Which to I use

[rancher hicks]

I have two thermometers in the incu side by side and they are two degrees off. They go up to (a)103/(b)101 . The light goes out. Temp drops to 101/100 and light comes on. Temp continues to drop to 100/98. Temp goes up again to 103/101. light goes out temp drops 101/100. Light comes on temp continues to drop to 100/98.
How can they vary that much. What should I do?

Humidity will be between 35 and 45 for first 18 days right?

 

[flower]

Oh go to the art museum or learn how to knit or sew. I MEAN honestly ? AND What are you saying here ? And why am i responding to your post ?

 

[lemurchaser]

Do you have a water wiggler (or you can make one out of a ziploc bag). I would measure the temps inside that, after its been in there a few hours. Measure it with a medical oral/rectal thermometer, and see which of your thermometers is right to keep the water wiggler at 99.5. You want the temp inside the egg to be 99.5 and that's all that really matters, at least as far as temps go.

 

[Germaine_11.20]

Thermometers do vary depending on quality. As long as it is staying around 99.5 to 101 you don't have to worry too much. The light is going on because the temperatures are cooling off and it needs to heat back up. The light is an indicator of that.
Best thing is to buy a quality thermometer. I like the spot check. I think (?) Cutlers Supply but you can do a search online and find one. They are great. I have two and they are almost always within .5 degrees of each other.
Right on with the humidity. I prefer about 30 but everyone has their own thoughts on that.
And I am responding because I have been where you are and I understand.

 

[Chipper]

If your heating unit is the wafer type,it is normal for the temp. to vary a few degrees when it kicks on and off.It sounds like you are in the range you need to be so,I would not worry.You will not be able to keep temp. or humidity perfect all the time.Good Luck with your hatch.

 

[Intheswamp]

Quote:
Er..., I had no trouble understanding the point of rancher hicks' questions...and I'm not real bright. rancher hicks probably does know how to knit and sew....wish I did.

rancher hicks, the household thermometers that are used a lot in incubators are known for their non-precision, but they need to be compared/calibrated with a known precise thermometer like a medical thermometer. Here's a cut-n-paste of a post I just made on another thread...

Set a small cup of water in the incubator for a couple of hours...it's just got to be big enough to hold a little water. Once the cup of water has come up to the incubator's ambient temperature and before removing the top of the incubator take notes of the temperatures of your other thermometers. Next, quickly open the incubator and take the temperature of the cup of water with the medical thermometer. Compare this reading with your other thermometers and you should see how far off they might be.

Remember, both of your thermometers are reading differently...and both could be "off". Checking against a more precise thermometer will let you know where things are really at. I would do this for every incubation being as the household digital thermometers are not designed for the warm humid environment of the incubator and can "change".

Best wishes,
Ed

 

[rancher hicks]

Thanks to those who answered w/ advice. My last hatch was really bad. I got 2 chicks and threw out over 20 many died while pipping, but I refuse to give up.

And as a matter of fact I can knit, crochet, hang sheetrock and finish it and paint it, trim your doors and windows. I can fix your plumbing and replace your ceiling fixtures and plant a decent garden to feed you when winter comes. What I can't do is get a good hatch out of this Hova-bator. Oh and I can't sew but my wife can and make wedding cakes and smock and cook and clean. The best thing she does? She puts up with me!

Thanks again.