Thermometer help...

[SterlingAcres]

Okay, so I ran out to Lowe's this morning and grabbed a cheap accurite thermometer/hydrometer. While I was looking at it, I noticed they had a nice digital read out one too, so I grabbed that as well (I didn't see them offered online). Now the bator's up and running again, but the humidity reading on both is 10% difference. What should I do? I don't know which one is accurate.... HELP I've got eggs coming today or tomorrow.

God... only me. I swear.

 

[Three Cedars Silkies]

Give it some time to equilibrate. My hygrometer readings are 6-8% different but I dry incubate ( https://www.backyardchickens.com/LC-DryIncubation.html ) so I only pay attention to the lowest one if it gets below 25%.

 

[penelope77]

hey oldtimegator that is great info. i've wondered about the dry incubation but hadn't found anything i really understand perfectly. i might try that next time.

 

[Farmer Kitty]

Calabrating hydrometer-from Speckledhen.

1. You can calibrate a hydrometer by mixing in a bowl 1/2 cup of salt in 1/4 cup water. Actually a couple TBSP of salt moistened with water is enough.
2.Place bowl inside a zip lock baggie with your hydrometer. After at least 8 hours, your hygrometer should read 75%.
3. If it says, for example 80% you know that it is reading 5% to high and then you can make adjustments in your readings

To check thermometer accuracy:
Eggseronious wrote: Get a quart of ice and crush it or use a blender make an ice water mix put the thermometer down in about 2 inches and sit for 4-5 minutes should read 32* degrees make sure its a thick slush of ice water.

 

[Solsken Farm]

Quote:
This is really helpful!

My hyrgrometer/thermometer was off for several hours and I was freaking out. By morning it was reading fine.....

Not only you! At least you tried it out before you put your eggs in! I waited until day 4.

I couldn't decide which one to get and kept procrastinating...... oy.

 

[SterlingAcres]

Well a few hours later and they're both reading within 1 degree of each other in temperature and humidity.
Thanks FK for posting the calibrating directions again, I couldn't find it to save my life.

horsegirl, I'm really bad with procrastination with everything besides incubation.

The last hatch, I made sure my incubator was running stable a week and half before I got the eggs in it.

 

[Farmer Kitty]

Quote:
If you go looking for them again, try to remember my misc. info page. I have it posted there as well as a lot of other info.