AmazingRachel
Songster
Hi all,
I'm hatching chicks for my 4-H Embryology Project. I've got a (used) Hovabator 1602N with a fan and 32 eggs with a Little Giant automatic egg turner. I read the instructions that you're supposed to fill the center trough for the first 18 days and then the next outer one for the final 3.
I've read that it is supposed to be at ~60% humidity for the first 18 days. The center trough is filled with warm water and the incubator is keeping at a steady 100 degrees (the Hovabator cycles between 98.5-101.5), but I have two digital hydrometers that are reading about 50% relative humidity.
I've read (here: http://incubatorwarehouse.com/getting-started-egg-incubating) that the humidity can be anywhere from 25%-60% for the first 18 days. I've also found threads on here that have their humidity at 35-40% with good hatching results.
Is the 50% humidity in my incubator ok?
Also, I attempted to make a wet bulb thermometer but it steadily said that it was 75% humidity. It had a thick metal casing, could that have anything to due with the false reading (http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/producers-pride-brooder-thermometer)?
I made a wet bulb thermometer last year where the thermometer was against a thin sheet of plastic (came with the hovabator) and I got accurate readings.
I'm hatching chicks for my 4-H Embryology Project. I've got a (used) Hovabator 1602N with a fan and 32 eggs with a Little Giant automatic egg turner. I read the instructions that you're supposed to fill the center trough for the first 18 days and then the next outer one for the final 3.
I've read that it is supposed to be at ~60% humidity for the first 18 days. The center trough is filled with warm water and the incubator is keeping at a steady 100 degrees (the Hovabator cycles between 98.5-101.5), but I have two digital hydrometers that are reading about 50% relative humidity.
I've read (here: http://incubatorwarehouse.com/getting-started-egg-incubating) that the humidity can be anywhere from 25%-60% for the first 18 days. I've also found threads on here that have their humidity at 35-40% with good hatching results.
Is the 50% humidity in my incubator ok?
Also, I attempted to make a wet bulb thermometer but it steadily said that it was 75% humidity. It had a thick metal casing, could that have anything to due with the false reading (http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/producers-pride-brooder-thermometer)?
I made a wet bulb thermometer last year where the thermometer was against a thin sheet of plastic (came with the hovabator) and I got accurate readings.