Humidity in incubator Vs Humidity outside...

[Poultry keeper12]

Hey, we live were there is a lot of humidity, and I'm incubating. Last night I woke up around 1 o'clock in the morning, and the humidity was all the way up too 70% with it only being day 6 that is very high, is there anything I can do?? The humidity is always at 55-62% and I keep opening the incubator to decrease the humidity is that bad?? This batch is probably the last batch I can do this year because it is almost July, I don't want too screw it up.

 

[sylviethecochin]

That's not actually too bad, this early. Make sure your air cells are on track and try to decrease humidity, but I wouldn't worry too much.

What is your outside humidity?

You can dry-incubate (add no water) or add a sockful of rice to absorb the water and get the humidity to where you want it to be.

@Pyxis?

 

[Ridgerunner]

What incubator, make and model, do you have? How is humidity controlled: dials, reservoirs, sponges, or something else?

Do not try to control humidity by opening and closing the incubator. That is not a controlled solution and you might do harm with temperature. Let's figure out a better way.

 

[Poultry keeper12]

Thank you for the reply! The humidity outside is almost 90% my trays at the bottom of the incubator were filled up at the beginning of incubating so it is hard to empty that. I have a peep window that I proped open at the top of the incubator. My incubator is Styrofoam so it is easy too pull open the top a little. My temperature is off so I higher it too 102.5F is that ok??

 

[sylviethecochin]

Thank you for the reply! The humidity outside is almost 90% my trays at the bottom of the incubator were filled up at the beginning of incubating so it is hard to empty that. I have a peep window that I proped open at the top of the incubator. My incubator is Styrofoam so it is easy too pull open the top a little. My temperature is off so I higher it too 102.5F is that ok??

Temp's too high. I would worry about that before I worry about humidity. Forced or still air incubator? If still, are you measuring temps from the tops of the eggs? It should be 101 at the top of the eggs. If it's forced air, you need to get it down to 99.5.

I would definitely add a sock of rice to that incubator, (I would also probably open it up, remove eggs, and empty out the water reservoirs. It sounds like you certainly don't need them. However, I rely on broody hens, so I'll wait on an incubation expert to see if this is any good as advise. DO the sock of rice, though.)

Are your temp and hydrometer calibrated?

 

[Ridgerunner]

Thank you for the reply! The humidity outside is almost 90% my trays at the bottom of the incubator were filled up at the beginning of incubating so it is hard to empty that. I have a peep window that I proped open at the top of the incubator. My incubator is Styrofoam so it is easy too pull open the top a little. My temperature is off so I higher it too 102.5F is that ok??

No that temperature is not OK. If you have a forced air incubator the temperature should be 99.5 F. If it is a still air the location where you take the temperature is important. When it is still, warm air rises so you can get a difference in temperature reading depending on where you are in the incubator. The recommended temperature for a still air incubator is 101.5 F taken at the top of the eggs.

It's possible you could get some chicks to hatch depending on some things, but you are not likely to have a good hatch even if you get a few chicks. You will be a lot better off getting it down to the right temperature.

So you are using reservoirs for humidity. I don't know how many you have or how big individual reservoirs are. If it were me I'd do what it took to remove all the water I could from all the reservoirs and run the incubator until the humidity stabilizes. The humidity will not stabilize until all wet surfaces are dry. See what humidity you have. If necessary add water to one reservoir at a time until you get it where you want it.

 

[Poultry keeper12]

Hey, i have a still air incubator. Should i put the thermometer piece on top of the eggs?? i always put it below ( on the tray ) them... my humidity is now 87% outside and 56% in the incubator. i believe we are getting a storm! so i think its ending shortly, should i candle them tonight ( day 6 ) or tomorrow?? just to make sure there is development and the air sells are fine.

 

[Poultry keeper12]

No that temperature is not OK. If you have a forced air incubator the temperature should be 99.5 F. If it is a still air the location where you take the temperature is important. When it is still, warm air rises so you can get a difference in temperature reading depending on where you are in the incubator. The recommended temperature for a still air incubator is 101.5 F taken at the top of the eggs.

It's possible you could get some chicks to hatch depending on some things, but you are not likely to have a good hatch even if you get a few chicks. You will be a lot better off getting it down to the right temperature.

So you are using reservoirs for humidity. I don't know how many you have or how big individual reservoirs are. If it were me I'd do what it took to remove all the water I could from all the reservoirs and run the incubator until the humidity stabilizes. The humidity will not stabilize until all wet surfaces are dry. See what humidity you have. If necessary add water to one reservoir at a time until you get it where you want it.

Any suggestions??

 

[Ridgerunner]

Putt he thermometer on top f the eggs and see what reading you get. Hopefully around 101.5 F.

You can candle if you wish. Candling can ell you if they are developing or not.

 

[Poultry keeper12]

Putt he thermometer on top f the eggs and see what reading you get. Hopefully around 101.5 F.

You can candle if you wish. Candling can ell you if they are developing or not.

Ok, Thank you! I also added the sock of rice. Hopefully this humidity will lower a bit.