➡ Quail Hatch Along🥚

[anvia]

New to us incubator has run at roughly 20% throughout, & I’ve got 3 hygrometers in different places, so thats a little drier than our usual ones, but it’s winter so heating is on... new incubator is a bit posher / better insulated than our usual ones....
I am aware some will criticise 20% as too low, but the eggs are dancing, so there’s plenty of life in there which is a great sign.

Just not to got get this next bit wrong!

 

[Nabiki]

I usually run my humidity at about 30% until first pip, then if it doesn't rise up to around 50-60% on its own, I'll add some.

 

[RoosterML]

Also to low humidity will likely cause chicks to be small and weak.

 

[RoosterML]

Hey Bee the lowest I can set the pump on the incubator is 40%. Just an FYI
Usually I would go mid 30’s especially with Marans eggs. we’ll see how it goes

 

[anvia]

Yup 20 is a bit on the low side even for me! But I guess it’s also part of learning about our new incubator. Usually I’d say we run mid 20’s running dry and I raise that to around 40% for lockdown. But I’ve been running higher humidity for the last few days, not from the first pip. I’m intrigued! But it’s time to do something different, repeating the same mistake, whatever it is, is simply not working!

The tricky bit will be spotting that first pip.... the hatcher has definitely improved our hatch rate but it’s got awful visibility & hatching is the best bit!

 

[anvia]

Me again!

So, the incubator is currently averaging 18%. Eggs are still happily visibly wiggling. The hatcher has come up to temperature and stabilised at 37.5 that’s without water and with the vents open. The hygrometers (which I do trust) are averaging 13%. There isn’t much much variance. But 13 seems too low to me? Should I raise it slightly?

The eggs aren’t in yet. Usually at this stage I’d bring it up to around 40% and get it stable by adjusting the vents and then add the eggs and stabilise it as necessary to get to high 30’s but trying not to go much past 40.

I don’t have a humidity pump I just use multiple hygrometers at egg height and I balance it out using the reservoirs & vents. It’s a nice bit of equipment that does reliably stabilise without to much faffing.

13 just feels very low!
Should I bring up the humidity at all before I add the eggs?
Any thoughts anyone?

 

[RoosterML]

Me again!

So, the incubator is currently averaging 18%. Eggs are still happily visibly wiggling. The hatcher has come up to temperature and stabilised at 37.5 that’s without water and with the vents open. The hygrometers (which I do trust) are averaging 13%. There isn’t much much variance. But 13 seems too low to me? Should I raise it slightly?

The eggs aren’t in yet. Usually at this stage I’d bring it up to around 40% and get it stable by adjusting the vents and then add the eggs and stabilise it as necessary to get to high 30’s but trying not to go much past 40.

I don’t have a humidity pump I just use multiple hygrometers at egg height and I balance it out using the reservoirs & vents. It’s a nice bit of equipment that does reliably stabilise without to much faffing.

13 just feels very low!
Should I bring up the humidity at all before I add the eggs?
Any thoughts anyone?

I would get it to where you want it first. Add eggs and readjust. I’m not a fan of closing up vent holes. Try adjusting humidity by working with water level only.

 

[Kiki]

Me again!

So, the incubator is currently averaging 18%. Eggs are still happily visibly wiggling. The hatcher has come up to temperature and stabilised at 37.5 that’s without water and with the vents open. The hygrometers (which I do trust) are averaging 13%. There isn’t much much variance. But 13 seems too low to me? Should I raise it slightly?

The eggs aren’t in yet. Usually at this stage I’d bring it up to around 40% and get it stable by adjusting the vents and then add the eggs and stabilise it as necessary to get to high 30’s but trying not to go much past 40.

I don’t have a humidity pump I just use multiple hygrometers at egg height and I balance it out using the reservoirs & vents. It’s a nice bit of equipment that does reliably stabilise without to much faffing.

13 just feels very low!
Should I bring up the humidity at all before I add the eggs?
Any thoughts anyone?

13 is too low..add water and see if that gauge changes.

Also you're mentioning vents. You should have vents open at all times. Were you keeping them closed in previous hatches where you were losing chicks at the end?
Do you have to move them to a different incubator to hatch? Why not just leave them in the one they're in currently?

 

[Kiki]

I would get it to where you want it first. Add eggs and readjust. I’m not a fan of closing up vent holes. Try adjusting humidity by working with water level only.

+

 

[anvia]

I would get it to where you want it first. Add eggs and readjust. I’m not a fan of closing up vent holes. Try adjusting humidity by working with water level only.

Thanks Rooster. It’s completely stabilised at 13 with all 4 vents open. I’m attempting to try to run dry until first pip.... but 13 seems just too dry? Should I aim for 20?
To get to any other humidity I have to adjust the vents in combination with using some /all the reservoirs, that’s just how the beast works.... its very unlikely all 4 would ever be completely shut.

Is 13 just too low? I’m surprised it’s so low - this is a very old house - I guess it’s the central heating being on.