Having problems with humidity level

I am incubating my first hatch. I am using a dickey (similar to GQF cabinet). I can't get the humidity high enough. Got the automatic water pan in top. Placed another small pan in bottom. I have it in my basement because the humidity is normally high down there. I'm at 44%. Not sure what I will do on day 18 when I need to raise it. Any suggestions?

Nobogez said:

I am incubating my first hatch. I am using a dickey (similar to GQF cabinet). I can't get the humidity high enough. Got the automatic water pan in top. Placed another small pan in bottom. I have it in my basement because the humidity is normally high down there. I'm at 44%. Not sure what I will do on day 18 when I need to raise it. Any suggestions?

Click to expand...

44% for now is good. Have you calibrated/checked your hygrometer to make sure that it is somewhat accurate. It could be a matter of the humidity being higher than you think. I use a couple of wet sponges in my bator at lockdown.

I thought of that, so I purchased a 2nd meter. I reads about 2% higher than the original. The 44% is based on the new meter.

Nobogez said:

I thought of that, so I purchased a 2nd meter. I reads about 2% higher than the original. The 44% is based on the new meter.

Click to expand...

Then I would try wet sponges in the bator at lockdown.

I'd also calibrate one of the hygrometer with a salt test.

Fill salt in a milk cap or larger sized container. Juice cap or what ever you got.

Add drops of water until the salt is wet sand consistency not a slurry.

Place both in a sandwich or quart zip seal bag with good amount of air sealed inside.

Wait 6 hours and note your reading, it should read 75%.

Write on tape the correction/calibration (75 minus your reading) and tape to hygrometer or incubator to remind you how far it's off. Example: If yours reads 85 then the calibration is -10. You'll always subtract 10 from your reading for accurate number.

44% is a decent humidity (I prefer 35%) for first 18 days. I'd calibrate the hygrometer to make sure.

Amylynn's suggestion of sponges will give good surface area and if need be you could even tack damp wash cloths to the wall to get the humidity up to 60% at lock down.

Egghead_Jr said:

44% is a decent humidity (I prefer 35%) for first 18 days. I'd calibrate the hygrometer to make sure.

Amylynn's suggestion of sponges will give good surface area and if need be you could even tack damp wash cloths to the wall to get the humidity up to 60% at lock down.

Click to expand...

I prefer 30/35% as well. I found these at my local dollar store a couple weeks back that I plan on trying for lockdown. I want to put them under the screen on the water wells.

Egghead_Jr said:

I'd also calibrate one of the hygrometer with a salt test.

Fill salt in a milk cap or larger sized container. Juice cap or what ever you got.

Add drops of water until the salt is wet sand consistency not a slurry.

Place both in a sandwich or quart zip seal bag with good amount of air sealed inside.

Wait 6 hours and note your reading, it should read 75%.

Write on tape the correction/calibration (75 minus your reading) and tape to hygrometer or incubator to remind you how far it's off. Example: If yours reads 85 then the calibration is -10. You'll always subtract 10 from your reading for accurate number.

Click to expand...

Do you think I would get accurate results if i just took the meter outside and got a reading and then checked the relative humidity on the weather page for my area? Just trying to figure out a quicker method than the 6 hour test. If I'm far off I would like to adjust ASAP

Nobogez said:

Do you think I would get accurate results if i just took the meter outside and got a reading and then checked the relative humidity on the weather page for my area? Just trying to figure out a quicker method than the 6 hour test. If I'm far off I would like to adjust ASAP

Click to expand...

If you are early in your incubation you've got time to adjust and even it out. Humidity is important overall as an average. A day or two too high or too low isn't going to compromise your hatch. Over the incubation period your eggs need to loose an "x" amount of moisture so the air cells will grow. Some people weigh their eggs to make sure that they are loosing enough moisture. I monitor my air cells. If at candling day 7 my air cells are not big enough I know I need to decrease my humidity and vice a versa. (I prefer dry incubation the first 17 days if the season lets me. This hatch I have to add a bit of water to get my 30%.)