Hovabator Water Chambers

[chickenlover2251]

I am getting ready to hatch new eggs in my Hovabator. I am wondering if I fill up the middle chamber with water or the outer chamber with water? Thanks for your help!

 

[AlienChick]

The very "center" chamber.
During lockdown, you can fill the next chamber to raise the humidity.

 

[dwegg]

Yes correct...the one in the middle only. Just keep that filled and then fill both inner troughs at lockdown. Thehovabator is awesome if you follow that simple rule with the humidity.

I have mine going right now and I trust it so much that I do not even have a temp/humidity gauge in there...

 

[chickendot]

I read that if you put a drop or two of red food dye in the water before you fill the chamber you'll be able to see your water level easier.
I started 12 eggs today with a hatch date of Dec 6th and I used the dye it really shows up

 

[chickenlover2251]

Ok, Thanks! I have the middle chamber filled up now!

 

[ki4got]

depending on your local humidity levels, you might research 'dry incubation'. i've had way more success doing dry incubation than i ever did following 'directions' LOL

I don't add water to the incubator unless humidity falls below 20%, and then crank it up to 65+ for the last 3 days only. it seems to fluctuate some between 65-75 and has gone as high as 85 without issues, but then i also have a tendency to open it more than some do...

after a few incubations you'll find what works best for you and your situation... some people can't hatch with less than 40% through out incubation, all i did was drown chicks.

not counting shipped eggs, my last 3 hatches now were 10/10, 9/10, and 9/10...

the hatches prior to that were more than 15 years ago and i was lucky to get 30% each time.