Humidity keeps dropping!!!

[hinkjc]

scrapmom - I am not sure I understand why when you pour water in you have to mop it up..that is why your humidity is not holding steady. Are you sure you're pouring it in the correct place? There shouldn't be holes for it to run out of. You need steady humidity and temp for a successful hatch.

I know others are recommending 30% relative humidity, but from my experience that results in a hatch of stuck chicks or unhatched eggs. I have found it best to keep humidity around 50% during incubation and up to 65% for hatch time (the last 3 days). This is from my personal experiences, which you will soon have your own to determine what works best for you. I felt I should mention that what works for some may not work for you. Please keep this in mind when receiving advice.

As far as temps, if your thermometer is reading accurately, still air temps should be around 101 F and chicks should hatch on time. It is especially important to measure this temp at the top of the eggs. Any lower and your reading will be off.

Jody

 

[swtangel321]

Quote:
On the bottom of the LG's there are little holes !!!! Not were you put the water !!!!! You have 3 groves to put water and if it is to over flow will come out the bottom, I also tried 50ish my first hatch in my GREAT LG and had a bad hatch !!! When I droped it to 35ish ended up with 100%, like you said to each there own. Some do better with dry incubation and some better with higher hum !!!!! I think a lot of people have been trying the dry b/c of bad hatch rates !!!!

 

[scrapmom5]

I have a thought on the humidity. Is your home/area really humid or dry? My theory is that Hinkjc is in a dry are like myself while the others are in a more humid climate. If this were the case maybe that would be the difference. But then again a humidostat will read the humidity either way. So maybe not.

Hinkjc:

as for the holes in the bottom of the LG...there are resevoirs in the bottoms of the lg for water. When I filled that with water I only achieved a 30% humidity level. When I just put water into the bottom after filling the resevoirs I was able to achieve higher humidity. The problem arises from the fact that the rest of the "floor" was not ment for water and there are small holes in the floor where water would indeed flow through.


I really appreciate all the help I am receiving. I am more confused now than when I began. My current humidity is at 43% and my temp is at 100. Maybe I will hold at this for a while and pray for a miracle. Who new it would be so complicated for hatching?!?!?!? The good news...I am learning something new and enjoying the experience. The bad news...I may end up hurting some sweet little chicks. I think it is amazing that Hens have any success at all.

I do like getting the advise from all of you experts. I am taking all of it to heart and trying my best with my first eggs. So keep giving the advise.

 

[hinkjc]

swtangel - I'm not sure why you find it necessary to "shout" at me, but it was really unnecessary and disrespectful. I was simply asking a question to clarify the OP's comments and offering advice, which is what this forum is about.

scrapmom,
The humidity in your home will determine how much or how little water you need to add to your bator. It does not change what is necessary for a successful hatch. Humidity is read inside your incubator. If your home moisture is around 60%, you will likely not need to add much water to your bator. However, if your home moisture is around 30%, you will need to add water.

I know there are holes in the bottom, but my point was water should not be coming out of them as that is not where the water goes. Now I see that you were adding water to bring it up, but you really don't want to flood the bottom.

I think if you stay in the 100-101 range you should be ok. If you notice the hatch is a day early, you know to decrease temps a bit and if it's a day late, increase a bit. Trial and error is how most of us learned what works and what doesn't..sad but true.

Jody

 

[scrapmom5]

Thanks Jody for all the help. I have decided to see how this hatch goes for now. I can't get the humidity down now. It likes the 45 - 53 % range. So I will keep it there and candle on Friday (day 8).

 

[hinkjc]

That humidity sounds perfect. Hang in there and let us know how it goes. Good luck.

Jody

 

[swtangel321]

Quote:
hinkjc - by no means was I yelling at you or anyone else on this forum !!!!! And not trying to be disrespectful at all..... I'm not sure how you even took it that way !!!! I was just trying to clarify the holes in the bottom of the LG (since I have one also) and then went on to say that some have better luck high and some low !!!! I agree with you that everyone has there way of doing it. and that works for them. I guess I misunderstood this forum, I was under the impression that we could talk/answer other peoples questions (not only the OP) have seen it in many other posts, If I knew it wasnt aloud or considered rude I would of never done it !!!! Thought we were all pretty friendly here !!!! My bad for misunderstanding that !!! Will keep my answers to myself from now on!!!! Again, in no way was I trying to disrespect you or your ways of incubation/thinking/doing thing or "shouting" at you.

 

[shelleyd2008]

In my LG, before i added the fan I could never get the humidity to go above 40% even with all the little troughs full. I cut down some small butter bowls, and set them in the bottom of the bator, under the wire, with sponges in them, and that brought it up some. I have since added a fan to mine, and I barely have to add water at all! I think because it is still air, it makes the reading different.

swtangel---using excessive exclamation marks (!) can be construed as shouting in written conversation...just thought I'd let you know.

 

[swtangel321]

Quote:
Ohhhhh, Thanks ! I thought CAPITAL LETTERS was considered shouting ! Well, good to know I guess ! Never had a problem before, first time for everything. How are the babies/hatch doing??Thanks again !

 

[hinkjc]

Quote:
The overuse of exclamation points seems like shouting to me. I apologize if I misunderstood that, but it is a bit odd to add 3, 4 and even 5 exclamation points at the end of every sentence. I would never want to discourage anyone from responding to folks or asking questions, but the way you did it came across as shouting. Thanks for clarifying.

Jody