Completly lost. Trying to hatch eggs

[oregonkat]

OK so all things humidity being equal, here is my situation. I live at 2800ft, southern Oregon in a strawbale house, masonry heat stove, off grid. The humidity in the house stays between 42% - 48% most of the year, this is according to a La Crosse Technology integrated weather station, with all the bells and whistles on it. Because it is an integrated system, the salt test is not feasible, I dont think. So we have assumed it to be correct but have never had any reason to doubt it. For the incubator, I purchased a thermometer/hygrometer unit with sensors that go into the incubator. This unit and the weather station measured pretty much the same RH so I called that good and put it in the incubator. The incubator started out at 42% and has dropped since putting the eggs in to 37% where it has stayed for 3 days now. I dont think I am going to mess with the humidity at all until candling day, this Friday and if it drops significantly, which I dont see why it would, should I bring it back up to 35% give or take?

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Nah Lynn....not an argument, we agree on RH for incubation. What is frustrating is local environment....well that means nothing to house enviornment. and what it take to get that RH? Well calibrate your hygrometer and tell us what it took....ya know, it's alll the misinformation combined with....there is a lot of confusion and adding where a person lives really means little as it's what they keep the very local air that's circulating in incubator that really means something....but again, whatever it takes to get the sealed environment of incubator to right RH is what it takes. If yoru hygrometer is calibrated....that's what it takes.

Can be very frustrating especially when you are just starting out. For example during late spring/summer I can achieve 30% running dry. If I hatch fall-early winter, (we use a wood pellet stove, totally dries the air,) I have to add a wet sponge to get that same 30%. I just started a silkie hatch Friday. My RH is only 16%

 

[AmyLynn2374]

OK so all things humidity being equal, here is my situation. I live at 2800ft, southern Oregon in a strawbale house, masonry heat stove, off grid. The humidity in the house stays between 42% - 48% most of the year, this is according to a La Crosse Technology integrated weather station, with all the bells and whistles on it. Because it is an integrated system, the salt test is not feasible, I dont think. So we have assumed it to be correct but have never had any reason to doubt it. For the incubator, I purchased a thermometer/hygrometer unit with sensors that go into the incubator. This unit and the weather station measured pretty much the same RH so I called that good and put it in the incubator. The incubator started out at 42% and has dropped since putting the eggs in to 37% where it has stayed for 3 days now. I dont think I am going to mess with the humidity at all until candling day, this Friday and if it drops significantly, which I dont see why it would, should I bring it back up to 35% give or take?

To be honest with you, I only use my hygrometer as a guide. I determine wether to adjust it by the condition of my air cells.

 

[oregonkat]

To be honest with you, I only use my hygrometer as a guide. I determine wether to adjust it by the condition of my air cells.

OK, I will wait until first candling on Friday to determine air cells. Thanks again.

 

[Chic Rustler]

OK so all things humidity being equal, here is my situation.  I live at 2800ft, southern Oregon in a strawbale house, masonry heat stove, off grid.  The humidity in the house stays between  42% - 48% most of the year, this is according to a La Crosse Technology integrated weather station, with all the bells and whistles on it.  Because it is an integrated system, the salt test is not feasible, I dont think. So we have assumed it to be correct but have never had any reason to doubt it.  For the incubator, I purchased a thermometer/hygrometer unit with sensors that go into the incubator.  This unit and the weather station measured pretty much the same RH so I called that good and put it in the incubator.  The incubator started out at 42% and has dropped since putting the eggs in to 37% where it has stayed for 3 days now.  I dont think I am going to mess with the humidity at all until candling day, this Friday and if it drops significantly, which I dont see why it would, should I bring it back up to 35% give or take? 

If you want a completely foolproof, 100% accurate meter to measure against for calibration just buy a Bacharach sling psychrometer. They are about $80. They set the industry standard for moisture and temp measurement.

 

[Chic Rustler]

Well its lockdown time. Wish me luck

 

[oregonkat]

Well its lockdown time. Wish me luck

I wish you all the luck in the world.

Please let us know how it goes, I am on day 9 and after candling I have 22 winners out of 28, and they are all shipped eggs so I am cautiously hopeful. My humidity has been kept between 20 and 35% so maybe we will all be fine. Thanks for the info regarding the psychrometer, if I spent $80 on another thing for my chickens, my husband would move me into the coop.

 

[Chic Rustler]

Thanks. I had 15 out of 18. If i even get 5 to hatch i will be very happy.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Well its lockdown time. Wish me luck

Best of luck!

I wish you all the luck in the world.

Please let us know how it goes, I am on day 9 and after candling I have 22 winners out of 28, and they are all shipped eggs so I am cautiously hopeful. My humidity has been kept between 20 and 35% so maybe we will all be fine. Thanks for the info regarding the psychrometer, if I spent $80 on another thing for my chickens, my husband would move me into the coop.

That's great for shipped!

 

[Chic Rustler]

Well we are about 4 hours into lock down and having temp issues. It drooped to 96°f when i added the water and small jar of water dispite my use of warm water. I didnt think much of it, i figured it would stabilize in an hour or so. I expected it to be normal after church but nope still 96. I went ahead and bumped it up a little, we will see how it goes. I hope a few hours of low temp wont kill weeks worth of work