Any issues with the humidity in the magic fly/Joneol incubator?

[Lori J]

This incubator has been used to Hatch 3 sets of eggs with a high hatch rate. Someone gave me an aquarium hygrometer, so I put it in the incubator this time around and it registers that the humidity levels are 60 to 65% in the first week! I read that it needs to be more like 40 or 50%. Since I had successful hatches in the past am I overthinking this? As in, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it? Or should I try to tweak it? Has anybody had any experience with this type of incubator and if so, any advice is welcome, even if it’s not related to this question!

 

[JaeG]

You can calibrate a hygrometer using these instructions as it may not be accurate:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...incubator-thermometers-and-hygrometers.73634/

Humidity can be affected by the little microclimate of where the incubator is set up so what works in one situation may not necessarily be best in a different situation.

Keep an eye on the air cells to ensure they are growing sufficiently. Here's a chart to compare your eggs to when you candle:

 

[Punkybrewster]

I run mine dry until day 18,19 then add a couple teaspoons of water to get it up to 60,65%.
Humidity in that is very sensitive. It goes up quickly with a small amount of water. Thats why i dont add any.

 

[Lori J]

I run mine dry until day 18,19 then add a couple teaspoons of water to get it up to 60,65%.
Humidity in that is very sensitive. It goes up quickly with a small amount of water. Thats why i dont add any.

Is that dry hatching?

 

[Lori J]

You can calibrate a hygrometer using these instructions as it may not be accurate:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...incubator-thermometers-and-hygrometers.73634/

Humidity can be affected by the little microclimate of where the incubator is set up so what works in one situation may not necessarily be best in a different situation.

Keep an eye on the air cells to ensure they are growing sufficiently. Here's a chart to compare your eggs to when you candle:
View attachment 2252692

Thank you! I will try to test my hygrometer. Do i just put wet sat on one side of the bag and hygrometer on the on the other... It says don’t let the hygrometer touch the Wet salt but it seems like it would drift together during the eight hours? How do I keep them separate...also is it a gallon size bag? Thank you again for your help

 

[JaeG]

Thank you! I will try to test my hygrometer. Do i just put wet sat on one side of the bag and hygrometer on the on the other... It says don’t let the hygrometer touch the Wet salt but it seems like it would drift together during the eight hours? How do I keep them separate...also is it a gallon size bag? Thank you again for your help

I don't work in gallons so I can't help you there sorry but I doubt the size of the bag matters too much. You could put something under the hygrometer end to elevate it and stop moisture getting to it.

 

[Punkybrewster]

Yes. That is called a "dry hatch".

I just call it "not adding water because humidity gets too high" hatch.

I only add water if it drops below 30%
But most importantly, watch the air cells. They will tell you what to do.

 

[Punkybrewster]

Put the salt mix in a cup, put cup in a big zip lock bag with hygrometer next to it.

Wait 8 hours to get an accurate reading.

 

[Lori J]

I don't work in gallons so I can't help you there sorry but I doubt the size of the bag matters too much. You could put something under the hygrometer end to elevate it and stop moisture getting to it.

Good idea! You’re supposed to add 100 ml of water to this incubator every two days. Well when I added the water, it said that it was between 60 and 70% humidity. The day to add the water the water was completely dry and it said that the humidity was at 30%. Maybe this hygrometer is correct in the incubator fluctuates wildly when it comes to humidity. But I will test the hygrometer just in case. It makes me wonder that the other few of times worked out so well hatching chicks.

 

[CaptainCupcake]

I put a mayonnaise jar lid in the bottom of mine that i fill with water every couple days, and that seems to keep it pretty consistent at about 30-40% vs when I just put water in the bottom, the humidity would drop pretty quickly.