HELP Incubator Thermometer Readings

[jberger10]

I am going to be getting some fertilized eggs on thursday and have built my own incubator. I am using water heater thermostat setup with a 100w bulb and two fans. I am running some tests to figure out what settings are going to give me the right setting and I put in 5 thermometers.

1) A digital springfield indoor/outdoor thermometer that has a probe that i have put inside a real egg that has been filled with dish soap
2) A round starbucks milk thermometer
3) A digital meat thermometer
4) A regular mercury thermometer
5) A digital springfield thermometer that displays humidity as well.

I recorded the different temps over the course of an hour and this is what I got.

8:00-
1) 100.2 F
2) 98 F
3) 100 F
4) 99 F
5) 99.6 F

8:15-
1) 100.2 F
2) 98 F
3) 97 F
4) 98 F
5) 95.3 F

8:40-
1) 100.2 F
2) 98 F
3) 100 F
4) 99 F
5) 96 F

9:00
1) 100.2 F
2) 98 F
3) 97 F
4) 98.5 F
5) 95 F

As I am typing this up #1 droped to 98.4 F for a second and then back up to 100.2 . I don't know if I can trust this thermometer. Any suggestions?

 

[Ridgerunner]

Some thermometers are more accurate than others. The one I got for incubation is supposed to be accurate to within 0.1 degree. I've heard that some of the ones used to tell outside are only accurate to within 1 or 2 degrees. It can get frustrating.

I'd suggest you calibrate your thermometers, at least the ones you can. I don't know of any way to really check them at 100 degrees, which is where you want to be. This link gives ways to check them at freezing and boiling, which is better than nothing.

http://www.foodservice.com/articles/show.cfm?contentid=4153&title=How To Calibrate A Thermometer

I will mention again that I really do understand first hand how frustrating thermometers can be.

Good luck!!!

 

[Redhead Hen]

I too have different thermometers reading different temps. I finally settled on the mercury thermometer, I had read that they are better than the digital ones. (I'm not sure about that though ... I have a digital one that is spot on!) I am ordering one that has both a temp and a humidity reading.

@ Ridgerunner ~ I really like that site! I have bookmarked it too!