How humid is too humid?

[Cara]

I can't seem to get the humidity down below 68% in my incubator (I just set the eggs this morning). Will this cause problems with the hatch? I've had the temperature pretty much stable at 99.1F all day. It's an R-COM20 btw, if that helps.

 

[silkiechicken]

hmm... that would be a bit high. Not familiar with such a fancy looking bator but if I was using my standard box type, I'd just open more vents. Personally I don't look at humidity though and just candle to check the air cell status to make sure it is still growing.

 

[Arklady]

The humidity in the bator should be between 45 and 50%.

Is it raining or very humid where you live?? I have a high humidity area and it sometimes does affect the bator.

If you have added water to the bator for humidity then I would just leave it out and see what the humidity is without the water in there. If it is too low like 30% or so then add a bit but open a vent to release the extra humidity.

Check the humidity without water first. If it says 45% you may not need to have water in there at all. I often times do dry hatches, because the humidity is always between 45% and up.

I hope this wasn't too confusing..

 

[Cara]

The humidity is only 11% here today, I have no idea why it is so high in the incubator. I don't think it has vents. I've tried opening it for a little while every few hours to let the humidity out, but it doesn't seem to be making much difference and I don't want the eggs to get cold. This is so frustrating!

 

[Poison Ivy]

Did you calibrate the humidity in your r-com? I let mine run for 3 days before I adjusted it. You have to have a way to read the humidity from inside the r-com. I used one from flukers and let it run for a hour. Then lower the humidity to 20% for a hour. Then take a reading then see if your still off if so then calibrate the humidity to 45%. You should be fine then. My temps were perfect from the start just my humidity was off by 30%. After calibration it held perfect. Hope this helps.

 

[Cara]

I think I probably have the same thermometer/hygrometer, the two in one digital kind. It is reading the same as my incubator, and I have the humidity set at 35%, but it is constant around 68-72%. I don't know why that should be, the light isn't on to say it is humidifying.

 

[Crazy4Chickens]

How long have you had your incubator? If it's fairly new I would call them to see about a repair on it. Might be defective. Have you tried letting it run dry and see what the humidity runs at.

 

[Cara]

I've only had it a couple of weeks, and this is the first time I have used it. I left it for a day before I set the eggs, and it kept needing the water refilling. It isn't using any water now, but it takes a lot to fill it up (probably 3 or 4 cups), so I don't think it will run dry anytime soon. I'll try giving them a call, but i'll be mad if it's defective. I was so excited about these eggs.

 

[Crazy4Chickens]

I would check to see if the water line has come undone it maybe filling the bottom of the tray instead of the little area right under the styrofoam ball. I filled mine using a 16 oz water bottle and only had to top it off about every 3 days. I would get a couple towels and set your eggs in it and then take the lid off and check the water lines real quick. I did that when I changed out my trays the eggs were fine and only out a few minutes. Plus check your sponge too. Make sure its seated all the way down into it's slot. Make sure that your incubator is on a flat surface so the water stays level in the incubator. You shouldn't have to be adding that much water to it. I think it might be leaking out into the tray bottom if so that might be why your humidity is reading so high. Hope it helps if not I would give them a call and tell them whats going on with it. They might be able to send you one and then send that one back in it place that way you won't lose your eggs. Good Luck

 

[Cara]

Thank you so much I will try that.