Quick question for all of you incubation experts. I'm on my first hatch with a homemade incubator, using the 22 amp GQP Wafer Thermostat for Incubator. I am using an Accurite thermometer/hygrometer (just a cheapo from Walmart, I think). My humidity is great, using just a small Tupperware of water. My eggs are on day 9, and all moving and looking good with good air cells. Now, my thermometer, which shows 24 hour highs and lows, as well as current, is really challenging my control freak tendencies.The high is 102, low is 97. I watched it cycle up and then back down and up again, it spends most of its time on 99/100. Now, my husband, an HVAC professional, says this is totally normal and that you will not get a perfectly steady temp in a forced air environment, but that the AVERAGE is what matters. In "non-HVAC speak", I think what he is telling me is my thermometer is TOO good and catching all the subtle fluctuations, and that's what is messing me up. He watches thermometers all day. But he doesn't hatch chicks. He said we can get a digital thermostat that will keep it at a .5 degree differential (cycling on and off continuously, I'm guessing), but it's gonna be hell expensive.
So how am I doing, oh wise ones? The chicks seem happy. Should I stop worrying about it? Should I buy some cheapo thermometers that don't show highs and lows and put them in there for peace of mind for my simplified brain so I don't go crazy? Or should I go buy air cell and active babies? Or is there some way to dial in the wafer thermostat more for a lower differential? I know some on here use the Wafer - help me, please!
Grab some cheap ones and stick 'em in, if it helps your mental stability. I think what you've described sounds fine, tho, and active babies are good!
Edit: an internal temp monitor sounds best. Instructions are in the notes.... Lemme go grab them.
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My meat thermo I think is off of my hygro/thermo by a couple degrees, and the hygro/thermo agrees with the hubby's high tech work thermometer. So I should consider that difference, too, right? And how long should I give it to find the temp, probably at least a couple days to warm up, huh?
