"Natural" humidity question

[Eggscaping]

Hi guys! So, while New Boots is gearing up to have our coop and run built, I'm planning to....INCUBATE! Of course we will probably go to Farr's or Cascade Farm Supply, but I would love the experience. Besides, I have a hunch that rare breeds like Swedish Flower Chickens will be found locally. So here's my question: We are in Lakeside, Oregon now, and the humidity here is always high. We have an ocean 3 minutes away, and an enormous lake 6 blocks away, plus it rains a lot! My tillandsias (air plants) that normally need to be sprayed daily are giddy with happiness - one even bloomed. I'm curious about whether high humidity in the environment...80s and 90s is pretty normal here...change the humidity that an incubator needs. If so, how do I equate environmental humidity with incubator humidity! Thanks!

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

I'd get your incubator up and running and start taking temperature and humidity readings now before you get your eggs.

 

[007Sean]

1st do you have a calibrated hygrometer? If not, obtain one and use the Salt Test calibration method to calibrate. You can go from there and determine what will be required to operate your incubator under your conditions. Also, a stable climate controlled room is advantageous to incubating in high or low humidity areas.
Most peeps in high humidity areas don't add water to the incubator...literally 'dry incubating'. You will need to know how much humidity is in the ambient air to figure out whether or not you need to add water or not....and the best way to determine this is with a hygrometer.
ETA - when saying ambient air, I mean the air in the incubator as well as the room ambient air. There usually is a slight difference between the room humidity and what will be reading in the incubator when dry incubating.

 

[Fairview01]

The humidity inside an incubator will nearly be the same as the ambient humidity. The only effective humidity changes that can done is to increase humidity. Significantly decreasing humidity for an extended period of time is impossible inside the small space of the incubator since there needs to be a constant exvhange of outside fresh air in the incubator for embryo health.

Broody chickens successfully hatch their chicks without humidity control. You should be able too also.

 

[chickens really]

You need to decide what type of incubator will work best in your location? I have a Hovabator 1588 and it's great because here our humidity is up and down. It's very easy to control the humidity with this incubator.