Humidity inside and outside of incubator during "dry incubation???

[Intheswamp]

I'm having trouble figuring out how to word this, so bear with me.

I'm curious about humidity readings inside *and* outside of styrofoam incubators (specifically GQF models) during dry incubation (no water added to the incubator).

With all the cheap digital thermometer/hygrometer units floating around I figure some of ya'll have more than one unit and maybe have taken note of the different humidity readings inside and outside the incubator.

It *seems* to me that the heating element in the incubator would dry the air out some (lower the humidity) but then again, you have the moisture of the eggs themselves involved and the knowledge that warm air "holds" more moisture than cooler air.

So, if your room humidity is, say, at 60%....what was your reading in the incubator?

See, I told you I was having trouble figuring out what I wanted to ask!

Thanks,
Ed

 

[MagsC]

You know, thats a great question. I would like to know too.

 

[lux_interior]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/LC-DryIncubation.html

 

[oldguy]

i picked up a cheap digital unit from walmart that reads both temp and humidity and i can't be sure how accurate it is but i am on my first dry hatches of pheasant, peafowl and chickens and should be able to draw some conclusions soon enough as this is day 22 on the pheasants and the peafowl and chickens are on day 11.

This is a Springfield PreciseTemp unit and temp readings seem to me to be spot on. It cost about $7 at Walmart

If i remember correctly the humidity reading indoors was around 56% with the unit outside the incubator and with it inside it reads 27% and so i have the same concerns as you but I'm determined to try dry hatch as my hatches of late have been poor.

I just pulled the Springfield out of the bator about 10 minutes ago and humidity reading has moved from 27 to 30 and temp on it now reads 81.1 so it's slow to change on both numbers. If i find much differences from what i said earlier i will update you. And if i remember i will try to let you know my success rate on these dry hatches. One is in a Brinsea and the other in a GQF styrofoam.

Hope that helps

-----------let me edit this in-------------
found here https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=191268

a poster says they dry hatch and don't add water unless the inside humidity reading falls under 25% and so I'm guessing I'm good at 27%

 

[Intheswamp]

lux_interior, I've read through the dry incubation out a couple of times (and went back again just now at your prompting), but it doesn't address my questions. I'll keep looking...and thanks for the feedback!

Ed

 

[Sharisr32]

I only dry hatch - LG with Turner - LG w/ fan + turner - hova 's and a brinsea -
they do not dry out if you need this type of hatching there is ample humidty already in the room / house

I bought a temp / humidity gage at Walmart cost me a lot was two degrees off out of the package
low so my eggs cooked at 102 ----

 

[Intheswamp]

Quote:
Bill Worrel also appears to suggest adding water if the humidity gets down to 25%...."After the first candling, close the incubator and forget it for another 7 days. Also while you have the incubator opened, check the humidity inside the incubator. In foam incubators, add a teaspoon or two of water if the humidity is real low. Low being 25%. " I think that's a little confusing though being as once you open the incubator your humidity reading is going to be compromised....would have to have the hygrometer already inside prior to and take note of the reading before opening.

Did you per chance check your hygrometer's accuracy via the wet-salt method? Using the lower humidity levels would seem to dictate a fairly close/accurate reading to insure not getting to dry.

Keep me posted with what you find on the inside/outside readings...and your success rate using dry incubation.

Thanks!
Ed

 

[Iceblink]

This will be my first hatch using my homemade styrofoam incubator. The humidity outside is between 50 and 80%, and the humidity in the 'bator is between 26 and 31%.

I do have a container in there so I can add water and raise humidity the last few days if need be.

Wish me luck, they're due on 6/13!

 

[Intheswamp]

Quote:
Do you recall what the humidity was inside and outside the incubators while you were incubating? That is actually the data that I'm curious about.

I'm sorry to hear about your cooked eggs.

I've found that both temperature and humidity readings can be off on *any* thermometer/hygrometer. Here is a little on-going test that I've been doing on several thermometers. When I get my incubator up and running I will be continuing the test on a bit further.... Wallyworld Digital Thermometers/Hygrometers

Ed

 

[Intheswamp]

Quote:
Sorry, I don't believe in luck, but I do hope you have a great hatch!!!

Thanks for sharing your readings with me. So basically you're seeing between a 40 and 50 percent decrease in humidity from outside to inside. That's good info, especially that the incubator has had a chance to stabilize for a week with eggs inside.

Not that it affects the rough percentage difference between the outside and inside humidity, but did you check the accuracy of the hygrometer that you're using? The reason I ask is that I'm beginning to think that with the lower humidity levels used in the "dry incubation" method an accurate hygrometer or one that is accurately adjusted should be used to be sure things don't get *too* dry. If anything, in the little experiment I did in the thread listed above the hygrometer parts of the units showed that all of them were reading a tad low...which would give a small buffer in the reading. I feel pretty sure, though, that there are units that will be reading high, too.

Thanks again for the info and let us know how the hatch goes!!!
Ed