Help! Humidity is crazy!

[ivyboo]

Today is day 1 of my chicken eggs in a farm innovators 4200 incubator. I got it started 2 days before the eggs came. Temp is perfect at 99.5 but the humidity I can't get to stay at a good %. Yesterday I put the eggs in and humidity was 80%. All that was in there was a damp, almost dry paper towel. I took that out and it looked like it was getting better after awhile. Then it dropped to 25-30%. So then before I went to bed I added about a 1/4cup of water to the bottom. It went right back up to 90%. This morning it's at 25%. How do I get it to be more stable? I'm afraid my chicks won't hatch because of this! With no water there isn't enough and with even a tiny bit it's to much. Oh, and I also have the venting caps off.

 

[RWise]

Have you removed the vent plugs? This will let a bit of air circulate
Maybe look here;
https://www.backyardchickens.com/re...ir-incubator-with-automatic-egg-turner.11502/

 

[lazy gardener]

Where are you putting the water? Humidity is related to the surface area. So, if you have a large surface area, the humidity will be high. I keep my levels at goal of 30 - 40% during first 17 days. I don't get upset if it drops to 10%. I use pieces of sponge. The purpose of humidity is to see to it that the egg looses enough liquid volume so that the air cells are the right size for hatch. Air cells too small = possible drowning chick when she pips the air cell. Air cells too big = dry chick who may not be able to position correctly or turn to complete her zip. Please read all of "Hatching eggs 101" in the learning center. It will explain EVERYTHING about hatching including how to manage your humidity, how to monitor your air cells, and most importantly how to calibrate your equipment. Have you done that yet? If you have not, then there's a very good chance your thermometer is lying to you, even if it's built into the incubator. You MUST calibrate equipment in order to hatch chicks that do not have deformities.

 

[Polson]

Also remember when you first put your eggs in (1st day or so) the humidity will spike but level off. Patience is required...although tough not to over react. Plus during the first handful of days, humidity is not completely critical.