Thermometer confusion

[Ruralhideaway]

So I understand the need for double checking hygrometer and thermometers that are built into the incubator. I see the system to check the hygrometer using salt.

I'm reading lots but the answer escapes me. How to test against a "known correct" thermometer? Human glass mercury thermometer trustworthy? I'm sure I've just missed it but can't figure this out. I see people with 4 different answers from 4 devices, that would drive me crazy.

Is there a product that I should just buy and trust? If so which one?

Thanks for saving me future headaches!

 

[JaeG]

Medical thermometers are accurate so I'd use one of them to compare to. I used a digital one but the only drawback is that they have a very narrow range they will register.

 

[Rocky Rhodes]

http://incubatorwarehouse.com/incub...MItKqu_ZjY2QIViojICh3VGwdMEAkYAyABEgJQt_D_BwE
This is what I have been using for years, and I have really good hatches.

 

[Ruralhideaway]

Thank you! I'm getting closer to not confused.

 

[aart]

I used a digital one but the only drawback is that they have a very narrow range they will register.

But it's the same as the incubation range

This might help:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/testing-calibrating-incubator-thermometers.73634/

 

[Ruralhideaway]

Thanks that does. My takeaway is get an oral therm and move on with that. Seems reasonable to me.

 

[JaeG]

But it's the same as the incubation range

This might help:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/testing-calibrating-incubator-thermometers.73634/

I know - it just meant I had to get my water temperature within the correct range (which took a bit of trial and error), otherwise my digital medical one wouldn't do anything but blink at me.

 

[Ruralhideaway]

I nominate this as the most stressful element of incubation. Next to using the glitchy old still air foam bator I had years ago. Still had plenty of babies as I recall. Now that I'm getting a decent one hopefully it'll go ok. I won't have to nudge that dial daily anyway.

 

[aart]

I nominate this as the most stressful element of incubation

Definitely, because it's the base for most all the rest of it.
No confidence in therms leads to 21 days of second guessing.

Did a hatch for someone with their bator,
they had done 2 hatches with abysmal results.
I asked if they had tested the therm...got blank looks.
The therm was off by 5-8F...too low.
The turner also was jamming and eventually burned out the motor mid-incubation.

 

[Ruralhideaway]

Wow 5-8 degrees is terrible, no wonder it wasn't going well.