I do not measure the humidity.

[donjr]

I just have a bowl of water sitting in the bator. What happens if the humitity is to high all of the 21 days?

 

[Cindiloohoo]

There are several things that could happen. It is not good for them to be too wet, they can drown at pip, have trouble absorbing the yolk, or just not develop properly. Get a hygrometer.

 

[canada-goose]

Quote:
Agreed!

 

[donjr]

Should i take the water out for a couple of hours every now and then untill i get a meter?

 

[4-H chicken mom]

How much water do you think you have in that bowl? If it is more than a cup, I would remove some but not all of it. I do agree about getting a hygrometer, it will be so much easier than guessing. Also, make sure you calibrate it. They are not always accurate. Good luck.

 

[donjr]

Maybe an eighth of a cup. Some times it dries up when i am at work.

 

[Cindiloohoo]

See that is the thing about humidity. It has absolutely nothing to do with the ammount of water in there. It has to do with the surface area of the water. I would put 2 regular size 8 oz. coffee cups in a regular size foam incubator. If it is smaller you will want to adjust it. For the first 18 days you are shooting for around 35-40% humidity for chicken eggs.

ETA: I'd estimate you need about 10% of the surface area of the bottom of your incubator for reservoir to maintain your humidity days 1-18. Then days 19-21 you will need to increase that by another 5% of the surface area of the bottom of the bator. This should get you close to your target of 35-40% days 1-18 and 65% the last 3 days until the hatch. I hope that helps. I am assuming you are working with a homemade bator.

 

[Andy J]

I've never measured the humidity in my Hovabator Model 1602N.I just followed the directions that came with it and got good results.In Mississippi,the humidity is naturally high most of the time.A couple of times the water completely evaporated with no ill effects.

I have found that eggs from older hens or eggs laid in the cold of winter do not hatch as well as eggs from young hens or spring and summer eggs.



Andy J