Setting eggs tonight and having a lot of trouble with humidity.

[FarmerVal]

I'm setting my eggs tonight in my Hovabator 1602N. I've got the temp just riught, however, I am having a lot of issues with the humidity. I barely filled the "P" shaped trough with water and I'm getting humidity in the 80th percentile. I just poured the water out and I'm and now I'm getting a reading of about 75%. I have a digitial hydrometer and one from petsmart that everyone has talked about. I've even left them in a bag with saltwater overnight to make sure they were correct. Would humidity this high in the beginning throw things off? Has anyone else had this issue? I'm starting to get nervous as I NEED to set my eggs tonight. Thanks for your help!

** I wanted to add that I also have the fan too.

 

[Elphaba2140]

I would recalculate your hygrometer. Have you done that lately? If not I would go here. There is an excellent video on how to do that.

http://cmfarm.us/index.html

 

[easttxchick]

That's what I was wondering-it's probably your hygrometer.

 

[Lark Rise]

http://www.amazon.com/PETCO-Reptile-Habitat-Humidity-Gauge/dp/B003IMMMLC

I have 2 of these and they calibrated spot on.

 

[FarmerVal]

I've already collaborated both of them just yesterday. I just went and checked and now my humidity is at 55% without any water though... Could that be right?

 

[FarmerVal]

Quote:
I got mine from Petsmart and it looks similar... Unfortunately we don't have a Petco around here and it's probably too late to order online.

 

[Lark Rise]

Quote:
I got mine from Petsmart and it looks similar... Unfortunately we don't have a Petco around here and it's probably too late to order online.

I don't know which one you bought from Petsmart, but the one I had gotten from Petsmart was called Fluker's and it was way off ( by over 15%) when I calibrated it. Needless to say, I returned it. I had used it for a couple of days already . After reading recommendations here I got the PETCO ones.

In our Brinsea, we have to put very very little water in it and humidity will be like 50% (we are in GA).

 

[La Mike]

I dont have those type incubators but if you get 55% with no water work with that it could be the humidity of where you have the bator
If you are sure your gauge is right then test measured amounts of water to decide what you get from each
Make sure and keep an eye on it
Where I live outside humidity can go from 20% to 100% in a few hours lol

Good luck

 

[FarmerVal]

That's how BOTH of mine are. They are both off, but I just did the math and subtracted the number it was over to get a more accurate reading. The one I bought at Petsmart read 80% after collaborating. So I just subtract 5% when reading it. My digital read 61% after collaboration! Very frustrating.

We put the eggs in anyway. It's still reading a little high, but I figure most people with HovaBators fill the middle trough completely. Mine is just slightly filled. We are heading over to my inlaws tomorrow and I found a Petco that is on the way. I plan on stopping in tomorrow and picking one up. Should I collaborate it when I get home? Or do most people have good luck with it out of the box?

Thanks again for all of your help! Keeping my fingers crossed that these babies hatch

 

[Lark Rise]

When you pick up the humidity gauge, make sure you get one that runs the same humidity with several others on the rack. Good luck!