Which temp do I believe on the incubator?

[familypendragon]

I just bought my first incubator. I wanted a Hovabator Genesis with all the bells and whistles, but I could afford the Farm Innovator Pro 4200 http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/sto...-series-circulated-air-incubator?cm_vc=-10005 . I knew the thermostat would be questionable so I bought this hygrometer at Walmart today http://www.walmart.com/ip/AcuRite-Digital-Humidity-and-Temperature-Monitor/16888914

The bator came with a glass thermometer inside and a dial one on the outside that says "For Reference Only". I took the dial one apart and calibrated it to match the room temp/humidity displayed on the digital hygrometer so they would start at the same place and see what happened. I am warming it up for the first time right now. At first there was disparity between the digital and the dial. The dial seemed to register heat much faster. But now the digi reads 100 and the dial reads 101. The glass thermometer though reads 115! I actually expected "old school" tech to be pretty infallible - wow was I wrong! Surely one of the other two is actually more accurate right? So which one should be trusted?

Thanks for any input


ETA: OK, it got even weirder. I turned down the temp dial and the glass thermometer immediately began registering a drop, the dial a little more slowly, but the digi stayed at 108 for along time. It still said 104 when the others reached 100. So maybe the digi is crapola? Maybe the glass one actually IS more receptive/fast/accurate?? Maybe it really was 115 when it said it was? And the digi is reading 25% humidity while the dial is reading 35%?

ETA - again - Tossing the digi. I took it out and put it in front of the A/C and it took forever to register any change Now what...

 

[loveourbirds]

if you still have the package the digital one came in, look at the back. digital aren't any more accurate than mercury/alcohol thermometers most of the time. the one that came with your incubator was probably the most accurate. don't worry about the humidity to much, you can hatch with what you have.

fill the half the water troughs and remove one vent plug. run it like this for 18 days, only adding water when it dries out. don't let it stay dry for more than a couple hours. each day open the incubator for 15 minutes.

on day 18 stop turning, fill all water troughs and take out all the vent plugs. only open the incubator to add water if needed. if you do have to open it, mist the eggs with warm water (about 90-95 degrees Fahrenheit)

the chicks have enough nourishment to get by for about 3 days, if you have never hatched before it takes them a while to get out.
also a lot of people fail on a first hatch, don't get discouraged if it happens to you. think of yourself as the hen in nature - don't think of it as a science project, you will fail almost every time.

here is a link that explains when you should help hatch, and how to go about it.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/step-by-step-guide-to-assisted-hatching

last but not least, im here if you need me. feel free to send a PM if you get stuck.

 

[familypendragon]

Thanks so much for all that - 2 actually came with the bator and they don't agree :/ The glass one and the dial both came with it. The glass mercury one reads 102, the dial read 95. I am going to see if I can just get a meat thermometer or something tomorrow, LOL! Not that I have any way of knowing that it is right either...

 

[Lorien]

I would check for instructions from people who incubate in your area of Texas if possible. The humidity of the air is sufficient a lot of times and many people post more success with 'dry incubation' until lockdown. As far as calibrating the thermometers, I have read that a glass of ice water is the most accurate way to measure the correct temp. That being said, I have never used an incubator and am simply researching before I try it. Good luck! There are tons of knowledgeable people to help you here.

 

[loveourbirds]

I would check for instructions from people who incubate in your area of Texas if possible. The humidity of the air is sufficient a lot of times and many people post more success with 'dry incubation' until lockdown. As far as calibrating the thermometers, I have read that a glass of ice water is the most accurate way to measure the correct temp. That being said, I have never used an incubator and am simply researching before I try it. Good luck! There are tons of knowledgeable people to help you here.

keep in mind I'm in Ohio, the humidity is probably different. but i find in a house i never do good with dry incubation. for the numbers on humidity i do best when i run it 35-50% for the first 18 days allowing it to fluctuate. then on days 18-21 i run it at about 55-60% again i let it vary a little.

i say this a lot to newbie hatchaholics: a hen does not use a calendar, a thermometer, a hygrometer or a watch/clock. the ambient temperature when a hen is hatching can vary 50 degrees Fahrenheit or more. the first known "incubators" were basically large cave like structures in Egypt, the operators lived in the incubators more than likely and adjusted the temperature and humidity by feel.

i have a theory on the dry incubation, i think sallysunshine is the expert on it- but shes a busy woman don't PM her and expect a quick answer. my theory is: it works better in Styrofoam incubators simply because you don't get the bacterial buildup they are known for after several hatches. my theory on why it doesn't work (for me) indoors. i think with our propane heat in the winter and AC in the summer we dry the air out to much.

the instructions i gave above will allow someone to hatch without a hygrometer- people concentrate to much on humidity. that set of instructions if followed correctly will hold an acceptable range for a descent hatch rate- hatch some first then fine tune your methods. if you start with it as a science it will drive you nuts and you wont enjoy the process as much.

as far as the thermometers i don't know- you can get a calibrated one off of eBay. if you get an electronic thermometer, get one with a probe that goes inside and keep the electronics outside. humidity and electronics don't mix well. i myself prefer glass thermometers, you can see when they break and go bad, electronics can give false readings from bad batteries and you wont know until its to late.

 

[familypendragon]

The humidity in the house is hovering around 50% right now - so I think we are good there. I am going to try to get maybe a new digital and new glass thermometer today and try to find some kind of consensus... LOL! I will look up that ice water method and see what I am supposed to be looking for. Thanks so much to both of you!

 

[adiekaty]

Good Luck! Im on my first try to. yesterday was day 21!! So excited.. and nothing!! Freaking NOTHING! Ugh.. Hope things are better for me today. We wait and see.
Im in Katy, where r you located??
i have the little Giant with added egg turner from TSC. bought the digital thingy from walmart also.
Day 1-18 kept at 100 degrees and 55% humidity,
Day 18- currently 100 degrees and 60-70% humidity

There was never the same directions or instructions anywhere. So i just followed a friends advice, and sorta did the best i could.

I have 5 Frizzle eggs and 2 Serama eggs in the bator..

 

[familypendragon]

I am in the DFW area, near Decatur and Justin I am headed back to town in a minute to see about getting this one http://www.tractorsupply.com/product__10151_-1_10001_1442 in hopes it will be better - I have to get feed anyway, LOL! I think I may go get another basal body temp thermometer http://www.walmart.com/ip/Reli-On-60-Second-Basal-Thermometer/10161099 like I used when we were trying to get pregnant. It won't work to leave it in the bator but I could see which of my 3 others it matches if any, LOL! Or at least I can use it to calibrate. Just not sure I can make it to 2 stores with my crazy boys...

 

[familypendragon]

Bought both of the new ones, they agree with each other and none of the others are even close. I poked a hole in the center of the styrofoam on the bator and shoved the basal one down to almost egg level and just check once in a while to assure it agrees with the brooder one which I currently have sitting in the bator with my first eggs. Right now I have a bunch of mixed eggs from my free range flock. Will add the shipped Welsummer eggs when they arrive. I think I should be able to stagger the hatch that way. May look into making a box just for those on day 18 to keep the hatchers separated...

A new question - The brooder thermometer has a metal plate that it is attached to that gets hot. Right now its on the side without eggs. If I set that on top of the eggs will it harm them? Or will it be the same as Momma hen sitting on them?

 

[loveourbirds]

Bought both of the new ones, they agree with each other and none of the others are even close. I poked a hole in the center of the styrofoam on the bator and shoved the basal one down to almost egg level and just check once in a while to assure it agrees with the brooder one which I currently have sitting in the bator with my first eggs. Right now I have a bunch of mixed eggs from my free range flock. Will add the shipped Welsummer eggs when they arrive. I think I should be able to stagger the hatch that way. May look into making a box just for those on day 18 to keep the hatchers separated...

A new question - The brooder thermometer has a metal plate that it is attached to that gets hot. Right now its on the side without eggs. If I set that on top of the eggs will it harm them? Or will it be the same as Momma hen sitting on them?

it shouldn't be any hotter than the temperature in the incubator. you should be fine setting it on top.

why you never see the same set of directions, - there is no set instructions on incubation. just like when we as humans have kids, 9 months is normal: but im sure we all know someone who had one early or late.