What is the ideal humidity for hatching in an incubator?

[dragasn]

When you put eggs in incubator, I was slow putting them in. Do you need to adjust temp? Mine is cycling 3° lower than without eggs. Or will it come back up

 

[dragasn]

It's a homemade coolerbater with 2 75 watt bulbs & water heater thermometer.

 

[WalnutHill]

It will come back up as the eggs heat up. Should take 24 hours or less. 2 75 watt bulbs sounds like a whole lot for a coolerbator. I'd think a 40 and 60 would be more than enough. No reason to change now if you already have eggs set, though. Once it's up to temp, if the lights stay on for a very short time, you may want to drop the wattage for the next run.

 

[PD-Riverman]

It's a homemade coolerbater with 2 75 watt bulbs & water heater thermometer.

Does the incubator have a fan? How big is it? I agree thats alot of heat unless it is real big!! Most people do not know that with most Styrofoam incubators------some are 25 watt and some are 40 watt. 2 75 watt bulbs create alot of heat causing hot spot close to the bulbs before the thermostat has time to catch up and cut them off. 2 bulbs is a good thing incase 1 was to blow. "I" would set the incubator up using 1 bulb as small of wattage as it takes to get the temp up to cut off(app 100 deg) then add the second bulb---same wattage. If your bulbs only stay on for a short period of time now "I" would go ahead and drop the wattage some now----you just got to watch it close for a couple hours to make sure the new wattage bulbs get warm enough to turn the thermostat off----I feel you will get a better hatch that way. Good Luck!

 

[dragasn]

Thanks. It took about 6 hours come back to normal temp. I'll change bulbs soon as I can.

 

[dragasn]

This morning I ran into another problem. I replaced water with sponge since pix.The bottom hydrometer is reading 40% & top is reading 28% any thoughts

 

[WalnutHill]

Average sounds about right, but that indicates you don't have good circulation (if any). When you turn the eggs you stir the air, so I wouldn't worry too much.

 

[dragasn]

Ok thanks,. I've been worried about it.
That's why I was wondering bout the pc fan (in the other post this one is a lot smaller but blows about the same amount of air

 

[Widderpincess12]

QUESTIONS:::::

I did my first hatch Feb 20, and I have NO pips and NO ChIcks...someone said my air cells weren't big enough for day 21 I kept my humidty at 50-55%...1-18 and tried to get it about 60-65 for 18-21...im scared to try another batch in fear ill kill them all again.....I did 9 eggs and NONE hatched.... ( I have a little giant bator circulated fan was at 99.5 I have little reptile humidity gage from petssmart and my thermometer was on the grey rack with the eggs but not on them...we candled ay 18 and saw movement and were all excited and now nothing and its day 23......

these are from this AM

 

[RVAnnie]

I have my incubator in the bathroom without windows. I have found that adding water to the tub and closing the door really helps stabilize the humidity really well. Hope this helps.