I just use a cheap Amazon one. I use it to give a relative measure, and am lucky enough to have loads of well aged logs so not in a rush to use them.

You can always calibrate it by measuring the weight loss after drying a log in your oven, which will give you a dry reading.

I just knock logs together, if they make a nice knocking sound, rather than a thud, I chuck them in the burner.

You can tell by look and feel generally, and if that fails put one on the fire and you will soon find out.

I think January this year is too soon IMO