Humidity diy incubator

[kuhnse51]

I've had my simple diy incubator set up this past week trying to get a steady temp and humidity going. I got the temp to hover around 102 (according to my thermometer, but I haven't checked its accuracy) but my humidity is right around 16% without any water. When I add water to increase humidity my temp stays at a consistently lower temp around 97-99 and humidity only increases to about 22%. I know it is recommended to have humidity higher 30-50% but would it be okay to do the dry method with it as low as 16%?

 

[lazy gardener]

I'm not sure about your humidity question, but I can't stress enough the importance of getting an accurate thermometer. Are you using a digital one, or an old fashioned bulb thermometer? My gold standard was an old fashioned mercury rectal thermometer. I calibrated all of my other thermometers from that one. Does your DIY have a thermostat? I did find with mine that when I increased the humidity past 50%, the thermostat tended to get wonky. Have you tried using a sponge to control humidity? I found that to be super easy. Piece of aquarium tubing through the wall of the bator, attached to a syringe on the outside, and running into a cup attached to the wall on the inside. Sponge in the cup. Squirt water into the cup, and the sponge wicks up the water. I used a piece of sponge about 1.5" x 3 - 4". Then just added an other sponge when it was time for lock down.

 

[kuhnse51]

I have one of those accurite thermostat/hygrometer in it which is what I'm basing my temps/humidity off of. I've tried testing it with an old bulb rectal thermometer but the only reading I got off of that was 100 degrees and now it won't get any reading, not sure whats wrong with it. I've put a cup of water with a dish cloth in it to wick up the water but it hasn't increased humidity too much and decreased temp. I put the damp dish cloth spread out at one point but that increased it wayyy too much and it dried out pretty quickly. I'll have to see if I have a sponge laying around anywhere and test that.

 

[lazy gardener]

You can use an old sponge to test, but since they're such bacteria targets, I always use a new one.

 

[kuhnse51]

Well...no sponge, but I figured since they are supposed to be absorbent I would try using a feminine pad

I cut it into smaller pieces and it is working like a charm so far, I just stuck a piece right to the side of the incubator lmao I know I'll have to take it out before they hatch because I don't want them pecking at it but for now it is perfect!

 

[lazy gardener]

Those things have so many uses... Dr got quite a chuckle when I showed up at the office with a family member... who was sporting a feminine pad used for a dressing over a fairly large wound.

 

[kuhnse51]

Haha they can be so handy!!