incubating - Hova-Bator 1588

[poniesforever]

Okay, so, I am new to having chickens this year. I have gone all out now, and bought an incubator... Hova-Bator 1588. I bought that one, since its suppose to be easy to use. I have had it plugged in for a couple days now. No eggs in it yet, I'm just seeing if its working properly. So the temp is staying steady, fluxing between 99.8 to 100.2... it consistantly bounces within that range. Which is just what its suppose to do. I put water in the number one slot for humidity, before I even plugged it in. The humidity is staying at 54% to 56%. Since I know nothing about it, I thought that must be normal... but read somewhere that humidity should be around 45%. I see no instructions about the humidity with this incubator. Just that it was set up for ease of use. Will this humidity be okay? or what do I do to bring it down? Maybe I should just try it and see what happens..? I just don't know. Any advice???

 

[OldChurchEggery1]

I vote you just try it and see what happens! I don't measure humidity in my incubator and have had plenty of decent hatches. While there may be an optimal humidity level, nature allows for success with a bit of fluctuation. It wouldn't do if every egg died because the mother hen takes too leisurely a walk to the watering hole or a little longer then usual to rustle up some grub. Chickens don't wear watches last time I checked, so a little bit of variation in time away from the nest, feather cover on the breast, nesting material, ambient temperature can still mean the hatchlings make it.

 

[poniesforever]

Okay... I think will just try it. As I kept reading the instructions... it says I can pull the red plug, if there is to much moisture build up on the window... so, I should think I could pull the plug to bring the humidity down a little also. I did pull it to see what happens. I think I will go ahead and try some eggs tho... this is just a trial run, and to help me learn a little bit more about this whole thing as well.
Thanks for the advice!

 

[3ChickensinNC]

I just completed my first hatch with the 1588. My humidity stated in that range.

 

[GAQuail]

I just completed my first hatch with the 1588. My humidity stated in that range.

Were you satisfied with your hatch?

 

[poniesforever]

Yes, please let us know if you had a good hatch rate..??

I just put some duck eggs in mine lastnight. will put some chicken eggs in also, next Monday. My brother in law is giving me some Faverolle eggs, Ameraucana eggs, and of course several different duck eggs... and he is giving me some extras, and whatever else hatches beyond what I want, he will take. So I am excited to be able to try with several eggs, instead of just a few!

I bought this incubator for its ease of use... I am just hoping and praying it pays off!

 

[aoxa]

I have the same incubator and my humidity runs higher than it shows. If the incubator shows 45% it is usually around 55%

I do not add any water until day 18. I leave the red plug out all the time, only add it if I'm having trouble maintaining high humidity after day 18.

First hatch - 28/34
Second - 24/27
Third - 2/23

My last hatch was awful, but I believe that was my fault. I opened the incubator during lockdown to add more water, and I shrink wrapped all but two

Never doing that again!

The only issue I have is when I put them in lockdown, the temperature will not pull steady at 99.5 - it goes down to 97 - 98.5 on the mesh. The egg turner is higher, so the eggs incubate to day 18 at the correct temperatures, but after that it doesn't. I don't know if it is creating an issue or not in my hatch rate. Not sure what to do about it either way..

I love the incubator. The picture window is wonderful come hatch day!

DO NOT OPEN IT AFTER DAY 18! Learn from my mistake :/

So no water before day 18 - buy a hydrometer at Wal-Mart.

 

[Ridgerunner]

i've got the older 1588 model. The instructions said to fill the central reservoir during incubation. When I do that, the humidity may be in the mid-30's, mid-40's or low 50's. It depends on background humidity. When I run it with no water in the reservoir, I might get a humidity anywhere from the low teens to the mid-30's. It's not consistent because my background humidity is not consistent. If someone has relatively high background humidity, they may not need to add any water. If that background humidity is really dry, water is needed.

For whatever reasons, the same humidities don't work for all of us. I think height above sea level makes a difference due to air pressure, but that is just a guess. I'm sure there are several reasons.

I agree there is a fairly wide range where you can be successful. I suggest trying it, be as consistent as you can be so you know what you are dealing with, and see what happens. If you are consistent, at least you have a better idea of what you might want to change, if anything.

Good luck! It is nerve-wracking and exciting, but a great journey.

 

[aoxa]

i've got the older 1588 model. The instructions said to fill the central reservoir during incubation. When I do that, the humidity may be in the mid-30's, mid-40's or low 50's. It depends on background humidity. When I run it with no water in the reservoir, I might get a humidity anywhere from the low teens to the mid-30's. It's not consistent because my background humidity is not consistent. If someone has relatively high background humidity, they may not need to add any water. If that background humidity is really dry, water is needed.
For whatever reasons, the same humidities don't work for all of us. I think height above sea level makes a difference due to air pressure, but that is just a guess. I'm sure there are several reasons.
I agree there is a fairly wide range where you can be successful. I suggest trying it, be as consistent as you can be so you know what you are dealing with, and see what happens. If you are consistent, at least you have a better idea of what you might want to change, if anything.
Good luck! It is nerve-wracking and exciting, but a great journey.

Didn't think to mention the background humidity! My Background humidity rarely goes bellow 50% - so in all actuality my humidity is around 30% - 40% during days 1-18.

 

[poniesforever]

Oh wow... this really is exciting and nerve wracking! But I'm enjoying it! I will have to learn more about lockdown... I don't know anything about it. But I get it... don't disturb after putting them down on the grate. Speaking of humidity... its suppose to be bad here tomorrow. We'll just have to wait and see how it all goes!

Thanks so much for all the input!!! This all helps me a great deal!!