Dumb question about sponges it's day 18 please answer ASAP.

[minnehaha]

I am so sorry to create a sponge emergency, and I realize that my lack of planning is not your emergency.

Wow, Day 18 snuck up on me! I cannot find any info on type of sponge to use during lockdown. Is it OK to use a scotch brite? Do I need to wash it first? It is new in the package but has a slight chemical smell.

Last hatch I only had one chick out of 42 eggs. My incubator heat element was only working on one side, the digital thermometer died on day 19, and it was still air, and after all of that, one tough little Black Orpington pullet emerged! AND, I almost lost her. I found her sitting in the cup of water that I used for humidity. How the heck she got in there is beyond me, but I do not want a repeat this time. I had to open the incubator and get her out fast. My daughter held her and gently dried her while sitting in front of a space heater. In the mean time, I got the brooder heated up and we put her under the heat lamp. She survived but was lonely so I bought a 2-3 old Lavender orp from Craigslist to keep her company (my avatar)

Things I've done different this this time:

1. Exchanged faulty incubator
2. Installed fan
3. Bought an egg-o-meter
4. Will place shelf liner on hardware cloth of incubator for lockdown
5. Will use a sponge instead of water cup.

Is this sponge OK, and do I need to wash it? Thanks so much!

 

[cbradio]

you may want to rinse it out a few times, but in essence the sponge simply acts as a wick. when water evaporates, as long as the dissolved ions have a vapor pressure higher or lower(cant remember which, basically they evaporate less readily) than water, they will stay on the wick.

Similar to boiling off water in tomato sauce, the water evaporates, the tomato sauce does not, and gets thicker.

I use a kitchen sponge, but my guess is scotch brite will function in a pinch.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I use a regular sponge but one should use what they have on hand. I don't think that one would be a problem but won't have as much surface area as a plain sponge. I'd just rinse it thoroughly and stick it in.

 

[minnehaha]

OK, it should work then as long as I rinse it good. I can put several of them in (I have a Costco pack). I thought I could use a sterile syringe to add water to them through a vent hole, is this OK? I also made a sour cream container into a humidity device by puncturing holes in the top but that does not give much surface area for evaporation. Geeeez, i am nervous this time around. This is my third attempt. First attempt-zero hatch, second-one hatch.....

How many sponges should I put in? My home humidity is 41%, outside humidity is 45%

Thank you. I'm usually so prepared, but with the end of the school year things got crazy around here.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

For humidity, surface area is critical.

I would look at temperature and fertility as what is affecting your hatch rate much more than humidity.

What are you using for a thermometer?

 

[minnehaha]

For humidity, surface area is critical.

I would look at temperature and fertility as what is affecting your hatch rate much more than humidity.

What are you using for a thermometer?

A new Egg-o-meter, because on day 19 of the last hatch the digital one I had stopped working and the other two had wonky readings. I replaced all three and believe I have the temp right this time. Plus I exchanged the incubator, it was only heating on one side.