How to reduce the humidity in my incubator

[selkiepelts]

You can add some paper towels or rice filled socks to suck up some extra moisture

My egg just went into lockdown and the humidity shot up to 90 when i teiedd to raise it to 60, added the rice and will take it out when it reaches the right humidity

 

[Williewolf]

I am close to the tropics in West Africa and could not get the humidity down....the sock worked like a charm!

 

[MeepBeep]

IMO don't bother with the rice unless the humidity stays at 90% for days, a temporary spike in humidity is not a concern, especially near the end of the incubation when the egg is for all intents done losing water weight...

 

[npbamboo]

The best desiccant to use is Silica Gel. That's the granular substance that comes sealed in a little breathable bag or sachet when you buy a new camera or the like.

You can buy the sachets inexpensively in various sizes online, and when they've absorbed all the moisture they can from the air in your incubator, you can just dry them out (recharge them) in the oven at 120 deg. C for 2 hours and re-use them, repeating the process ad infinitum. I suggest you try a couple of 50 g sachets in a small (dozen egg) incubator and see how it goes. You will of course need a good hygrometer to measure the %RH.

Chicken eggs need 40-50 %RH until Day 18 then 70 %RH until hatching on Day 21.

 

[MeepBeep]

The best desiccant to use is Silica Gel.  That's the granular substance that comes sealed in a little breathable bag or sachet when you buy a new camera or the like.

You can buy the sachets inexpensively in various sizes online, and when they've absorbed all the moisture they can from the air in your incubator, you can just dry them out (recharge them) in the oven at 120 deg. C for 2 hours and re-use them, repeating the process ad infinitum.  I suggest you try a couple of 50 g sachets in a small (dozen egg) incubator and see how it goes.  You will of course need a good hygrometer to measure the %RH. 

Thus my suggestion above for 'crystal cat litter' that is silica gel, very cheap by volume and easy to obtain at many pet stores, best to avoid scented ones...

But, this should only be necessary if there is insufficient air cell development noted, if the air cell is developing as it should no need to adjust the humidity even if it says it's high...

Chicken eggs need 40-50 %RH until Day 18 then 70 %RH until hatching on Day 21.

There is no specific humidity they need, a broody bird can't adjust the ambient humidity beyond dribbling some water on the eggs to increase humidity but they is rarely seen and they hatch eggs quite well in all sorts of humidity levels all over the world, from humid jungles to dry deserts...

What eggs need is to lose the proper amount of water weight during the incubation period, this should honestly be monitored visually by candling or even better by weighing over some arbitrary humidity percent...

 

[BaileyMChicks]

It has been raining a lot where I live right now, and the humidity in the incubator(brinsea mini eco) is at 39-45 without any water in it whatsoever. The eggs are on day 6( one is on day 3, but that's a long story). I know what the air cells should look like. They look good for the days they are at. Should I not add any water? I'm afraid that by hatch that the air cells won't be big enough. Is it better to just add a little water or to leave it?? I'm concerned... This is only my second time hatching in an incubator.

 

[MeepBeep]

It has been raining a lot where I live right now, and the humidity in the incubator(brinsea mini eco) is at 39-45 without any water in it whatsoever.  The eggs are on day 6( one is on day 3, but that's a long story).  I know what the air cells should look like. They look good for the days they are at. Should I not add any water?  I'm afraid that by hatch that the air cells won't be big enough.  Is it better to just add a little water or to leave it??  I'm concerned...  This is only my second time hatching in an incubator.  

Monitor air cell development and add water only if they are growing too fast...

 

[BaileyMChicks]

Monitor air cell development and add water only if they are growing too fast...

ok. That's what I thought, but I was starting to get worried because of some of the things I was reading. I know I probably sounded really dumb didn't I? Sorry.

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

ok.  That's what I thought, but I was starting to get worried because of some of the things I was reading.  I know I probably sounded really dumb didn't I?  Sorry.  

Do not apologize, we all need help at some point. You'll never know if you don't ask

 

[BaileyMChicks]

Do not apologize, we all need help at some point. You'll never know if you don't ask

Thanks