Nuture Right 360- Shoe String Method

[LaurenRitz]

The more surface area you have, the more water is going to evaporate, creating higher humidity. A shoelace maybe half as thick might be better. Also, keep track of when the humidity spikes. At night? Right before a storm? When the water level is higher in the jar?

Consider a test where the lace just drips into the channel, so you can note if the water "speeds up."

 

[winterwolf4]

The more surface area you have, the more water is going to evaporate, creating higher humidity. A shoelace maybe half as thick might be better. Also, keep track of when the humidity spikes. At night? Right before a storm? When the water level is higher in the jar?

Consider a test where the lace just drips into the channel, so you can note if the water "speeds up."

The goove tracks the humidity and I will keep a closer look at it. During storm and such. Thank you for the insight.

 

[winterwolf4]

Now I have both of my incubators up and running. On 7 days left on my first incubator I woke up this morning and had to add water even though I had the shoe string attached. The water level was a little lower than half so I guess it isn't wicking well with the cotton string. Notice photo#2 on water level.

Incubator #1 has a cotton shoe string.
Incubator #2 has a polyester shoe string.

The glass jars aren't exactly the same, but it was the closest I could get.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Now I have both of my incubators up and running. On 7 days left on my first incubator I woke up this morning and had to add water even though I had the shoe string attached. The water level was a little lower than half so I guess it isn't wicking well with the cotton string. Notice photo#2 on water level.

Incubator #1 has a cotton shoe string.
Incubator #2 has a polyester shoe string.

The glass jars aren't exactly the same, but it was the closest I could get.

Remind me again, where did you get the incubator covers/cozy?

 

[winterwolf4]

Remind me again, where did you get the incubator covers/cozy?

I got them from someone on Facebook.

 

[NorthwoodsChick]

Now I have both of my incubators up and running. On 7 days left on my first incubator I woke up this morning and had to add water even though I had the shoe string attached. The water level was a little lower than half so I guess it isn't wicking well with the cotton string. Notice photo#2 on water level.

Incubator #1 has a cotton shoe string.
Incubator #2 has a polyester shoe string.

The glass jars aren't exactly the same, but it was the closest I could get.

Interesting topic and I’m curious about cotton vs polyester. Can you share what phase of incubation you’re in and what humidity level are you aiming for?
Can you further control humidity and how often you need to refill by running the section of ambient air-exposed string through a plastic sheath or straw? Or would that promote mold?

 

[winterwolf4]

Interesting topic and I’m curious about cotton vs polyester. Can you share what phase of incubation you’re in and what humidity level are you aiming for?
Can you further control humidity and how often you need to refill by running the section of ambient air-exposed string through a plastic sheath or straw? Or would that promote mold?

I am aimer for a 45% to 55% humidity on the first stage of incubation. Then after lockdown I plan to raise it to 65%. When chicks begin to hatch the humidity naturally goes up to 75% to 80%.

I have 6 days left on the hatch with the cotton shoe string.

I have 20 days left on the polyester shoe string. I just set that one last night for an Easter hatch.

If I were to run the shoe string through a plastic straw it might cause mold, but I would have to look at my book: "Hatching and Brooding Your Own Chicks" by Gail Damerow.

I highly recommend this book. It helps understand it more.

 

[winterwolf4]

On another note:
I have not had to refill incubator #1 water jar since the beginning. It is now day 15 out of 21. The olive jar says it holds 5lbs of olives. It doesn't give the fluid ounces though.

 

[winterwolf4]

Day 19 update: I took the turner out yesterday. 20/21 eggs made it to lockdown. Right now the humidity is at 66%. Is that too high? I pulled out both shoe strings. To try to lower humidity. There are no pips yet so we will see.
Normally without the shoestring method I have chicks hatch on day 18 or 19.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I usually try not to go over 55 when hatching, but I see people go to around 70, I assume the fluctuations would be o.k. but I'm just not sure.

I do know for me and where I live, I have a better hatch rate and less problems when humidity is lower.