Red Vent Plugs-Question

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

I re-read my paper thingy's for the 'bator and it said to take them out of you have alot of 'hum..we don't have any so I decided to leave them in.

 

[cpartist]

Quote:
Me too. I think ventilation is as important as humidity, but often overlooked.

I usually have great hatches on my own eggs, and decent on shipped eggs.

When you fire up the bator with the plugs out, adjust temps to this environment.
Our weather here in FL is very fickle this time of year. One day we are heating with
the wood stove, a few days later we are leaving the windows open.
Yet my bator temps stay fairly constant (Hovabators) and I just add water every couple
of days to one trough to keep my humidity averaging 45 or so. When it drops to the 30's,
I add water and it goes up to 50ish for a day maybe.

You can adjust your humidity by adding water the first 18 days,
if it runs too high, you can let it run lower for a day or two. Humidity is more an average...
You can add sponges, etc to keep it higher during lockdown if necessary.

Everyone will have different humidity needs depending on climate and
altitude, I think, but I've had the best results by not following manufacturers instructions
to leave the plugs in until hatching starts. The eggs need ventilation as much as the
hatching chicks, IMO.

Leave the plugs out, in my experience, I've gotten the best hatches this way.

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

I decided to leave the plugs in because we have 0 humity.
I can understand people taking the plugs out in more humid areas but I'm serious it's quiet dry here!

 

[cpartist]

The humidity in my house right now is 22, cold outside and the woodstove
is in full mode. Humidity dropped this morning to 36. I added water to one
trough and I'm now about 45...vents open.

Everyone has to figure what works best in their environment.

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

Can't I get a Humity measureing thing? I would really like one, but don't know exactly where to get one.

 

[DMSrabbit]

Mrs. Fluffy Puffy :

Can't I get a Humity measureing thing? I would really like one, but don't know exactly where to get one.

Hygrometers can be found at a variety of places. Wal-Mart, or a pet shop locally, but personally i would find a high quality/decent price one online and go with that. Lots of people have their favorites, i personally use a thermometer/hygrometer digital combo that i bought from incubator warehouse. This is my first run with it, so i cant honestly say how truly accurate it is, but it seems to work great right now!!​

 

[Egghead_Jr]

A cigar shop or online is a good place to find a small inexpensive adjustable analog hygrometer for 7 to 9 dollars. The important thing is it's adjustable, set it with damp (paste consistency) salt and water in a bottle cap in double bagged zip lock bags. The humidity will be 75% in 8 hours, adjust so it reads that and your good to go.

Also wrapping in a damp, not wet, wash cloth will read 100%. Two easy ways to set hygrometers for accuracy.

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

Thanks Peeps!
I'm going to Wal*Mart on Friday so I'll look around.