How do I get my humidity up?

[Phunter14]

Apparently we bought the worst incubator ever. It's little giants brand.
The humidity won't go above 55%. We are now approaching day 20 of incubation. The heat is fluctuating between 101.8-102, both the front and back air vent caps are removed now and I have the incubator in my bathroom with a humidifier going next to it. I added a wet washcloth under the front vent hole so I can keep adding water to it. All day yesterday to humidity was at 50%. I turned the hot water on in the bathroom for a while to raise to rooms humidity more but the humidity level just sits at 55%. There is condensation on the viewing windows so I hear that's a good sign?!

My questions are what else can I do at this point? Is my temperature right? Will my chicks hatch even though the humidity won't go higher?

 

[WalnutHill]

From your description, I believe your humidity is WAY over 55%. I'd estimate your humidity at 80% or greater if you see condensation.

Did you set up and calibrate your incubator before loading the eggs?

At day 20, I'd suggest you STOP adding water and just let the eggs be. After your chicks have all hatched and you've cleaned out the incubator, calibrate your thermometer and hygrometer.

You didn't mention if you have a still air or fan assisted incubator. If still air, drop the temp 1 degree. If forced air, drop the temp 2 degrees.

 

[Phunter14]

From your description, I believe your humidity is WAY over 55%.  I'd estimate your humidity at 80% or greater if you see condensation.

Did you set up and calibrate your incubator before loading the eggs?

At day 20, I'd suggest you STOP adding water and just let the eggs be.  After your chicks have all hatched and you've cleaned out the incubator, calibrate your thermometer and hygrometer. 

You didn't mention if you have a still air or fan assisted incubator.  If still air, drop the temp 1 degree.  If forced air, drop the temp 2 degrees.

I did not calibrate anything beforehand. This is my first attempt to hatch so I'm learning from my mistakes already... It is a still-air incubator. I have the temp now set at 101.3. I hope I haven't killed my little chicks.

 

[WalnutHill]

Well...since you don't know if the temperature is accurate either...take a digital fever thermometer and insert it through one of the vent holes. Let it sit there for a few minutes, then turn it on for a temperature reading.

Since this will most likely measure about an inch above your eggs, the temp may be a little high. Ideally you want 101-102 at the top of the eggs for a still air incubator. So your temperature is fine, if that is what it really is.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

From your description, I believe your humidity is WAY over 55%. I'd estimate your humidity at 80% or greater if you see condensation.

Did you set up and calibrate your incubator before loading the eggs?

At day 20, I'd suggest you STOP adding water and just let the eggs be. After your chicks have all hatched and you've cleaned out the incubator, calibrate your thermometer and hygrometer.

You didn't mention if you have a still air or fan assisted incubator. If still air, drop the temp 1 degree. If forced air, drop the temp 2 degrees.

I mostly agree. If you are seeing condensation you have more than 55% and condensation is too much and humidity needs to be owered. I would definitely be calibrating it.
I have a LG as well (Forced air) and my humidity at 80% doesn't give me condensation at the windows, (but you can see it starting to form on the thermometers.)
Let me say that I acknowledge that some people drop temps at hatch. I don't usually drop my temps. Usually when my humidity goes up when they start hatching you'll see the bator loose a degree maybe. I have an older LG and no way am I trying to fiddle with lowering a degree when it's not absolutely neccessary.

 

[WalnutHill]

I mostly agree. If you are seeing condensation you have more than 55% and condensation is too much and humidity needs to be owered. I would definitely be calibrating it.
I have a LG as well (Forced air) and my humidity at 80% doesn't give me condensation at the windows, (but you can see it starting to form on the thermometers.)
Let me say that I acknowledge that some people drop temps at hatch. I don't usually drop my temps. Usually when my humidity goes up when they start hatching you'll see the bator loose a degree maybe. I have an older LG and no way am I trying to fiddle with lowering a degree when it's not absolutely neccessary.

Amy, you've certainly had great success with your LG hatches. I started being successful with my LGs when I digitized them.

Amy is right though that many people, perhaps most people, don't lower the temperature at hatch. There isn't a "right way" or a "wrong way" as long as most of your chicks hatch healthy and happy. And that takes trial and error.

The most important thing, though, is to calibrate your equipment before you start the next batch of eggs.

 

[Phunter14]

Amy, you've certainly had great success with your LG hatches.  I started being successful with my LGs when I digitized them.  

Amy is right though that many people, perhaps most people, don't lower the temperature at hatch.  There isn't  a "right way" or a "wrong way" as long as most of your chicks hatch healthy and happy.  And that takes trial and error.

The most important thing, though, is to calibrate your equipment before you start the next batch of eggs.

Thank you both so muh. Woke up to hear some chirping from within the eggs. No break outs yet but I'm still hopeful.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Thank you both so muh. Woke up to hear some chirping from within the eggs. No break outs yet but I'm still hopeful.