CallyChook Posted May 31, 2010 Share Posted May 31, 2010 Hi everyone, I'm about to embark on my first exploration into the land of incubation and have bought myself an mps18 (?) incubator from ebay. It's not arrived yet, but i was wondering how I can change the humidity in this incubator. Has anyone else used this model? It seems fairly foolproof and I've done lots of reading but can't find anything reliable about how to change the humidity other than one fella said to put a wet washcloth in at the end!. I'm hoping to hatch a couple of sablepoots, silkies and polish... will have to see what happens with my ventures into the land of hatching eggs on ebay. xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted May 31, 2010 Share Posted May 31, 2010 Hi The MPS18 is a small incubator so humidity will probably be a challenge If there is no humidity monitor built in then these sorts of things are good: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Exo-Terra-Analog-Hygrometer-Vivarium-Humidity-Monitor-/270382326525?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Reptiles_Spiders_Insects&hash=item3ef40ae2fd http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ExoTerra-Electronic-Digital-Reptile-Humidity-Hygrometer-/220321825602?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Reptiles_Spiders_Insects&hash=item334c344342 You can get digital ones that measure temperature too which are useful for a double check Avoid this sort http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/EASY-READ-DIAL-HYGROMETER-HUMIDITY-GAUGE-METER-0-100-/370385056993?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_BOI_Electrical_Test_Measurement_Equipment_ET&hash=item563cab74e1 Most incubators have a little trough for water to be added, if yours doesnt then something like a small jam jar or wine glass is needed, dont be tempted to use anything low (such as a ramekin for example) as the chicks could drown. Any built in trough should be covered by a mesh floor or high up so those arent normally a problem I always hatch dry until day 18 and only add water then, part fill your jam jar with warm water, if that doesnt get the humidity high enough fold a bit of kitchen roll up and stand it in the jar to act as a wick, that should do the trick If the inccy has adjustable vents then closing them a little or covering one of them with tape will raise the humidity if you are struggling but dont be tempted to cover them all, the eggs need air, if the humidity goes too high then open the vents wider The no 1 thing to avoid is getting the humidity right then opening the lid, on a small inccy this leads to a sudden loss of humidity and the cheaper inccys dont right themselves that quickly afterwards. after day 18 stop turning, add the water and leave it alone until all of the chicks have hatched - exceptions would be if a chicks is in trouble or the first one hatched over 24 hours ago. When they hatch they will barge about and peck at the other eggs, this is normal so dont panic and be tempted to whip them out,they can live for 36 hours or so until their first drink or food as they will have absorbed the egg yolk before hatch and that will feed them so sit on your hands and dont open that lid! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted May 31, 2010 Share Posted May 31, 2010 Hi The MPS18 is a small incubator so humidity will probably be a challenge If there is no humidity monitor built in then these sorts of things are good: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Exo-Terra-Analog-Hygrometer-Vivarium-Humidity-Monitor-/270382326525?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Reptiles_Spiders_Insects&hash=item3ef40ae2fd I had one of these & was concerned it wasn't reading correctly in the inccy so DH took it out to the open porch where the outdoors humidity doda was registering 90+% humidity as it was Saturday & not a dry day by any stretch of the imagination....it registered between 70 & 80% so quite a difference...I upgraded to this one.......... http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ExoTerra-Electronic-Digital-Reptile-Humidity-Hygrometer-/220321825602?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Reptiles_Spiders_Insects&hash=item334c344342 yesterday & at the same water levels, temp etc it's registering 53 - 56% rather than 40 or below of the first one.....maybe it was dicky, but I should have gone for the more expensive one in the first place.......buy cheap buy twice Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
