Why does humidity go up when I open incubator?

[Lkase]

So my humidity actually goes up when I open the incubator and not down like I thought was supposed to happen?!

 

[nuthatched]

what incubator do you have and are the sensors calibrated to make sure they're right?

 

[333113]

Also, if your humidity reading is "relative humidity," opening the incubator would lower the temperature which would tend to.make the relative humidity higher.

 

[utomo]

what is your environtment humidity ? maybe you live in high humidity area ?

 

[Lkase]

It is a homemade Styrofoam one that I absolutely regret using. It has been a pain since day one. If I try this again I will be buying one! I have a combined digital sensor in there. Humidity outside has been around 50% lately. Southern Indiana.

 

[jher77]

I think @ConnieA nailed it. It is relative humidity. Lower temps can't hold as much water vapor as higher temps so the RH appears higher. When you open the incubator, the hygrometer is reading the lower temp air.

 

[Lkase]

I think @ConnieA nailed it. It is relative humidity. Lower temps can't hold as much water vapor as higher temps so the RH appears higher. When you open the incubator, the hygrometer is reading the lower temp air.

That makes sense thank you. So does this mean my readings haven't been accurate? I've had trouble getting the humidity reading up but the air cells seem small.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

. Humidity outside has been around 50% lately. Southern Indiana.

How much water is in your bator? What are you using for wells?

Running my bator COMPLETELY dry.. makes my humidity about 30% lower than my ambient relative humidity.. So if my ambient humidity (even in cooler temps) is 65% in my house it runs around ~about~ 32%. Humidity IS higher outside the bator than inside it during incubation, in MY location. So while I wouldn't presume that your instrument is reading temperature instead of humidity as suggested.. I do agree with what ConnieA said.. and yes jherr77 also made an otherwise accurate description as to WHY others USUALLY see their INCUBATOR rh reading go down instead of up.. I've never noticed it, but very cool that you're paying attention to the details!

I really dislike those combo battery operated sensors.. they get inaccurate as the battery drains. I used rechargeable.. maybe that's not ideal??

If you get a new bator.. The NR360 worked great but with limited capacity and some other personal dislikes.. I love my Genesis 1588.. and EVEN the Janoel 12 is surprisingly successful for what it offers. Respect to those who have the time, skill, and will to homemade.

Did I say I love my Genesis 1588!? What day are ya on? Got pics of your cells? What color eggs and what's your humidity running inside the bator? Are you in on the Easter hatch a long already?

Happy hatching!

 

[Lkase]

How much water is in your bator? What are you using for wells?

Running my bator COMPLETELY dry.. makes my humidity about 30% lower than my ambient relative humidity.. So if my ambient humidity (even in cooler temps) is 65% in my house it runs around ~about~ 32%. Humidity IS higher outside the bator than inside it during incubation, in MY location. So while I wouldn't presume that your instrument is reading temperature instead of humidity as suggested.. I do agree with what ConnieA said.. and yes jherr77 also made an otherwise accurate description as to WHY others USUALLY see their INCUBATOR rh reading go down instead of up.. I've never noticed it, but very cool that you're paying attention to the details!

I really dislike those combo battery operated sensors.. they get inaccurate as the battery drains. I used rechargeable.. maybe that's not ideal??

If you get a new bator.. The NR360 worked great but with limited capacity and some other personal dislikes.. I love my Genesis 1588.. and EVEN the Janoel 12 is surprisingly successful for what it offers. Respect to those who have the time, skill, and will to homemade.

Did I say I love my Genesis 1588!? What day are ya on? Got pics of your cells? What color eggs and what's your humidity running inside the bator? Are you in on the Easter hatch a long already?

Happy hatching!

Thank you so much for your advice! I am on Day 18 currently. I'll attach a picture from day 14 (the bottom pencil line is the air cell I marked, and one from last night. My humidity reading has been in the 30's inside with a plastic water tray at the bottom with two sponges in it. I started with 5 fertile eggs. One died at Day 8 and one more died at Day 16. Lockdown today with three (I left the possible Day 16 death in just in case.) Hoping for the best.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Lockdown today with three (I left the possible Day 16 death in just in case.) Hoping for the best.

They will still draw down a lot in the last few days.

Are you running a fan inside that bator or still? Is that temp/hygro picture current for lock down at 23%?

My humidity reading has been in the 30's

That's actually a little low for light colored eggs.. in MY experience and IF accurate would expect large air cell. 45% is usually a pretty good average humidity.

If there are instructions to calibrate the device, it's a good idea at the beginning of each new session. I've had them go awry midterm, but plenty of things are bounds to happen if you do anything enough times.

Candling isn't my strongest suit, so I leave them in if not 100% sure as well. I've never yet had an actual exploder.

Even though I do everything practically the same every time.. the outcome is always a hopeful mystery! I see 2 chicks (out of 10 in *semi* lock down) JUST hatched that are due tomorrow!

Semi, I say because.. GOOD guidelines exist with reason, NO doubt.. But, as someone who built their own bator.. I suspect you may be a tinkerer, explorer, scientist, brave soul, adventurer, etc..

I set all the "rules" in my head.. no help hatching, no lifting the lid, etc.. but the heart doesn't always agree with the brain.. my brain wants to breed the strongest.. my heart wants EVERY thing to LIVE.. My reality is that every THING is finite! Each situation is assessed, acted upon, and reassessed according to it's own merit AND my understanding at THAT time. Most rules aren't set in stone.. and if they were well stone breaks all the time.. There will ALWAYS be someone here to help guide you best we can!