Help! Our Styroforn incubator is not Humid enough

[StablerBoys]

We borrowed a Styrofoam Incubator from a friend. We have everything set, but I cannot get the humidity above 30%! Pleas help. I am stuck and I really want the boys to have a successful hatching!

 

[Fred's Hens]

Actually, 30% isn't that bad. Lots of folks do what is called "dry incubating". As long as it didn't drop to 20%, I'd not be too concerned.

To raise humidity easily, cut a typical kitchen sponge, (brand new and rinsed in hot water) into four squares. If you put it a saturated sponge square, you should see the humidity zoom.

I use as many sponges as I need during hatching days, to keep the humidity around 60%. Give it a try.

 

[lazy gardener]

Have you started incubating eggs yet? If so, what day of incubation are you on? You don't need a higher humidity until the last 3 days, then you will want to boost it to 60 - 70%. I'd recommend that you do some reading regarding dry incubation. Also, your hygrometer may not be accurate. It shouldn't be that difficult to get the humidity up, so I think your hygrometer may be faulty.

 

[StablerBoys]

Thanks folks. I have the lower troughs filled. it just may be the Hygrometer portion being faulty. Time to get a new one, I think. This was was supposed to be "like new", but I think it was just a faulty return

 

[StablerBoys]

Thanks Lazy Gardener. We are on Day 3 now and the humidity is staying between 32%-45%. Going to try adding some sponges to the bottom. The boys have been stoked.

 

[Fred's Hens]

If your humidity is between 35 and 45, that is FINE for the first 18 days. No need for more humidity until day 19.