Condensation on Incubator Window...Is it Bad??

[ChicknCharm]

Hello! I've read a few posts where folks hatching were upset because there was condensation on an incubator window. We are going into lock down in a very dry ,high altitude area. I put in our new water resevoir to get the humidity up to 70%. We have a mini-cabinet incubator going right now, it is a test. The eggs have candled well (I think), now we do have condensation on the window a few hours after putting in the larger water container. Am I overdoing humidity? I do not quite understand why condensation may be bad. We have condensation on our house windows when we wake up in the morning, too. THANKS for letting me know.

 

[enola]

Yes, too much humidity. You will only need 50-60% humidity. My hatches usually do well at around 50%.

 

[debilorrah]

If you add hot water at lockdown it is going to cause condensation. 70%, IMHO is too high, I drown some bantys last hatch with a high humidity like that. This hatch I am trying 60%..... Good luck!!!

ETA: I live in the Mojave Desert - VERY dry here.

 

[Ms.FuzzyButts]

I don't think there is anything you can do about condensation. But it wont hurt anything. Every bator I've had does it. And my house windows too!!

 

[Tala]

Does your incubator have extra vent holes to open for the hatch??

I put mine to about 60-65% for the lockdown/hatch, but as soon as the chicks start zipping they ADD more humidity --- it got up to about 75% for a lot of the hatches.

If yours was already running high, I fear your later-hatching chicks might drown as soon as the extra huimidity is added. If you have vent holes, open them up a little and try to reduce the humidity slightly.

 

[ChicknCharm]

Thanks, Everybody! I did use hot water so the condensation is down a little bit. I am going to use a smaller water container and try to get it at about 60-65%. Does that sound right? We are just so dry here, that I am scared to wake up to 40% or something. Yeah! What fun to have chicken loving friends up so late.

 

[debilorrah]

Quote:
Even if you wake up to low humidity, if there are no pips you can open the bator and add sponges. It will be fine!

 

[Tala]

Quote:
That did happen to me, one of my sponges dried out overnight, but thankfully it was before the pips started.
I put the sponge below a vent hole though, and just added water to it through the vent hole with a drinking straw and maranade injector syringe.

 

[ChicknCharm]

THANK YOU! So, when the first pip comes...I sleep no more. Our last hatch in a borrowed LG was awful. Two fully grown chicks, absorbed yolk, just did not get out. I put the first pip under our broody hen as she successfully hatched the pip before, but the second never wiggled out. Then on day 24, I found one had pipped in the night...I was too late to help. NOT THIS TIME.

 

[serama00newbie]

My Bator reads 64% and I'm in lockdown.... No pips yet.... But my windows are 1/3 of the way fogged up..... Should I take my sponge out???