Lockdown Humidity Question... Fill all water reservoirs?

[scflock]

The same 8 ounces of water will provide less humidity in a tall wine glass than it will have in a flat cake pan.

That was an excellent visual

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Sorry for not including the H%.

Ok so this hatching project I have checked the temperature twice daily and the humidity as well, it's typically between 38% and 48% depending on when I filled it last, in an effort to make the air bubbles bigger, I've let it drop down, it's been 19-27% (we've had rain the last two days, otherwise it would be more stable % wise). Even if I only put in a tablespoon of water, the humidity jumps up to 40+%. Literally used the tablespoon measuring spoon to put the water in and it jumped that high that fast.

So I guess that means my incubator is really good at holding humidity? But when I don't touch it and I have it at 40% ish, it will stay that way for about 2 days and then drops down fast like to 13-18%. So, I'm not sure what to do, how low can I let it go without killing off my chicks? Is day 14 until lock down enough time to get this done at all? Thanks!

When my bator doesn't hold above 25% dry I just add a wet sponge. I do not mess with the water wells until lockdown. The sponge usually holds it right around the 30% that I strive for. When it dips under 25%, I just rewet the sponge.

 

[WVduckchick]

That was an excellent visual

Thank you! I thought so

 

[K8Aspen]

Interesting. Ok. Will give it a try..

 

[jhall6293]

Good luck!

Okay, so I just came home to a completely hatched out baby!! He/she is doing great from what I can tell. Feet look good, eyes are clear - no deformities that I can identify from my thorough examination. (lol) I've got several that have pipped and about half of those are starting to zip! I'll keep you posted @AmyLynn2374 ! So far, so good!

 

[jhall6293]

I will never go back to trying to keep complicated humidity levels again. This hatch is becoming perfect. Since my last post, I've got 14 new babies...all healthy and perfect hatching. I couldn't ask for better. If all goes like it looks like it's going, I'll have a 71% hatch rate from e-bay eggs...I think that's darn good!
Here's what I did: nothing, really...my incubator stayed right at 35% humidity the whole time and as close to 99.5* F as one can hope to get (forced air).
I increased the humidity 3 days before hatching to 60-70% - it has been staying around 67%ish with the wet cloth I added (and keep damp) and I decreased the temp down to 98.5* F...it does go up to 99.5*, but only briefly. I'll post a pic of the babies soon! I'm in awe...like I said, I'll never go back - this is my method of choice.

 

[WVduckchick]

I will never go back to trying to keep complicated humidity levels again.  This hatch is becoming perfect.  Since my last post, I've got 14 new babies...all healthy and perfect hatching.  I couldn't ask for better.  If all goes like it looks like it's going, I'll have a 71% hatch rate from e-bay eggs...I think that's darn good!
Here's what I did: nothing, really...my incubator stayed right at 35% humidity the whole time and as close to 99.5* F as one can hope to get (forced air).  
I increased the humidity 3 days before hatching to 60-70% - it has been staying around 67%ish with the wet cloth I added (and keep damp) and I decreased the temp down to 98.5* F...it does go up to 99.5*, but only briefly.  I'll post a pic of the babies soon!  I'm in awe...like I said, I'll never go back - this is my method of choice.

Congrats! Yes post some pics!

 

[AmyLynn2374]

I will never go back to trying to keep complicated humidity levels again. This hatch is becoming perfect. Since my last post, I've got 14 new babies...all healthy and perfect hatching. I couldn't ask for better. If all goes like it looks like it's going, I'll have a 71% hatch rate from e-bay eggs...I think that's darn good!
Here's what I did: nothing, really...my incubator stayed right at 35% humidity the whole time and as close to 99.5* F as one can hope to get (forced air).
I increased the humidity 3 days before hatching to 60-70% - it has been staying around 67%ish with the wet cloth I added (and keep damp) and I decreased the temp down to 98.5* F...it does go up to 99.5*, but only briefly. I'll post a pic of the babies soon! I'm in awe...like I said, I'll never go back - this is my method of choice.

Low humidity incubation is the way to go. I swear by it!! Congrats!

 

[RubyNala97]

I will never go back to trying to keep complicated humidity levels again.  This hatch is becoming perfect.  Since my last post, I've got 14 new babies...all healthy and perfect hatching.  I couldn't ask for better.  If all goes like it looks like it's going, I'll have a 71% hatch rate from e-bay eggs...I think that's darn good!
Here's what I did: nothing, really...my incubator stayed right at 35% humidity the whole time and as close to 99.5* F as one can hope to get (forced air).  
I increased the humidity 3 days before hatching to 60-70% - it has been staying around 67%ish with the wet cloth I added (and keep damp) and I decreased the temp down to 98.5* F...it does go up to 99.5*, but only briefly.  I'll post a pic of the babies soon!  I'm in awe...like I said, I'll never go back - this is my method of choice.

Can I ask why you decreased to 98.5? I'm going into lockdown tomorrow. I'm running at 99.5-100. (In the afternoon it goes up to 100.)

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Can I ask why you decreased to 98.5? I'm going into lockdown tomorrow. I'm running at 99.5-100. (In the afternoon it goes up to 100.)

Some people decrease the temp a degree at hatch time. I personally don't. At times my bator will dip to 98 because I do open to take my chicks out and I leave it at that, but I don't intentionally lower it.