Hygrometer?

You can buy them on ebay.  Humidity is important, if it's to high the first 18 days it can mess up your hatch.  I messed up by having humidity at 65% first try.  It was way to high.  This time I have it at 50% and my eggs look like they will hatch.  The last 3 days of incubation you raise the humidity to soften the shells so the chicks can hatch. 
 

Most recommendations is that the room be about 50% RH, but the incubator itself will be much lower.  THe real importance is the development of the air cells. THese need to become quite large sot eh chick nd turn and zip its way out. 

Have you seen diagrams of this that you can use when you candle at days 7, 14 and 18?

Good general hatching info for a first timer. Has a diagram of an air cell. Good to copy and put with candler for air cell checking.

http://chickscope.beckman.uiuc.edu/resources/egg_to_chick/procedures.html

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sprinkles212 

So should I check the room or the incubator for humidity levels? No I did not know about the air sac. Thank you! I'll check the diagram and buy a candler.

I use an LED flashlight. Not a high powered one, just one that I already had. I can see the air cells well enough; just can't see internal development really well.

Room RH at about 50% helps; then run a dry incubation to keep the RH low. Mine runs 20-25% right now, with some days at 18 %. I track BOTH using one hygrometer. Moving the device back and forth. You will see that the RH inside the incubator will follow the room humidity.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sprinkles212 

Arielle, what type of hygrometer do you use and where can I find one to purchase? Thank you so much for the tips!

HAA haa DH bought it at Walmart, a digital type. You can check its accuracy by filling the incubator up with moisture like for lockdown. When the windows are foggy with moisture and droplets, then the RH should read about 70-80%. Of course, I track the air cells to tell me if I need to adjust the humidity during the first 18 days. 

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Originally Posted by Sprinkles212 

I have a feeling I am going to have more questions for you over the next few weeks!

That's what we are here for!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sprinkles212 

I have a Brinsea Mini Advance set up in our spare bathroom.  We do not use this bathroom and so I figured it would be the perfect quiet spot for incubating.  I've read on BYC that humidity is very important when incubating chicken eggs.  We are expecting 7 eggs next week.  Why is humidity so important?  Do I need to purchase a hygrometer?  How do I use it?  When?  What brand do you recommend?  I will be purchasing online as we live in a rural area and our Walmart does not carry hygrometers.  Thank you!

first of all: you have a good little 'bator, there.

some of your questions can be answered by a good basic chicken raising book as can be readily found.

RH in incubator should be about 40%. IN THE INCUBATOR. GOT IT? for days 1 - 17 inclusive.

From days 18 - 21 at least RH should be at least 65%. IN YOUR INCUBATOR/HATCHER. GOT IT?

RH in the hatching process may be higher by several 'degrees' and you are still safe. In fact the RH will go up alot once moist babies begin popping out and drying....

I can't believe your local walmart doesn't carry digital thermometers/hygrometers. I too am out in the stix and ours does.....

Look up How to Calibrate a Hygrometer on BYC and calibrate it BEFORE YOU SET YOUR EGGS.

The most accurate way to determine accurate RH is by the weight loss of an egg. By day 18--lockdown--an egg in proper RH should have lost basically 13% of its original weight. A digital scale to weigh IN GRAMS is invaluable for this important process. Walmart kitchen scale or postal scale is good.

Look up in BYC for more info. on this

As said above candling AND WEIGHING on days 7, 14, ( and maybe 18 just before lockdown) should be done, so you can make any changes/corrections to your process as you go along.

You can also google on How to make an Egg Candler and find all kinds of easy ideas. don't waste your money................

good luck