Lockdown Humidity Question... Fill all water reservoirs?

[AmyLynn2374]

AmyLynn's Super Duper Styromidity Guide

lol..It'll be a best seller!!! lol

 

[scflock]

lol..It'll be a best seller!!! lol

 

[scflock]

Do you get the feeling that if people listen to both of us, we are creating a whole group of people who constantly open the incubator, but don't do anything?

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Do you get the feeling that if people listen to both of us, we are creating a whole group of people who constantly open the incubator, but don't do anything?

LOL Possible.

 

[snaffle]

That's the point that people need to understand about "dry" incubation. Even I am running close to dry now, but I am still at 40%

I "get" that

But 40% humidity might work for you... as a 'dry' incubation...but I also read the account from a man who did the 'dry' incubation ... and lost all the chicks because his humidity was 13%


AmyLynn what do you suggest to use as 'dummy' eggs? ... that is just blowing my mind... that the humidity will be different empty... as compared to putting something in there (not real eggs)

 

[AmyLynn2374]

I "get" that

But 40% humidity might work for you... as a 'dry' incubation...but I also read the account from a man who did the 'dry' incubation ... and lost all the chicks because his humidity was 13%


AmyLynn what do you suggest to use as 'dummy' eggs? ... that is just blowing my mind... that the humidity will be different empty... as compared to putting something in there (not real eggs)

13% is wayyyyyy too low in my opinion. I won't run completely dry unless the bator is above 25%. thus the reason for the sponge.

I honestly would have to say store bought unfertile eggs would be the best thing. Part of your humidity in your incubator is going to be based on the moisture that is escaping the eggs, if your incubator is sitting empty, you won't get a true reading because that factor isn't there. Then you have to contribute for the mass of eggs as well.
When you run the incubator empty and then put your eggs in for hatch usually there are going to be some small adjustments needed to account for the factors that those eggs add. I'm not saying it would neccessarily be a huge difference, but theoretically there will be a difference.

 

[jhall6293]

@AmyLynn2374 We were discussing incubation on another thread. I'm trying out dry incubation the way you have explained it in your posts.
The idea of moving the eggs into a still air incubator for the last few days of incubation came up.
Have you ever tried this?
Here's the link to that section of the thread I was referring to: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/971678/incubator-hatching-related-questions/60
I'm curious about your thoughts?

 

[AmyLynn2374]

@AmyLynn2374 We were discussing incubation on another thread. I'm trying out dry incubation the way you have explained it in your posts.
The idea of moving the eggs into a still air incubator for the last few days of incubation came up.
Have you ever tried this?
Here's the link to that section of the thread I was referring to: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/971678/incubator-hatching-related-questions/60
I'm curious about your thoughts?

First let me just say that I have a fan forced little giant and I still have hot/cold spots. I like the fact that the fan keeps the air circulated better and you don't have the "layered heat" that you do in still air, and in theory they are supposed to eliminate the hot/cold spots by evening out the air flo, but in reality, not so much. Under my heating elements it's 1-2 degrees higher than toward the center of my bator. My corners are also warmer.

As for using a second bator for hatching. many people do this. Especially those that like to do staggered hatches. I personally have not. I only have the one bator and I don't do staggered hatches or back to back hatches so I see no benefits to using a hatcher. I've been having great hatches right in the forced air so unless I do start hatching on a bigger scale I don't foresee me changing that. I would highly recommend a second hatching bator (still or forced air) for staggered hatches or back to back hatching.

Good luck. Keep me posted, I would love to hear how well others do with the low humidity incubation methods as well.

 

[scflock]

First let me just say that I have a fan forced little giant and I still have hot/cold spots. I like the fact that the fan keeps the air circulated better and you don't have the "layered heat" that you do in still air, and in theory they are supposed to eliminate the hot/cold spots by evening out the air flo, but in reality, not so much. Under my heating elements it's 1-2 degrees higher than toward the center of my bator. My corners are also warmer.

As for using a second bator for hatching. many people do this. Especially those that like to do staggered hatches. I personally have not. I only have the one bator and I don't do staggered hatches or back to back hatches so I see no benefits to using a hatcher. I've been having great hatches right in the forced air so unless I do start hatching on a bigger scale I don't foresee me changing that. I would highly recommend a second hatching bator (still or forced air) for staggered hatches or back to back hatching.

Good luck. Keep me posted, I would love to hear how well others do with the low humidity incubation methods as well.

I have hot and cool spots in the Brinsea as well. I set the temp to a 99.5 average, then rotate the egg tray every time I add water. I'm still curious to hear if anyone has had success with lower humidity in the Brinseas or RCOMs. Seems like that only works in the styrobators, and the Brinsea users are shooting for 40-45%

 

[jhall6293]

First let me just say that I have a fan forced little giant and I still have hot/cold spots. I like the fact that the fan keeps the air circulated better and you don't have the "layered heat" that you do in still air, and in theory they are supposed to eliminate the hot/cold spots by evening out the air flo, but in reality, not so much. Under my heating elements it's 1-2 degrees higher than toward the center of my bator. My corners are also warmer.

As for using a second bator for hatching. many people do this. Especially those that like to do staggered hatches. I personally have not. I only have the one bator and I don't do staggered hatches or back to back hatches so I see no benefits to using a hatcher. I've been having great hatches right in the forced air so unless I do start hatching on a bigger scale I don't foresee me changing that. I would highly recommend a second hatching bator (still or forced air) for staggered hatches or back to back hatching.

Good luck. Keep me posted, I would love to hear how well others do with the low humidity incubation methods as well.

Thank you, Amy! That's helpful info. I do not do staggered hatches yet, but have been doing back-to-back hatches. I may have to give this method a try on my next hatch! Thanks again for your input!