Humidity level in incubator too high

[islandchick75]

I have a Little Giant styrofoam still air incubator. There is no water in it at all and the humidity level is 90%! Does anyone know how to lower the huidity level? I havent put the eggs in yet, just trying to get it right before i do. Thanks!

 

[mattman1978]

Humidity is 90? Where did you get the hydrometer? Is the bator inside the house and are you running airconditioning?

We use NO added water in the incubator until it's time to hatch and then we bring it up to around 60% using 4-5 baby food jars with a sponge stuck in each one. Fill em with water and place em in the Little giant. Works great for us.

We run a continuous incubator and use a little giant as a hatcher. We started out with 40% humidity and noticed a lot of chicks quit at the end. Those that lived, came out all "gooey". We have been slowly dropping the humidity in the incubator over the past few months. As we did, hatch rate went up considerably. No more gooey chicks!

Oh and we use a digital pharmacy thermometer to measure temperature. It's the only thing you can get that is factory calibrated. Oh and never measure temp near the heating elements.

 

[donrae]

I agree, your meter is likely off.

 

[olderoo]

"Dry Incubation" by Bill Worrell.

Go here:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/how-to-incubate-hatch-eggs-using-the-dry-incubation-method


Open the vents, first. I found my styrofoam still air to be very "swampy" as well. I got a small computer cooling fan and added it, to help circulate air.
And the point has been made about ambient humidity. If it's high, you will have a battle, unless you dehumidify the room.

 

[blucoondawg]

I have a Little Giant styrofoam still air incubator. There is no water in it at all and the humidity level is 90%! Does anyone know how to lower the huidity level? I havent put the eggs in yet, just trying to get it right before i do. Thanks!

I see your name is island chick, I assume you live in a very humid environment? If so you will need to dehumidify your incubating room somehow, if you incubate at 90% humidity you won't have any air cells and chicks will drown or be swollen and not able to move to pip

 

[islandchick75]

Thanks for all the advice! I was able to get the humidity down to 65. I do not have air conditioning, but
our climate is somewhat humid at times. I bought my hygrometer from the pet store, it is analog not digital. Is 65 low enough? A dehumidifier might be my only other option.

 

[Davaroo]

Your 65% is with no added water?

It's high, but doable. Keep the vents open, and make sure the incubator is situated in a calm quiet place. I like mine down low in a back room closet.

 

[blucoondawg]

I would think 65 is going to be to high to incubate. If you are going to try it just make sure to candle at least 3 times to monitor your air cell development I think at 65 you're air cells may not grow