Hatching Humidity?

[Chickens-246]

What does the higher humidity do before the hatch? Does it start to soften the shell and membrane?

 

[speckledhen]

It softens the membrane so it doesnt toughen and "shrink-wrap" the chick inside. When a membrane starts to dry out, and it will when the chick pips a hole in the shell and air gets inside, the chick cannot push through it. It becomes leathery if there isn't enough moisture.

 

[Blisschick]

You have to be sure that there isn't too much extra humidity, or the opposite can apply--the chick can drown because not enough moisture has evaporated through the shell and it will drown before it can pip.