Im starting to hate thermometers/hygrometers.

[halo]

I have 2 Accurite hygrometers and one Timex with the probe. I put them all on my desk today to compare them with my house thermostat, which is at 72. All 4 ended up different. The little thermometer that came with the incubator is 4 degrees higher, at 76, so I put it back in the incubator with that expectation. One of the Accurites was close at 73.3, one wasnt even close at 75.6, and the Timex, which has 2 numbers for inside and outside readings, was 74.3 and 75. The hygrometer readings were all over the place, the range being 8 degrees for all of them.

So what do I do? Throw them all out and wing it?

 

[LoneCowboy]

Can't trust your home thermostat either. What I did was take a couple of medical thermometers, and I took the temp inside the water wiggler. Both medical thermometers said the same, and my Dr. gave me one of them saying it was especially correct, and not to trust the others. So I took the temp inside the WW and compared it to my probe, and I add the .7 that it's off to the reading.

Really, I feel your pain. You just can't trust anything anymore. I finally spend $27 at the cigar store to try to get something more accurate

 

[DrakeMaiden]

You can calibrate your hygrometer with table salt in a plastic bag. I forget the details . . . maybe search here or on the web.

An average of all your temp readings is probably very close to actual temperature, or at least close enough (they may hatch a little early or a little late depending).

 

[halo]

Ok, I took a deep breath (and drank a beer), went outside to feed the horses, came back in and this is what I found.

Inside the incubator:

Plastic worthless therm. - 103
Accurite - 99 Deg, 57% humid.

Outside the incubator

Accurite - 71 degrees room temp, room humid. 53
Timex with probe- 71.8 room temp, room humid 61, probe temp in inc. 98.8

House thermostat- 72

I think the Timex is still creeping up, so I think I can live with these numbers. I really dont want to get a water wiggler unless its something I just cant live without, as Im going to need all the room I can get.

I may go get a medical thermometer, and might break down and get a wiggler, too, if I can find one without too much effort.

How DO these hens do it? Thanks for listening to me moan and groan.....if these eggs hatch, it will be a miracle. And this is only day 2...

 

[DrakeMaiden]

It drove me totally nuts too. I figure if you are aware enough to worry so much, you are going to do a fine job!

 

[LoneCowboy]

Water wiggler can be found at Walmart, in the junk toy isle, in a net bag. They cost 88 cents. If you can't find one, I'll mail one to you.

 

[halo]

Hahahah....the scary part isnt finding the water wiggler, its going to Walmart! I never get out of there alive. Fortunately the closest one to me is about 20 miles away, so I have to plan the trip. Maybe Ill plan a trip Sunday morning.

 

[Poison Ivy]

Hey Halo if you want one stop by my house tomorrow or sunday I have a extra one you can have. I'm near Anthony. PM me for directions if you want.

 

[halo]

Im still hating these things. Today I picked up a medical thermometer...took my temp, yep, Im normal...well, temperature-wise anyway. So my Accurite in the inc. reads 99, my Timex with the probe reads 97.8. I put the thermometer in there for 3 mins.....reads 103. That can't be right. I take it out, shake it down, put it back in.....103.

How in the he** can I have 3 different thermometers, 3 different makes, in the same spot in the incubator, read 97.8, 99, and 103????? And I know everyone says get a water wiggler, but what good is that if I dont know if the thermometer is correct?

grrrrrrr.....

 

[LoneCowboy]

The probe on a thermometer is usually pretty accurate. Mine is only off .7