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Incubation Humidity

K

kcnate

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How do you get the humidity in an incubator to rise and stabilize?

I turned a small refrigerator into an incubator by adding 4 feet of 11-inch flex watt and a helix thermostat to control the heat. I am not using any kind of a fan inside. My temps have stabilized at 89 degrees. My incubation substrate is in a closed container with a few holes in the top and my thermometer is inside this container. I made the substrate out of vermiculite, perlite and water. It is moist enough to clump when squeezed but no water can be squeezed out. I have tried putting a container of water inside the refrigerator but it does not seem to help.

Any ideas are much appreciated and please let me know if my incubator is missing anything.

Thanks in advance for any help!
 
you don't need the humidity up inside the incubator - if you have the substrate mix (close enough to) correct, the individual containers will have their own humidity (I wouldn't use flexwatt if the humidity levels were that high in the incubator itself)
 
I use the same type incubator, a converted upright freezer. I also use closed incubation containers.
I don't concern myself with the humidity in the incubator itself, I only pay attention to what is inside the box. The eggs will tell you if it's getting too dry, you just have to monitor them regularly.
It's very rare that I ever need to add water to the media during incubation. When I open the container to check the eggs I shake off any condensation that has developed and that's normally all I do. Should the eggs begin to collapse a little prematurely, I might pour a small amount of warm water in the corner of the box, but that's rarely necessary.
 
What would be the perfect percentage of humidity inside the container? How low would you let it drop before you added water?

Thanks again for the replies!
 
I don't measure the humidity at all, never have, so I have no idea what percentage I incubate at. I have very little faith in the hygrometers that are available anyway, the ones that are actually affordable at least.
I just watch the eggs. They will tell you what they need, you just have to be observant and understand when dimpling is normal and when it's an indicator of low humidity.

Write down the date they were laid on the box for reference during incubation. That's an important factor that must be considered when dimpling is observed.
If it starts a couple of weeks before they are due to hatch it's fine, but if they dimple 3 or 4 weeks into incubation then they need a little more moisture.
 
Thanks for the great info!

Since we are on the subject of incubation is there anything else a rookie should watch for?

Thanks again!
 
You should check to make sure that the temps throughout the incubator are the same. You said that you weren't using a fan, and that the temps are stabalized at 89. My readout will stabalize without a fan, but the areas above and below the sensor are either too hot or too cool. I would double check the temps at the higest and lowest points to make sure that they are within an acceptable range.
 
I’m not sure I understand can you explain how that effects the eggs if the temp inside the container is a constant 89 deg.

I certainly will check anyways Thanks!
 
It doesn't, per se. At least at this point. Usually, by the time somebody is using a refrigerator style incubator, they are producing multiple clutches and stacking (or shelving) several egg containers. I think you can see, then, why having consistent temps throughout would be important.

Another note, I monitor the egg box temps...but I don't keep the thermostat probe in there. The closed egg container serves as a mini-environment, and temperatures within will not fluctuate as quickly as within the rest of the incubator. When you open the refrig door, there will be a sudden drop in the inside temps - how much of a drop will depend on how far you open the door, and how long it is opened. With the probe being shielded from that drop (by virtue of being inside the egg chamber), it will not turn on the heat as soon. When it does, the outer area will warm up more quickly and overshoot the temp (because the probe is within your mini-environment and doesn't turn the heat off as soon), which will ultimately be translated to higher temps in the egg chamber. The net result is a little less heat cycling, but with a little more temp variation within the egg box. Just how much effect that might have will depend on how frequently you open the door, and the particulars of your setup. Will it cause a problem? In your case, probably not, but I figured I would pass on the info.
 
Sure that makes sense. I just wasn’t thinking of multiple clutches.

I currently have the thermostat probe just inside the incubator and a thermometer too. I also put a thermometer inside the egg container.

The reason I decided with a refrigerator size is because I had a small old one available and it didn’t seem like it would cost that much more for the extra heat tape. I also figured that next year I would have a few more clutches. I’m only expecting one this year but I assume it is best to start small at first.

Thanks again for the reply! The more info I can absorb the better off I will be.
 
I would get a computer fan from Radio Shack and put it in there. There is no way to keep temps even without a fan. You should have it blow down right at the heat strip so you don't get hot spots. I like to put some bins(with holes) with rocks and water inside in the incubator to help maintain even heat and a little humidity. I live in a very dry area and we go weeks at 10% humidity. Things tend to dry out fast here.
 
I actually woke up to eggs this morning and I already have them packed away in the incubator. I'm hoping that I can get by with the way it is but if I need to I'm sure I could add it. Next year when I'm expecting more eggs I will make sure I add one. My heat tape goes from the bottom front edge to the top front edge and everything seems to be heated evenly.

Here are some pics.

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s34/kcnate/Incubator1.jpg

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s34/kcnate/Incubator2.jpg

As soon as I get my pics of the eggs downloaded I will add them.

Thanks for the info!
 
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