Hygrometer Hell! Help

[MyNYfarm]

Help, please. I put my 2nd batch of eggs into lockdown today. I will NOT open it until chicks are dry and ready for removal. I don't ever want to repeat the heartbreak of 10 days ago where 28 chicks died fully developed 1 day prior to hatching after being "shrink-wrapped” (final conclusion)

I have a total of 5 hygrometers in the incubator and the humidity readings range from as low as 38% to as high as 98%.
I don't know if any are correct.
Video attached.

I put the extra 4 in 10 hours ago, so they've had time to stabilize.

There is one factory installed farm innovators showing 65%.

2 different KJcoolswl digital meters, with probes both showing 38%

1 (brand unknown) digital meter - sensor, no probe showing 52%

1 Govee model 504 wifi & Bluetooth reading 94%

It's making me crazy. I knew they would have some variance, but not from 38% to 94%

It's not possible to have the factory installed probe at the bottom, but the other 4 are very close together. Not touching, but should be reading close to the same.

I have not done the salt test and with the incubator being in lockdown, don't have time.

What do I do?

This is so frustrating. 5 meters varying dramatically.

 

[MysteryChicken]

I use Thermometer World Hygrometer/Thermometer probes. They're easy to calibrate.
The eggs go on lock down in 4 days.

I keep a separate hygrometer/Thermometer to monitor house conditions which also play role with the conditions in your incubator.

Opening the incubator during lockdown didn't cause the Shrink Wrapping. It takes several hours between 6-24hrs with severly low humidity for it to happen. I know because when the chicks start hatching, I remove the eggshells while it's going on, & zero shrink Wrapping.

 

[MyNYfarm]

I use Thermometer World Hygrometer/Thermometer probes. They're easy to calibrate.
The eggs go on lock down in 4 days.

I keep a separate hygrometer/Thermometer to monitor house conditions which also play role with the conditions in your incubator.
View attachment 4096381
Opening the incubator during lockdown didn't cause the Shrink Wrapping. It takes several hours between 6-24hrs with severly low humidity for it to happen. I know because when the chicks start hatching, I remove the eggshells while it's going on, & zero shrink Wrapping.

Thank you for the suggestion of what meter to use in the future. However, I'm not sure what to do about my current situation. Yes the shrink wrapping did take place over many hours.

 

[Ridgerunner]

My suggestion would be to discard the high and low and average the rest. Not ideal but it gives you a way forward. I don't see a good solution for you right now.

When the hatch is over do some calibration before you start again. I don't trust any brand unless they are calibrated.

 

[MysteryChicken]

Thank you for the suggestion of what meter to use in the future. However, I'm not sure what to do about my current situation. Yes the shrink wrapping did take place over many hours.

You're Welcome.

 

[HatchCraft]

Help, please. I put my 2nd batch of eggs into lockdown today. I will NOT open it until chicks are dry and ready for removal. I don't ever want to repeat the heartbreak of 10 days ago where 28 chicks died fully developed 1 day prior to hatching after being "shrink-wrapped” (final conclusion)

I have a total of 5 hygrometers in the incubator and the humidity readings range from as low as 38% to as high as 98%.
I don't know if any are correct.
Video attached.

I put the extra 4 in 10 hours ago, so they've had time to stabilize.

There is one factory installed farm innovators showing 65%.

2 different KJcoolswl digital meters, with probes both showing 38%

1 (brand unknown) digital meter - sensor, no probe showing 52%

1 Govee model 504 wifi & Bluetooth reading 94%

It's making me crazy. I knew they would have some variance, but not from 38% to 94%

It's not possible to have the factory installed probe at the bottom, but the other 4 are very close together. Not touching, but should be reading close to the same.

I have not done the salt test and with the incubator being in lockdown, don't have time.

What do I do?

This is so frustrating. 5 meters varying dramatically.

Help, please. I put my 2nd batch of eggs into lockdown today. I will NOT open it until chicks are dry and ready for removal. I don't ever want to repeat the heartbreak of 10 days ago where 28 chicks died fully developed 1 day prior to hatching after being "shrink-wrapped” (final conclusion)

I have a total of 5 hygrometers in the incubator and the humidity readings range from as low as 38% to as high as 98%.
I don't know if any are correct.
Video attached.

I put the extra 4 in 10 hours ago, so they've had time to stabilize.

There is one factory installed farm innovators showing 65%.

2 different KJcoolswl digital meters, with probes both showing 38%

1 (brand unknown) digital meter - sensor, no probe showing 52%

1 Govee model 504 wifi & Bluetooth reading 94%

It's making me crazy. I knew they would have some variance, but not from 38% to 94%

It's not possible to have the factory installed probe at the bottom, but the other 4 are very close together. Not touching, but should be reading close to the same.

I have not done the salt test and with the incubator being in lockdown, don't have time.

What do I do?

This is so frustrating. 5 meters varying dramatically.

Looks like you have a thermometer with a prob and your incubators is forced air so take a wet bulb vs dry bulb reading. That is the true way of calculating RH. Enter the values in online wet bulb calculator if you don't have a chart on hand. You will need a damp wick to put over the temp prob. Cotton from the hem of a tee shirt or shoe lace. Don't put the prob in water. Let the temperature stabilize and take a reading. example dry 99 wet 89 RH = 65