1st Incubation questions....

[Kiraeh]

Humidity is one of those things that is going to vary locally and even by your incubator. If you're starting a new hatch, the absolute best thing you can do is weigh the eggs. The air cell is a good general guide but because it dips unevenly(let alone if you have shipped eggs with all their issues) I personally overthink it and get worried- here's an example:

Two eggs with day 7 and 14 air cells traced. They look very different but both are on track for weight. They both went on to hatch fine. So a good air cell can vary a lot. Top egg is an orpington, bottom is a polish x silkie. I found all my orpington eggs looked like they lost less on average, maybe shape related? But by weight they were equally on track.

Watching this thread! It's my first hatch too. Mine are due to hatch august 5th. I only have 3 in there but so far all are doing great! I have the Harris Hill Nurture Right 360 or whatever it's called. I live in Morrison, Illinois so @Kiraeh is 50% ok for me? Overnight the humidity goes down to 37% Is this ok? I don't want to hurt them.

I'm a little less comfortable speaking to the climate of Illinois(Texas is hotter than where I am but still on the coast so the humidity is there) but those numbers seem fine to me. Fluctuations in humidity aren't serious the way fluctuations in temperature are until you get to lockdown. All that matters is losing the right amount of moisture. Idk anything about Illinois geography, are you elevated? Hatching at altitude has some unique challenges re humidity and I don't really know enough about it to say more than that.

As far as I'm concerned, and maybe a more experienced hatcher will chime in, I'd rather run a bit too dry than a bit too wet. If a chick pips and there's too much moisture in the egg and it drowns, there is Absolutely Nothing you can do at that point to save it, I don't know how you'd even tell that it needed help before it was too late. If a chick is a bit too dry, if the membrane gets tough, it's bad and you can still lose it, but there's at least a chance you can save that chick.

 

[Lydia Huizenga]

Humidity is one of those things that is going to vary locally and even by your incubator. If you're starting a new hatch, the absolute best thing you can do is weigh the eggs. The air cell is a good general guide but because it dips unevenly(let alone if you have shipped eggs with all their issues) I personally overthink it and get worried- here's an example:
View attachment 2260401
Two eggs with day 7 and 14 air cells traced. They look very different but both are on track for weight. They both went on to hatch fine. So a good air cell can vary a lot. Top egg is an orpington, bottom is a polish x silkie. I found all my orpington eggs looked like they lost less on average, maybe shape related? But by weight they were equally on track.


I'm a little less comfortable speaking to the climate of Illinois(Texas is hotter than where I am but still on the coast so the humidity is there) but those numbers seem fine to me. Fluctuations in humidity aren't serious the way fluctuations in temperature are until you get to lockdown. All that matters is losing the right amount of moisture. Idk anything about Illinois geography, are you elevated? Hatching at altitude has some unique challenges re humidity and I don't really know enough about it to say more than that.

As far as I'm concerned, and maybe a more experienced hatcher will chime in, I'd rather run a bit too dry than a bit too wet. If a chick pips and there's too much moisture in the egg and it drowns, there is Absolutely Nothing you can do at that point to save it, I don't know how you'd even tell that it needed help before it was too late. If a chick is a bit too dry, if the membrane gets tough, it's bad and you can still lose it, but there's at least a chance you can save that chick.

Thanks for the info. No I'm not elevated. My eggs are a a little more than a week old.

 

[cmom]

I think this egg was around day 10.

 

[ValerieLovesChickens]

Humidity is one of those things that is going to vary locally and even by your incubator. If you're starting a new hatch, the absolute best thing you can do is weigh the eggs. The air cell is a good general guide but because it dips unevenly(let alone if you have shipped eggs with all their issues) I personally overthink it and get worried- here's an example:
View attachment 2260401
Two eggs with day 7 and 14 air cells traced. They look very different but both are on track for weight. They both went on to hatch fine. So a good air cell can vary a lot. Top egg is an orpington, bottom is a polish x silkie. I found all my orpington eggs looked like they lost less on average, maybe shape related? But by weight they were equally on track.


I'm a little less comfortable speaking to the climate of Illinois(Texas is hotter than where I am but still on the coast so the humidity is there) but those numbers seem fine to me. Fluctuations in humidity aren't serious the way fluctuations in temperature are until you get to lockdown. All that matters is losing the right amount of moisture. Idk anything about Illinois geography, are you elevated? Hatching at altitude has some unique challenges re humidity and I don't really know enough about it to say more than that.

As far as I'm concerned, and maybe a more experienced hatcher will chime in, I'd rather run a bit too dry than a bit too wet. If a chick pips and there's too much moisture in the egg and it drowns, there is Absolutely Nothing you can do at that point to save it, I don't know how you'd even tell that it needed help before it was too late. If a chick is a bit too dry, if the membrane gets tough, it's bad and you can still lose it, but there's at least a chance you can save that chick.

I am so frustrated, I've got all the plugs and water out of the incubator, and the humidity is holding steady at 48%. (In the last 24 hours, been checking it as often as possible) It dips down occasionally 3 to 5% more, but for the most part we are riding 48%. I even put napkins in the bottom for the eggs to sit on so the 3 stubborn ones would quit rolling with the slightest of touch to the bator. One thing I did notice between turns, with the lid off and propped against the wall, the reading says 53 to 57% humidity when I go to put it back on the bator. So I would guess that's the level of humidity in my house. I guess I should be glad the bator is saying 48% instead of 53-57. :/

 

[Kiraeh]

Yeah you might just have to see what results that gives you. Lots of people have good hatches at that humidity.
For a surface, I like dollar store drawer liner. Cheap and soft and easy on hatching chicks.

 

[ValerieLovesChickens]

Yeah you might just have to see what results that gives you. Lots of people have good hatches at that humidity.
For a surface, I like dollar store drawer liner. Cheap and soft and easy on hatching chicks.

I actually found the rest of a roll I had (finally) today. (In my junk drawer, go figure hahaha) Going to put that in there on the next turn.