Can't Regulate Humidity

[Schroeder]

I've been running the incubator for a week in anticipation of my first ever coturnix eggs next Tuesday or Wednesday. I have a Little Giant w/fan and turner. I just can't get the humidity to stay within a narrow range. I completely filled the slots in the bottom with water. The humidity reached 59% but within 24 hours it drops to 42%. (I have a digital hygrometer that I set using the salt water in the bag method.)

It seems I will need to add water every 12 hours or so to keep the humidity up. I'd rather not have to open the bator that often but I find it diffcult to get the slots filled correctly running a tube through the air hole in the top. Which is better, to open the bator often, or to let the humidity dip to the lower 40's or upper 30's? This weekend I'll try putting a sponge in there to try to get the humidity closer to 60%, but I'm expecting the same problem in maintaing the humidity within a narrow range.

 

[Sillystunt]

i run mine 40ish then 60ish for lockdown.

 

[chicmom]

I've never heard of setting a digital hygrometer like that.......I just press the on button and it works. Do you have all the vents plugged? I have a Hova Bator 1588, and I have to add water to it at least once every other day. I'm sure you know that it's the surface area of the water, and not the depth that counts....adding a very wet sponge would probably help. Wet bounty paper towels reallyhelp too. Very wet ones.

Maybe your hygrometer isn't really working properly.....

Sorry I really couldn't be of better help,
Sharon

 

[shelleyb1969]

Sponges work GREAT!

 

[JJMR794]

USE a wet maxi pad or disposeable diaper to increase humidity.They are disposebale and hold more water than sponges- this means less opening of the bator to re-wet. you may need to use 2 during lockdown... Also you may need to plug 1 of your holes. For gamebirds 45-55 humidity until lockdown, then as high as you can get it from there.... at least 70%. If using a forced air bator for hatching closely observe the pipped eggs as the constant moving air may "shrink wrap" the slow hatchers and kill them.

 

[Schroeder]

Quote:
From what I've read hear I thought I should not plug the vents so that there will be adequate oxygen inside. Is this incorrect?

 

[jenjscott]

I plug my vents to get the humidity up. There are other holes in the incubator and around the bottom for air exchange. . If you didn't have an air exchange, it would be easy to get the humidity up.

 

[srsmith69]

Quote:
From what I've read hear I thought I should not plug the vents so that there will be adequate oxygen inside. Is this incorrect?

your incubator should have instructions for which holes to cover and which to have open. The embryos are small to begin with so they aren't using a lot of oxygen or giving off a lot of carbon dioxide. So fresh air exchange is not As critical during early incubation.