Cabinet incubator

[dfchaser]

I am looking into building my own cabinet incubator. The thought is have 2-3 trays for incubation and 1 hatching tray so i can rotate eggs thru. Normally when you incubate there is a change in humidity that needs to take place, how would that work in such an incubator or would you remain at a constant level in the middle? This problem is really the only thing that is holding me back from beginning.

ideas?

 

[Dani27]

We have a cabinet incubator and use the fourth tray for hatching and just up the humidity all the way around and everything is fine for hatching plus the other three trays that are still incubating.

 

[littledel]

Hey when you figure out how your going to do this post it. I am thinking of doing the same thing with either a fridge or making a cabinet one. thanks

 

[Buck77]

I raise the humidity during hatch to 60-65% then drop it back down to 35% for the next few days. So you get about half the time at each humidity level for the eggs that are incubating. It works well for me.

 

[Daidohead]

From the posts I have found it looks like the maximum suggested humidity level for incubating is close to the minimum suggested humidity level for hatch. I was going to do a staggered hatch last month and had planned on upping the humidity to the minimum hatch level for the couple days it may take for the chicks to hatch. I ended up not having to do the staggered hatch, but that was my plan.

 

[dfchaser]

Quote:
What is the best way to up the humidity entirely in that short period of time and then get it back down?

 

[Daidohead]

Increase the surface area of your water and you will increase your humidity. More pans of water, sponges in the pans you have.

 

[dfchaser]

Quote:
So i should get my incubation humidity pan and then figure out how to increase it. So for example, 1 pan will keep my humidity at 40%, two will bump it to 80% so after hatch period simply remove the second pan!

In theory this idea will work. Obviously need to get some tests done to determine the correct pans. hum . . .

 

[Daidohead]

In my incubator I have a 3" x 5" plastic container for incubating and I get 35% - 45%, I add another container the same size for hatching and it bumps humidity up to 65% - 75%. When my chicks start hatching it bumps up again to 80% + , I just vent it by opening the lid every so often. lots of trial and error with homemades.

 

[kennedyscochins]

I don't know if this is an old thread or not, but my question is what humidity should you keep it at if you have staggered hatches and the hatching tray at the bottom?