what is the best method for humidity in incubators

[BaileyBoy]

I know professional incubators have this thing where it lets out water depending on the humidity. Is there anyway i can buy something like that for my incubator for under $10? if not what is the best method for humidity so i don't have to monitor and change it 3 times a day? If it helps on this thread for helping me (basically if it make any difference), this is the incubator I'm building https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/missprissys-chic-chick-homemade-incubator

 

[Alaskan]

My last hatch I did a "dry hatch" and I think that is the way to go.

Also, with this method, you don't have to mess with humidity at all (unless you live in the desert), until the last part of incubation.

Then, at the end you make everything as humid as possible. I didn't have clean sponges, and my incubator had the space to have a small bowl of water with a paper towel sticking out of it. The paper towel wicked up the water and helped to humidify the air.

Anyway, I would look into dry hatch techniques, figure out what the regular room humidity levels of your house are, and then decide what you might need.

Good luck!

 

[BaileyBoy]

Thanks but what about if I'm using a closed stryrafoam incubator thats humidity is only 15-25 percent if i don't add sponges?

 

[gimmie birdies]

I dry hatch too I am almost on day 20. I didn't start to add moisture until day 19 after the eggs were all shrunk down and no clear on the tips.

this way they don't drown when the poke their membrane. I put in damp paper towel and then replace it when it dries.

 

[blucoondawg]

Be careful your incubator is not sealed too well when closed, the eggs and chicks growing in them need oxygen. Another thing to factor in is when you fill your incubator with eggs those eggs will give off humidity.

I doubt you could buy anything that does that for what you can spend, but monitoring the humidity shouldn't be that much of a bother anyways, in my incubator, which is nothing more than a Styrofoam box with a auto turn, a fan, and heat element inside, I simply squirt some water onto the bottom pan of the incubator through the vent holes, I have been keeping it between 30 and 50% humidity, 50 is actually high for me, usually its 30 to 40 and it stays in that range easily for a couple days, I just make sure to take a peak at the gauge once or twice a day to be sure. After day 18 I am going to boost it up over 60% by filling the water troughs and adding a sponge if necessary.

I am going to see how this hatch goes and the next one I may try dry hatching and adding humidity at day 18.