Styrofoam incubator humidity question?

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dani2

dani2

In the Brooder
11 Years
Apr 25, 2008
83
2
41
Hi,

I purchased a basic styrofoam incubator yesterday and I have a question as far as how to increase humidity during the last part of the incubation period. There are spots to fill with water but the directions dont say much of anything about how to increase or decrease humidity. So far with all the spots filled that you are supposed to add water to we are still not even reaching 60 percent. The other larger incubator we have going has four large spots underneath the mesh wire so you can fill one or more compartments if you need more humidity. Also what is the best temperature to maintain in the styrofoam incubator it does not have a fan like our other one and I was told 101 was recommended for this type? Thanks in advance for the help
smile.png
Nicki
 
All I can tell you is fill all the spots with water and add a wet sponge or wash cloth. I have a fish tank air hose that is were I can add water as needed.With out opening it up.
On your temp I think thats right .
Best of luck
 
All you need for adding water without opening up the bator is a piece of 3/8" tygon tubing. You can buy it at a hardware store or maybe even walmart. I put it in the big air hole(little giant) and use a syringe to squirt warm water in. Take it out when not in use. You have to work with it to get it aimed right.
 
A styrofoam still-air incubator should be run at 101.5 F (measured level with the tops of the eggs) and the humidity should be about 50% during primary incubation, which should be easily reached if you just fill the reservoirs in the bottom. You can add a wet sponge or sock just before hatch to bring the humidity up to 65-70%. Different people use different ideal humidities. These are the humidity levels recommended by Mississippi State University. And they've always worked well for me. I've been hatching eggs for a lot of years (15+ with incubators, more than that with broody hens). I have three incubators, and one is a very old LG still air that still works.
 
My son made a Styrofoam incubator from a heavy Styrofoam box. We have tried a small bulb a 40 and a 25 both are running too hot. So we changed the socket to a regular bulb size and got a 15 watt. It is running at 97 to 95. He has worked so hard and cannot get the temperature right. Any suggestions? He is wanting to hatch quail and duck eggs. He has the little computer fan in there and a container of water. We just can't get the heat right. Would rocks help?? we just need a few degrees hotter. THe 40 watt gave us 135..not good. THe box is large.
THank you
JJ
 
Being new at incubation I see a lot of people who use the tubing to add water, but why is opening the bator avoided? I know a mother gets off her eggs to eat, drink, etc. which would result in a short temperature drop so wouldn't opening the bator be like the mother hopping off the eggs for a minute or so?
 
The only time I hesitate to open the incubator for any reason is when a chick is actively hatching. The drop in humidity can be a real hazard to a chick exposed to the open air, but still confined to its shell. Otherwise, temporary drops in heat and humidity are acceptable, and occur frequently in natural incubating situations.

banana-jana, what about christmas lights? My dad uses them to warm up his started seeds so they will sprout. Using a strand of conventional christmas lights in addition to the small bulb may bring it up to the desired temperature.
 

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