Everything is ready, but how do I start with the water and humidity?

[birdwrangler057]

Hi!
I have everything ready to start the incubation process, but I'm not really sure how much water to first add, or any of that. I coukdnt really find anything specific on this in the learning center, so please help! Thanks!

I also have am using a still-air, styrofoam incubator, if that helps at all.

 

[birdwrangler057]

I also have plastic aquarium tubing to use, but I am not sure how to properly set this up (the post on this in the learning center is kind of vague).

 

[junebuggena]

Generally, the relative humidity for incubating should be between 30 and 55 percent. What works best for one person's set of circumstances, might not be what works best for your's. You need a hydrometer to measure the relative humidity inside the incubator. And you need to remember that humidity is all about the surface area, not the volume of the water. A larger surface equals higher humidity, regardless of how much water is in that particular container.

 

[birdwrangler057]

Oh, I am aware of that, and I have my hygrometer ready to go, but I am not sure how to much water to give or take to raise or lower the humidity. Thanks!

 

[junebuggena]

Figure out what the humidity is when it's running without any water at all. Then adjust. Depending on your climate, you may need to reduce the humidity to get it below 55% by adding a dish of dry rice, or you may need to raise it by adding water to one of the trays in the bottom.

 

[birdwrangler057]

Figure out what the humidity is when it's running without any water at all. Then adjust. Depending on your climate, you may need to reduce the humidity to get it below 55% by adding a dish of dry rice, or you may need to raise it by adding water to one of the trays in the bottom. 

Okay, the humidity without water in the incubator right now is %25.
Is there and way to lower it without dry ice?

 

[junebuggena]

You don't want it lower than 30%. At 25%, you need to add water, starting with the smallest, center tray first.

 

[birdwrangler057]

You don't want it lower than 30%. At 25%, you need to add water, starting with the smallest, center tray first.

Okay, I just added about 6 tsp of distilled water to the center tray, the humidity is staying at a steady %42 now. I think the adding of water is making it harder for the incubator to reach its full temp. Thanks!

 

[junebuggena]

It can take a few hours to come back up to temp. Not really a big deal, considering that broody hens leave the nest once or twice a day.

 

[junebuggena]

And remember, the amount of water doesn't really matter. It's about the amount of surface area that water covers. More water will take longer to evaporate and give you a more stable reading.