Humidity help needed

[crooked stripe]

I have a hoverbator incubator that I added a computer fan to. The temp is staying at 99.5 with the humidity running at 54 percent. I read that the humidity needs to be 60 to 70 percent at 18 days for the hatch. I also have one vent hole open on the top. Instructions say at 18 days to open both holes for added air. How do I know how much more water area I need to up the humidity. Now there is a 6" ring that is 3/4"deep filled with water plus two 8" troughts filled with water. Someone here must be able to suggest ways to increse the humidity. Help!! I don't want to inject to much water area to kill the chicks. John

 

[LinckHillPoultry]

Maybe you could just fill the ring a little at a time and monitor the humidity. Once it hits the desired humidity, let it go. Refill it as needed.

 

[Tuffoldhen]

And when you get to day 18 you can also add a small wet sponge...or washcloth, sock...whatever it takes to get it anywhere near the 60 to 70% mark.........Your really not going to know til you get to day 18 and then work with it then...

I never have problems getting my humidity up...

 

[Katy]

I agree with Tuffoldhen about the wet sponge or washcloth. That's the only way I've ever been able to get the humidity up where it belongs for those last 3 days.

 

[crooked stripe]

I keep all the rings full to keep the humidity at 52 +- percent. I also keep a kitchen towel over the windows to maintain what I have. What if the humidity go's over 70 percent that late in the hatch? Here in NE Ohio the last week and next week they are calling for unusual low temps.
The next week it will be back to normal with 35-40 temps. This weekend we have been looking at lows in the single digits.

 

[Tuffoldhen]

Just try to keep it 60 to 70%...alittle higher will be alright at times....and when they start hatching don't worry about keeping it up when the chicks start hatching the humidity goes higher in the bator anyway from their body ...

Another thing I do in Fall or Winter hatching is keep a small humidfier in the room too....that helps keep the humidity good in the bator...

 

[crooked stripe]

The sponge, cloth type method sounds easy. Any suggestions on the size I should start with. Once the turner is out I can put water in the bottom of the bator in a bowl. I only have 11 eggs at this point in time so there will be plenty of room. The bator holds 48 eggs. John

 

[Barnyard]

I thought the humidity was suppose to be between 40% and 50% from day 1-18? I have just been adding water with a syringe twice a day and it has stayed between 40 and 50%