Hygrometer, thermometer questions.

[veggiecanner]

I reordered my incubator last night.
It has a digital read out. But am I right that I need a seperate Hygrometer and, thermometer.
Which kind is best. I have a thing about any thing that uses batteries. But was told the battery ones are more accurate.
the ones that just sit inside the incubator (no battery) look like they will last longer.
what type do you find works better?

 

[ddpbk1]

I use digital but most people have 2-3 thermometers in the incubator.

 

[veggiecanner]

Why so many? Is there a formula to figure out how many per square inch/ foot inside of the incubator?

 

[ddpbk1]

Its up to you but try the incubators anonymous thread for more advice. Its a great group of helpful people.

 

[James the Bald]

Why so many? Is there a formula to figure out how many per square inch/ foot inside of the incubator?

Nothing scientific. It's important to know the temperature. The idea (or purpose) of having more than one is to ensure accuracy. My first hatch, I had 2 thermometers, one of them being a digital thermometer/hydrometer, and several times, neither of them read the same temperature. It was hard for me to know if I was 99.5 or 101.5. After the hatch, I went out and purchased 2 identical thermometers from Tractor Supply Company. After doing several test runs with my incubator, all 3 of them read the same, and I threw the one thermometer that gave false readings into the trash. On my last hatch, when I checked the temps, all 3 read the same temperature, so there was no "guessing" what the temperature was.

 

[Oldskunk]

Veggie;

Something you may not know about.
I have incubated eggs for 50 years. Starting out we used hens. Amazing observations.
They know what they are doing. They rise off the eggs, go popo, take a drink, quickly grab some food, and rush back to the nest.
Wonderful hatch, wonderful mother.

Now we are the mother hen with our minds often in wonderment. What do I do with the eggs, will my incubator work, how hot , how, how.

Our early incubators were mostly still air like a hen. Turning the eggs was ours to do and try our best to heat at 99.5 degrees F.
Most of us learned by experience. We never forgot the hen though. She turns the eggs with her beak barely rising off the nest, but she turns around and her feet do some turning. She moves the outside eggs in to the center. Amazing that she knows where the hot spot is.
It was important for us to blanket our incubators as they were mostly tin. We had no forced air heating and depended on a wood stove.
The wafer thermostats were often touchy. We used thermometers to spot check.

Surprisingly we did well on most hatches.

Now we are in the 20th century. Our incubators have a computerized board. Most are top notch if you do not mess with them.

I do not use a thermometer as I have learned to trust. The test is this. If you have a new incubator start it up and set according to instructions. Use hen eggs first try, record date, wait 18 days and then place in the hatcher. First pip should be on the 21st. day less
8 hours. Leave them to 21 days plus 8 hours. If all hatched on time you record it. If late you increase heat by a couple of points.
Early you decrease the same.

The big issue here is that the sensors and controllers these days are programmed to work together.
There is an internal egg temperature and an outer temperature.
My incubators are digital and if I use a thermometer it will show as follows.
I have hatched over 1,200 eggs this spring and never touch my settings.

Set temp. 38.6 C 99.5 F ( I think) Ha
Thermometer will read 36.9 and 97.8

So what would you do?
Remember the hen. She never plays with the eggs, she is consistent, she is a pro.
I can tell you and so will many others that to much fuss leads to trouble.

There is one thing that amazes many of us old timers.
On about the 18 th. day a hen will get off the nest for a prolonged time. Depending on weather conditions.
Why ? It is being studied in some of our universities.

Oldskunk

 

[veggiecanner]

Couldn't agree with you concept more.
And I have some hens eggs ready for the incubato just like you said.
Great minds think alike, or so they say!