humidity dropping by nearly 10% daily? Hova 1588

[gladahmae]

It's not a *big* deal, since I'm a SAHM during the day, and DH is home during the evenings and can keep an eye on things, but I've noticed that my incubator will lose about 10% humidity over a 20-24hr period. I'm adding approx. 2/3 of a cup of water per day via tubing because it ALL evaporates. I've taped the lid down, and that hasn't helped. I've taped over the tubing. No change. This morning I taped around the edges of the plexiglass on the lid, and haven't been down to check on it since then. I have eggs that are developing, and I'm just a few days from lockdown, so I'm wondering if there are any other things I should consider as causes of such rapid humidity loss? The incubator is in my basement, so the temp stays steady, and RH OUTSIDE the incubator is around 60%.

I am planning on using some sponges to help boost the RH once we do reach lockdown, but am concerned that it'll be difficult to regulate from getting too high at that point?

 

[GAQuail]

I would be a bit cautious about sealing up the incubator like you said. There does need to be some air exchange or the developing embryo's will not get enough oxygen. Is the red air plug in or out? Do you have the 1588 with the digital readout? I have my 1588 in a basement where the existing relative humidity is 50-55%. I only add about 6 teaspoons of water daily to keep my relative humidity in the incubator around 40-45%. Any more water than that and the humidity is too high. During lock down I fill both troughs in the plastic tray completely full and my relative humidity will hold 65-70% for four days without any additional water. I also use a separate calibrated hygrometer in the incubator. I find the humidity readout from the incubator's digital display is 5-10% low on my incubator.

 

[gladahmae]

I calibrated the hygrometer, and it's only off 2-3%, so I know it's not a grossly innaccurate reading. I recieved my incubator used, so I'm sure it's not a 'tight' as a new one would be. I just taped around the edge of the plexiglass and the humidity is holding steady now, so hopefully that fixed the problem. I do have one plug in, and one out (or to be more precise, one hold is taped off since I don't HAVE the plugs) so it IS getting fresh air exchange still, and I'll take the tape off the other vent hole when/if things start hatching. Hopefully the issue is fixed for now.

 

[fiveladybugs]

I would be a bit cautious about sealing up the incubator like you said. There does need to be some air exchange or the developing embryo's will not get enough oxygen. Is the red air plug in or out? Do you have the 1588 with the digital readout? I have my 1588 in a basement where the existing relative humidity is 50-55%. I only add about 6 teaspoons of water daily to keep my relative humidity in the incubator around 40-45%. Any more water than that and the humidity is too high. During lock down I fill both troughs in the plastic tray completely full and my relative humidity will hold 65-70% for four days without any additional water. I also use a separate calibrated hygrometer in the incubator. I find the humidity readout from the incubator's digital display is 5-10% low on my incubator.

How in the world are you lucky enough to get your humidity to hold like that during lockdown? I filled both troughs like it says in my 1588 for lockdown & by the time my third chick hatched, my humidity was 80%...and that was with the red plug out. My hatch rate was terrible because of this. I'm gonna try for lass water in the troughs this time around & see if that helps.