On lockdown, but humidity too low..how do I raise it!? Please, urgent!

[1maria100]

The humidity in my bator is at 74% right now...I have a hovabator 1602 and I filled all the water compartments and even put a bowl with a sponge in it. Nothing is working! Any body have any ideas? I need to get it to at least 80%! I just started lockdown a couple hours ago.

 

[shelby528]

I would say check it after another hour if that still isnt working put more water in it and make sure that everything is in working order...I had a problem with my last batch humidity was 64% -_- and had to hand hatch every single one

 

[TinyChickenLady]

Have you checked the edges around your bator? Is it possible that some heat or moisture is escaping from somewhere? I had humidity issues with my last hatch and only got 3 out 13 to hatch

I've heard of people wrapping or duct taping the edges of theirs to keep the humidity in. Just my 2 cents...

 

[pete55]

Hi

In my opinion 74% is not too bad and I'd advise leaving alone really. If your vents are open you could close them a little more which will give the air in the incubator more time to saturate.

There's links and info on my website for more detailed guides to incubation if you wish to look there

http://oakgarthgeese.com

 

[CluckCluck18]

That happened to me, too. I wrapped a blanket around the bator and it worked perfectly! Give it a try, but I also wanted to say that 75% is good.....my chicks hatched very nicely @ 100 degrees and 75%. God luck

 

[Anarchy82]

I have only done one incubation, but I had mine at 99.5 and 72% humidity for most of the lockdown and had 5 out of the 9 hatch.

Most of the things I read said to keep the humidity between 70 to 80.

 

[1maria100]

Okay, I blocked some of the ventilation holes and it went up to about 77% so I'm happy with that. Thanks for the advice everyone!

 

[CCourson05]

If it goes down again, soak a paper towel in HOT water, and put the whole paper towel in the incubator. It will sky-rocket.

 

[wolverine]

Hi

I'm on lockdown today too - day 18.

Setup is as follows:

- Home made incubator. Wood lined with 3/4" polystyrene sheet.
- Water tray underneath slatted base, about 80% of floor surface area.
- Four water containers (surrounded with mesh, with cloths in them) in with the eggs.

The humidity is around 50%.

What can I do? I guess at 50%, they chicks won't be able to get out of the shells, is that the main problem? Am I pretty much guaranteed to lose them at this humidity?

Thanks everyone...

 

[Barbedwirecat]

wloverine:
Try hot water, try wet paper towels. Try sponges with hot water and paper towels. Anything to get that humidity up. They will stick to the shells and not hatch or what's called shrink wrapping (when you open the incubator too much this can happen). Just be careful how much you open it now. Hot water will bring it up, you can try duct taping edges or openings too, but NOT all of them, they need to breath!!

Do you have a fan in there?