Humidity in incubator inconsistent

[MotherDucker3]

Hello,

I am new to incubating eggs. Currently I have 4 duck eggs in my EZ simply incubator.
This incubator does not have a build in hygrometer so I bought one to try and keep track. From what I have read online, humidity for the first few weeks should be about 55%. I have been having issues with trying to keep the humidity consistent. The instructions just say to fill the middle tray on the bottom for first few weeks (There are 5 trays) but its hard to even see how much water is in the tray with the eggs in there... My humidity according to the hygrometer has been between 40%-60%. When I wake up in the morning I go and check the humidity right away and its usually pretty low, about 20% so I have to add water to the incubator first thing every morning and then I also usually add more water in the evening because humidity is dropping again. Is this normal? How often does water need to be added to an incubator usually? I thought it would hold the humidity a bit better.. My Eggs have been in the incubator for 6 days now. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[cherrynberry]

Hello,

I am new to incubating eggs. Currently I have 4 duck eggs in my EZ simply incubator.
This incubator does not have a build in hygrometer so I bought one to try and keep track. From what I have read online, humidity for the first few weeks should be about 55%. I have been having issues with trying to keep the humidity consistent. The instructions just say to fill the middle tray on the bottom for first few weeks (There are 5 trays) but its hard to even see how much water is in the tray with the eggs in there... My humidity according to the hygrometer has been between 40%-60%. When I wake up in the morning I go and check the humidity right away and its usually pretty low, about 20% so I have to add water to the incubator first thing every morning and then I also usually add more water in the evening because humidity is dropping again. Is this normal? How often does water need to be added to an incubator usually? I thought it would hold the humidity a bit better.. My Eggs have been in the incubator for 6 days now. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Soak a sponge and add it in the incubator...it keeps humidity much bettet

 

[MotherDucker3]

Soak a sponge and add it in the incubator...it keeps humidity much bettet

Thank you! I will try this when I get home

 

[FC16]

How did the hatch turn out in the end as I’m having humidity issues with an incubator with 5 trays. Mine keeps going between 40-65 and I’m panicking. Did the sponge work, and how many hatched?

 

[Mrs J]

How did the hatch turn out in the end as I’m having humidity issues with an incubator with 5 trays. Mine keeps going between 40-65 and I’m panicking. Did the sponge work, and how many hatched?

Hi
I normally have my humidity at 40-50% for the first 18 days (chickens) and then the last 3 days around 65%, but everyone has their own way of doing things. Good luck

 

[OregonPortland]

Hello,

I am new to incubating eggs. Currently I have 4 duck eggs in my EZ simply incubator.
This incubator does not have a build in hygrometer so I bought one to try and keep track. From what I have read online, humidity for the first few weeks should be about 55%. I have been having issues with trying to keep the humidity consistent. The instructions just say to fill the middle tray on the bottom for first few weeks (There are 5 trays) but its hard to even see how much water is in the tray with the eggs in there... My humidity according to the hygrometer has been between 40%-60%. When I wake up in the morning I go and check the humidity right away and its usually pretty low, about 20% so I have to add water to the incubator first thing every morning and then I also usually add more water in the evening because humidity is dropping again. Is this normal? How often does water need to be added to an incubator usually? I thought it would hold the humidity a bit better.. My Eggs have been in the incubator for 6 days now. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I am having this same problem and also panicking. It’s like I try to adjust it and then it over corrects!