Egg box humidity

[shorty21030]

So I am expecting my first clutch of eggs this week sometime and I have done maternal incubation before but I finally got my incubator. I am starting to get everything ready and I have the temperature set and I got the humidity to around 80%. So I went and got some press and seal and its about 85% now. What else can I do to bring the humidity up more? I did the 1-1 ratio for the vermiculite and the eggs will be going right on the vermiculite. Should I add a little more water, not too much of course, to get the humidity up more or what else can I do?

[SlitherinSisters]

I would personally get some egg crate/light diffuser. Putting them on the substrate is such a headache and if it's too moist or too dry your babies will die. Putting them on the light diffuser is stress free and super easy. I honestly don't know why people don't do it. You can totally soak the substrate and not worry about the eggs for a week+ at a time. You don't have to measure your humidity, nothing. I haven't measured the humidity in my egg tubs for 3 years now. I also don't use press-n-seal, just a $1 shoebox tub, perlite, and light diffuser.

[snakesRkewl]

How and with what are you measuring the humidity?

I'm all for substrateless incubating also, but I have to ask how you can only have 80% to 85% humidity with press n seal.
That basically traps in any humidity so it should be well over 90% with press n seal.

[shorty21030]

I have a humidity gauge but I just looked at it and it is up to 90% now but I think I am going to get a light diffuser that way I can make sure that the humidity is at 100% without hurting the eggs

[don15681]

I can understand why some breeders don't use the grid. ( why fix something that's not broke) but if you're asking question like this one. the grid is almost fool proof. the perfect condition for eggs is high humidity without them getting wet. I use to use perlite so I wouldn't splash. the last 2 years I don't use nothing but water and my grid is zip tie to pvc tubing. I walk across the room normally and haven't splash any eggs yet. I also use press n seal to keep the humidity in. I can open my egg boxes when ever needed as the humidity builds back fast.

[shorty21030]

Ok I got a light diffuser and got that all set in there. But the humidity is still at about 85-90. I got a 15 quart tub, should I get a smaller one or would that not matter with the humidity? The press and seal wasn't working as well with the 15 quart tub so I have a piece of plastic under the lid. Any advise would help me out a lot please!! I just want the humidity to be good so the eggs will not die

[don15681]

Ok I got a light diffuser and got that all set in there. But the humidity is still at about 85-90. I got a 15 quart tub, should I get a smaller one or would that not matter with the humidity? The press and seal wasn't working as well with the 15 quart tub so I have a piece of plastic under the lid. Any advise would help me out a lot please!! I just want the humidity to be good so the eggs will not die

if the press n seal doesn't stick to the tub. get something to ruff up the tub where the press n seal makes contact. make sure it's press n seal not saran wrap.

[shorty21030]

It is press and seal and it sticking to the tub that's the weird part. Should I add a little more water to try and get it up more? I just don't know how much water I can add without it messing anything up. Even though I have the light diffuser

[PitOnTheProwl]

give it some time, how long are you waiting?
After 3 days of starting up my bator, it will be at 95%+ humidity but it takes some time.
Every time you open that press and seal to mess with it, you are starting over again because you lost what you are working for

[don15681]

how high is the light grid in the tub? my pvc is 3/4 or 1 inch. if its not that high, you could add another piece of the grid so you can add more water if needed. 90% humidity, the eggs should do well.