1st day in! already nervous

[cheepteach]

checked my 25 eggs in incubator this AM and humidity was 45% and temp was 102. How bad is that humidity level for them? When I left school yesterday afternoon at 4:00 Humidity was 55 % and temp was 99. I left 2 vent plugs out. I have a Hovabator classroom incubator. I am more nervous than with my first pregnancy!!

 

[kuchchicks]

LOL I just related this process to pregnancy too!! My hova bator I have been keeping around 29%-34%. Can you cover up some of your water trays with foil?

 

[cheepteach]

the literature that came with my eggs said humidity 50%-55%----- so I was worried it was too low? I can cover the troughs but not without taking turner and eggs out of incubator

 

[AmyLynn2374]

the literature that came with my eggs said humidity 50%-55%----- so I was worried it was too low? I can cover the troughs but not without taking turner and eggs out of incubator

The instructions that come with the incubators are too high!! Especially the styro bators. There is no magic number, but that will often lead to drowning chicks at hatch. Best way to monitor your humidity is through the size of the air cells and using a low humidity incubation method (at least to start with). Here's a link that may help you with understanding and controlling humidity: http://letsraisechickens.weebly.com...anuals-understanding-and-controlling-humidity

Is your hoverbator forced or still air?

 

[cheepteach]

still air
I opened the 2 vents after reading around to get the humidity down
Thanks and send me some good vibes!
by the way , Amy Lyn, I went to school in Potsdam--just a stone's throw from Canada--still got snow up your way? We have pockets of it in the woods in Sullivan County

 

[AmyLynn2374]

still air
I opened the 2 vents after reading around to get the humidity down
Thanks and send me some good vibes!
by the way , Amy Lyn, I went to school in Potsdam--just a stone's throw from Canada--still got snow up your way? We have pockets of it in the woods in Sullivan County

I'm Gouverneur! lol (About 45 minutes from the border.) All of our snow melted we had some good days and then yesterday it snowed and hailed!!! lol It didn't stick or stay but we still are having the chilly cold need to run the pellet stove weather...lol We are supposed to be back up to 60's by the mid/end of the coming week, hopefully...lol

Still air just make sure you keep the temp 101-102 taken near the top of the egg. I keep my vents open for the whole incubation as well. Good luck and good vibes.

 

[cheepteach]

thanks! we had snow showers also. Every time I fill the wood stove for the night I think it will be the last time!

 

[AmyLynn2374]

thanks! we had snow showers also. Every time I fill the wood stove for the night I think it will be the last time!

We keep saying the same thing. I keep buying pellets 4 bags at a time thinking, hoping, it'll be the last four bags I need...lol

 

[RubyNala97]

I'm in hudson valley and we had snow & hail yesterday too! After just reading this thread, I texted my husband to check the oil level on the furnace when he gets home from work! I like it cold but I'm keeping the heat on overnight just for these eggs, so that we are at a steady 65! Best of luck with your school project. I think our maternal instincts play a role in why hatching is so appealing & the heavy feeling of responsibilty to bring these little chicks into the world healthy.

 

[cheepteach]

we are all so excited! I have a special needs class, and we have been learning our "chicken vocabulary" so we will know how to answer questions when other classes visit and ask questions. I am nervous I won't know all the answers!. That's why we are lurking on this website. We got our eggs from Meyer Hatchery--

(can't wait for spring weather so I can wash curtains and windows!)