How do you regulate humidity?

igorsMistress · Sep 5, 2018

I'm currently hatching quail eggs. My hygrometer has been calibrated and I learned it reads low so I've taken that into account.

I'm using a hovabator 1602N with turner and fan. When the humidity reads 30% I'll add just 1 Tbsp hot water to a channel and it goes up to 50% and then gradually decreases. It's an AVERAGE of 40%, is that good enough? We have a couple more days until we candle and I can adjust based on air cells, but I can't ever really maintain a steady 40% in there.

When folks say incubate at a certain humidity, is that an average or am I doing something wrong?

I live in Phoenix so the a/c is on 24/7 right now too.

WVduckchick · Sep 5, 2018

Keep in mind that humidity in an incubator is based on surface area, not the actual amount of water. For example, if you place 8 ounces of water in a shallow dish, and 8 ounces of water in a tall drinking glass, the dish will generate more humidity in a closed area than the tall glass will. But the taller glass will hold the water longer (evaporate slower), therefore keeping humidity stable for a longer period of time.

So it may be helpful to adjust whatever container you are using.

WVduckchick · Sep 7, 2018

illinoischick said:
Hi there, good job with your new adventure! Yes, keeping that humidity steady is a challenge. You could try covering your incubator with a dish towel-that worked for me when mine kept dropping. I think ideally it should be about 40-50 %, in those first 2 weeks, but I have had mine dip down to 38% before and they hatched. Quail are tough--i think they withstand our "mistakes" better than other birds I've tried to hatch. Try adding some water again with the method you are using, and cover your incubator. The most crucial part is lockdown when you want to get humidity higher at 65-75%. I've covered mine with a damp towel at this point and it seemed to help. I've had humidity fall to 40% however during lockdown and it was a nail-biter, but still had 80%hatch rate. I am never sure whether to open and add water or let humidity drop. It's a hard decision. I am on day 17 today with a new Brinsea model, but i am having the same issues as you with the humidty (I am in Illinois where outside is about 80%) This is my first time with this model, so I'm curious about the hatch rate with low humidity on this one. Good luck!

Good luck with your hatch! Quail are fun to hatch.
Be careful covering an incubator, that you don’t block any vents or cause it to overheat.

I won’t say “always”, but most times I would choose to pop the lid enough to add water, than to let humidity drop to 40% during hatch time.
I have several incubators. My Brinsea Octagon Eco had the most trouble keeping humidity up, so I took a piece of quilt batting material and draped it thru the channels and across the bottom, under the hatching tray. It wicks the water from the 2 channels and spreads it better so it does maintain humidity better.
Depending which one you have, you may try something similar, or pop some damp sponges in there. They will bump it up too.

Sorry, I took this after a hatch so it’s dirty, but here’s what I mean

ChickenCanoe · Sep 5, 2018

IMO, the humidity % is an average because, after all, how does a hen compensate for the humidity swings in a drought or a rainstorm? She doesn't. But ideally, eggs of any species will lose a certain amount of weight over the course of incubation. Weight loss will vary from early to middle to end of incubation.
Personally, I don't measure humidity (sacrilege) but rather use a gram scale to calculate weight loss. If loss is excessive, I add water. If loss isn't sufficient, I dry it out or frequently vent it depending on how far off it is.
Whether we are talking about quail or ostriches, eggs should lose between 12 and 15% weight through the incubation period.
https://poultrykeeper.com/incubating-and-hatching-eggs/weight-loss-method-forl-incubation/
Primarily working with chicken eggs, I estimate that 0.65% of weight should be lost each day.

AlderCreekFarms · Sep 5, 2018

I agree, humidity during a hatch is an average

illinoischick · Sep 7, 2018

igorsMistress said:
I'm currently hatching quail eggs. My hygrometer has been calibrated and I learned it reads low so I've taken that into account.

I'm using a hovabator 1602N with turner and fan. When the humidity reads 30% I'll add just 1 Tbsp hot water to a channel and it goes up to 50% and then gradually decreases. It's an AVERAGE of 40%, is that good enough? We have a couple more days until we candle and I can adjust based on air cells, but I can't ever really maintain a steady 40% in there.

When folks say incubate at a certain humidity, is that an average or am I doing something wrong?

I live in Phoenix so the a/c is on 24/7 right now too.

Hi there, good job with your new adventure! Yes, keeping that humidity steady is a challenge. You could try covering your incubator with a dish towel-that worked for me when mine kept dropping. I think ideally it should be about 40-50 %, in those first 2 weeks, but I have had mine dip down to 38% before and they hatched. Quail are tough--i think they withstand our "mistakes" better than other birds I've tried to hatch. Try adding some water again with the method you are using, and cover your incubator. The most crucial part is lockdown when you want to get humidity higher at 65-75%. I've covered mine with a damp towel at this point and it seemed to help. I've had humidity fall to 40% however during lockdown and it was a nail-biter, but still had 80%hatch rate. I am never sure whether to open and add water or let humidity drop. It's a hard decision. I am on day 17 today with a new Brinsea model, but i am having the same issues as you with the humidty (I am in Illinois where outside is about 80%) This is my first time with this model, so I'm curious about the hatch rate with low humidity on this one. Good luck!