

The relative humidity in the sealed bag with the salt/water mix should be 75 percent.



The thermometers can be tested too, kind of:

I used a candy thermometer tested in boiling water and noted how far off 212 degrees it was...or whatever temp water boils at your altitude.
You can check your boiling temp at altitude here.
Then put the candy thermometer and 3 others in the incubator during the test run and compared them all, noting any differences.
I made a chart noting all temps and made notes about if this one reads this temp it is actually that temp.

 

[stew1]

I didnt know how to calabrate a hygrometer so that is vary usfull info thanks. Ill have to see if I can find a thermometer that will go to 212 or to 32 to have one calabrated but it probly wont be one that goes by tenths unless I go buy one. I really want to set some eggs but dont want to kill them even know I found some for 3 buck a dozen, they are just a barmyad mix (hinze 57 as I would call them) but want to have at least a 50% hatch rate for the first time, which I think should be fairly easy if things are set right. Ive hatched 100s of leopard gecko eggs with great results when I quit using the hovabators. Kinda susuprized ppl have good luck with them. I personaly would never use one again but cangrats to those who have had luck with them. It has been cheaper for me to convert friges into incubators and gives me extra room to put in 5 milk jugs of water for a heat sync, which I beleve makes them way more stable. Just my opinion, Thanks to all for the info!

 

[aart]

I didnt know how to calabrate a hygrometer so that is vary usfull info thanks. Ill have to see if I can find a thermometer that will go to 212 or to 32 to have one calabrated but it probly wont be one that goes by tenths unless I go buy one. I really want to set some eggs but dont want to kill them even know I found some for 3 buck a dozen, they are just a barmyad mix (hinze 57 as I would call them) but want to have at least a 50% hatch rate for the first time, which I think should be fairly easy if things are set right. Ive hatched 100s of leopard gecko eggs with great results when I quit using the hovabators. Kinda susuprized ppl have good luck with them. I personaly would never use one again but cangrats to those who have had luck with them. It has been cheaper for me to convert friges into incubators and gives me extra room to put in 5 milk jugs of water for a heat sync, which I beleve makes them way more stable. Just my opinion, Thanks to all for the info!

You probably can't actually 'calibrate' any thermometer or hygrometer as most household devices are non adjustable.

But you can 'test' them against a known and note any differences to apply when taking readings.

 

[Ridgerunner]

The calibration is knowing what adjustments to make to the readings. My thermometer reads one full degree low. So if I aim for 99.5, the reading I want is 98.5.

Another way to calibrate a thermometer that does not have freezing or boiling is to use a medical thermometer. Those are calibrated before you buy them. Since medical thermometers only read a high and don’t go back down, you have to be a bit careful, but you can see what the medical thermometer says and compare that to your other thermometer to see how it is reading. I’m thinking of the old mercury medical thermometers, the kind you have to shake down. I don’t know what type of medical thermometer may be on the market today. It’s been decades since I looked at the market for those.

 

[stew1]

Yeah I know I cant calabrate, I worded that wrong sorry. Now Im wondering about lockdown(its early for some in my parts and im board). I find it hard to beleive that a hen says ok day 18 Im not going to move, turn the eggs and im going to cranke the humidity up. So looking for evedence that supports this thought. Not trying to say its not true but dont quit understand it. Thanks

 

[Ridgerunner]

A hen cannot count. She has no idea when 18 days are up. But when a chick internal pips it starts talking to her and she starts talking back. The hen knows things have changed.

The main reason we use 18 days is that it is convenient. It’s not that unusual for eggs to hatch a day or more early, or late for that matter. The goal is to get the humidity up before the egg external pips. 18 days covers that in practically all cases. Some people have put hygrometers under broody hens. They can and do up the humidity when that first chick starts talking to them from inside the egg. That is not necessarily at 18 days.

Hens do not stop turning the eggs. It does not hurt the eggs to be turned. But they don’t need to be turned. You could actually stop turning the eggs at 14 days, but it is easy to stop turning when you go into lockdown.

The only thing really magic about the 18 days is that it is a convenient time to go into lockdown and will keep practically everyone out of trouble, whether the eggs are early or late.

 

[stew1]

ok that makes sense. I just turned the freezer part into a hatching bator. Just need to add a window. after doing some reading sounds like a good idea if I want to start another batch of eggs part way through another batch. I keep every thing I could ever see myself using around so its all been free so far. Now if I could fab up a egg turner I would be in business, lol. I'm sure I will buy one at some point but for now just going to use egg cartons and a prop block. I think I'm getting close to giving it a try. Thanks again you guys are great, better than some other forums I've been on.

 

[Ridgerunner]

There are different ways to make egg turners for homemade incubators. You need vent holes anyway so a couple of holes in it is not a big deal. One way would be to stick a rod through it from the side and firmly attach an egg carton to that along the long axis of the carton. Or short axis if you wish. Then just rotate the rod to turn the carton. I’d want a stop in it so I did not turn too far and dump the eggs.

I think the way I’d do it is to have two holes in the top and drop a rod through each hole. Attach those rods to the end of an egg carton, again firmly attached so it can’t rotate. You don’t want it turning over and dumping the eggs. Then just devise a way to raise and lower those rods and lock them in place.

I don’t have any links but there are several photos on here of how people have built their own turnings, some even automate them. Some of our members are pretty clever.

 

[stew1]

Yeah ive thought about a few ideas but would like it to be automatic so if get hung up at work it wouldn't get skipped of forgot about. On the other hand if its auto I could see myself forgetting about it and run into problems. I don't know, and my goal is to have a few hens go broody each year at some point. When I was a kid we had a few chickens that were totally free range and would produce chicks every year all on there own, I can remember the hens chasing my friends and I away when we got to close. lol Wish I knew what breed they were, actually I bet they were mixed. my grandmother would take any breed she could get. man I miss living out there. I feel my daughters are going to miss out on a lot living in town even though its a small town of 1000. maybe some day ill get them out of town.

 

[MeepBeep]

Some people have put hygrometers under broody hens. They can and do up the humidity when that first chick starts talking to them from inside the egg.

Note they do this by literally spitting/drooling on/around the eggs, so it's far from scientific or calibrated humidity control...