Cannot control humidity in incubator

[nat.thomas]

Apologies if this has already been asked and answered but I am new to here.
I have a small, simple incubator (polystyrene box with light, fan and vent holes.
The way I am humdifying it is via a ramekin filled with warm water which gets the humidity to 60-65% with some vents taped over but it isn't constant and when it comes to hatching I cannot increase the surface area or humidity as I have to open up the vents for more ventilation.
I don't really want to spend out on a humidity controller at £70.

Any ideas??? Can you make a homemade humidity controller???

Thanks

 

[kathyinmo]

Can you put in a sponge soaked with water, or even a paper towel? Sorry, I do not know what a ramekin is.

By the way ...

 

[HBuehler]

try using a wet sponge-I never lock down without at least one in there and usually a second that I can get wet if needed.Also a small dish of water works.I wouldn't cover any vent holes they all need to be open or the chicks wont get enough oxygen and die.

 

[Jarhead]

I use a Mexican (saltillo) tile in the bottom of the bator. It is a type of unglazed tile made handmade and sun dried from natural clay. It will suck up water and it releases it slowly. When wet it keeps my humidity right at 80% regardless of what the ambient humidity is in the room. It also acts as a heat sink. All you have to do is wet it like you would a sponge. It just seems to let go of the water more slowly, so I like it better.

 

[Germaine_11.20]

I place my sponge directly below the venting hole so that I can squeeze warm water in there. The sponge absorbs the water and hydrates the air.

I like jarheads idea. Where do you get one of those?

 

[Jarhead]

Probably harder to find up your way. The Saltillo tiles are made in Mexico and are very heavily used in the Southwest US. I have a hard time finding them here locally, but I got a load of them in Texas and brought them back for our house remodel. They look awesome in the house. I just had extra, so I tried it in the incubator one day and it works great. When I lived in Florida Lowes sold them. You can buy them online and have them shipped, but as with anything heavy shipping gets expensive.

Here is some info and pics on this website:
http://www.saltillotileconnection.com/saltillo/

 

[sojono]

i got them at homedepo.

 

[Germaine_11.20]

Going to Home Depot today! Thank you!

 

[ChooksChick]

I fold paper towels into long strips and bend them into the little channels and fill them with water so they wick up the water. I then put strips of paper towels all along the edges of the wire bottom, leaving the middle open for ventilation. I wad a couple of paper towels into balls and put one under each big vent hole so I can pour water through the holes as they dry out. I find this much better for surface area of moisture release.

I use a little funnel to pour water in, and it works pretty well- I can go through a lot of water, too- it's pretty dry in our house.

 

[mulia24]

if you want you can make it, but it's difficult for many people (include me)

.

(analog) hygrometer is a *very simple* equipment that use hair (yes,really hair from human, now all use synthesize hair ) that will turn to left/right to show humidity when you *stack* it and put it properly on floor. that's why we can make our own hygrometer, but very complicated to know exact humid.

the digital one is using censor just like thermometer.

so if you want to make a hygrocontroller, attach *switch* to hygrometer and set it so they work like what you want. and for me it's very complicated.

to raise humidity up, use a cloth/sponge filled with warm water, you'll find humidity increase very quick especially when use hot water (with risk increasing temp too)

to absorb humidity use silica, round ball-like colored thing that is very2 cheap and work very good in absorbing humidity.

and 1 more thing, never tap the vents, the embryos need *breathing*.