Tenperature change in incubator? & humidity?

I have my incubator set up with my eggs in it in a smaller spare bedroom. I just put them in there yesterday evening and I've been closely monitoring just because my incubator hasn't been used in a while, been through two moves and want to make sure everything remains functional. So anyway, I keep that door closed at all times but notice when I open the door there is an immediate .2-.3 temperature change?! Should I be worried?
Reason why I chose this room because my only other option was another spare bedroom near my laundry room with furnace included in that room so constant temperature flunctuations I knew wasn't good and wanted a room where no one uses. Would you just leave the door open to the room that the incubator is in now at all times so it's more consistent or? Doesn't help we have floor fans going through the house either.
I'm trying dry incubation method right now as well and it's staying between 25-33% so far, do you all add a teaspoon of water if it gets below 25%? If yes/no, why or why not?

Thanks!!

Kelly, I find that the easiest way to maintain humidity in my home made styrofoam bator is with a 1 x 3" piece of sponge set in a little cup of water. It's super easy to just add some water to the bottom of the cup. I use a length of aquarium tubing attached to a syringe, and stick that through a hole in the bator top, run the tubing right into the cup, so no spills, and no opening needed! That size seems to keep the humidity just right, but I incubate when I'm also using wood heat which = super dry house! Have you calibrated your thermometer and hygrometer? Even if you've used them before, it's a good idea to calibrate every hatching season. Yeah, I try to keep mine between 25 - 40%, but don't sweat it if it drops down to 11% overnight. It's the average and the size of the air cells that you need to watch during the incubation phase.

lazy gardener said:

Kelly, I find that the easiest way to maintain humidity in my home made styrofoam bator is with a 1 x 3" piece of sponge set in a little cup of water. It's super easy to just add some water to the bottom of the cup. I use a length of aquarium tubing attached to a syringe, and stick that through a hole in the bator top, run the tubing right into the cup, so no spills, and no opening needed! That size seems to keep the humidity just right, but I incubate when I'm also using wood heat which = super dry house! Have you calibrated your thermometer and hygrometer? Even if you've used them before, it's a good idea to calibrate every hatching season. Yeah, I try to keep mine between 25 - 40%, but don't sweat it if it drops down to 11% overnight. It's the average and the size of the air cells that you need to watch during the incubation phase.

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Great Information, and I like the NOT opening to add since I have had an issue with this in the past and had some sticky chicks :/... I haven't incubated in quite some time and been trying to read. When do you normally open/close the ventilation plug?

noahsmom said:

Great Information, and I like the NOT opening to add since I have had an issue with this in the past and had some sticky chicks :/... I haven't incubated in quite some time and been trying to read. When do you normally open/close the ventilation plug?

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I don't have any plugs. It's a home made styro-bator with fan and thermostat. I added extra ventilation to it to help stabalize temps throughout the box. a sharp pencil does the job quite nicely! If I want to block flow, a piece of tape over a hole suffices. There is some research out there that SUGGESTS that restricted O2 during first 10 days makes for stronger chicks. But, IMO, while the research supports that, I'll follow the idea that more O2 is better than less! If you haven't recently, read Hatching Eggs 101 in the learning center. I do a refresher before every hatch.

Thank you! I took my plug out and kept the door open to that room because it seemed to be causing issues every time I opened the door to drop the temp and humidity. Everything has been steady and humidity has stayed right around 30% a few degrees above or below it, I haven't had to add any water just yet. I check for development today !

lazy gardener said:

I don't have any plugs.  It's a home made styro-bator with fan and thermostat.  I added extra ventilation to it to help stabalize temps throughout the box.  a sharp pencil does the job quite nicely!  If I want to block flow, a piece of tape over a hole suffices.  There is some research out there that SUGGESTS that restricted O2 during first 10 days makes for stronger chicks.  But, IMO, while the research supports that, I'll follow the idea that more O2 is better than less!   If you haven't recently, read Hatching Eggs 101 in the learning center.  I do a refresher before every hatch.

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I am in the process of making a styrofoam incubator any chance u came show me pics of it's because the one I'm making doesn't call for a fan. Also do u turn ur eggs?

Your best bet is to do a thread search for home made incubators. You could also look for videos by Rush Lane Poultry. I hand turn them, either laying flat, or tilt in cartons.