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Humidity problem in my homemade bator

Discussion in 'Incubating & Hatching Eggs' started by jettgirl24, Jan 24, 2011.

Most Liked Posts
  1. Jan 24, 2011 #1
    jettgirl24

    jettgirl24 Chillin' With My Peeps

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    Feb 21, 2010
    Duvall, WA
    Hi Guys,

    I built a homemade wine cooler bator a couple of weeks ago and have been working on getting all of the conditions right. The heat aspect is fine, plenty of it and seems to be contstant in all areas. Once the thermostat is hooked up (I'm going to be using a reptitemp) I don't anticipate and problems regulating it. Unfortunately I'm having some serious humidity issues. I have covered all of the vents in the back and on the sides but can't get the darn thing about 30%. I've tried different amounts of water in different containers and still no luck. The bottom of the fridge is open between the back and the control panels so my only other idea is to almost completely cover that part up. I did put a folded up towel underneath it to try and block off the airflow to no avail. Does anyone have another idea as to what I can do?

    I can add pictures when I get home this evening to help give an idea of the set up. Basicall the light bulb is mounted toward the top of the fridge, then there is a 4" x 4" fan mounted in the wall of the fridge underneath the bulb where the cooling unit was. There is also a second smaller fan (3" x 3" or so) mounted inside of the fridge. It sits at a 45 degree angel above the bulb blowing air down toward the bottom of the bator.
     
  3. Jan 24, 2011 #2
    pdsavage

    pdsavage Sussex Monarch

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    can you ducktape the open part?
     
  5. Jan 24, 2011 #3
    Baralak

    Baralak Chillin' With My Peeps

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    West "By God" Monroe, La
    What you have to do in this situation is give it more surface area.. The best way to do that is use a towel, or sponge to wick the water. Remeber you also need to have vents in your bator for fresh air to enter, and old air to exit. So you will need some type of opening at the bottom, and top. The eggs will give off carbon dioxide, and once the chicks hatch, they will give off co2 as well.

    I would use a sheet pan, or a bakeing pan with sponges or folded up towels. That will help the mosture enter in to the air quickly.. You will just have to play with it.

    I'll wait till I see your pics.
     
  7. Jan 24, 2011 #4
    jettgirl24

    jettgirl24 Chillin' With My Peeps

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    Feb 21, 2010
    Duvall, WA
    Thanks Baralak, I'll try that. The last container I used was a square baking pan that takes up most of the surface area on the bottom. I'll try putting a sponge in it though. I've duct taped off most of the vents, the one on the bottom is completely open though. It's about an inch and a half wide and runs the width of the fridge. The only idea I had left was that the fan mounted in the fridge wall underneath the bulb was pulling in too much air from the opening at the bottom which is preventing the humidity from rising. I think I'll try taping off the entire bottom vent, then opening up a small bit on each of the side vents. Hopefully this will help but I'll still post the pics later to see if that helps with any other suggestions!
     

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