Advice please

[johno75]

Hi all chicken lovers

I had a very unsuccessful hatch recently and going for it again. I find so much info out and sometimes it gets all confusing. I run my bator for 18 days at 99.5f then drop to 98.6f during hatch period. My dilemma is humidity what should it be. I was doing 35% then up to 75% but got told this was to high and drowned them during the hatch period, but then read articles saying it should be up around the 80% area. Please help I want a good hatch this time.

 

[Bens-Hens]

Hi Johno,

Many folks vary it slightly, but the method I have used and had excellent success with is based off the documents I got with my first still air 'bator.

99.5F +/- 1 deg the whole time. I know some people adjust the temp for the last couple of days, but I have always kept it the same, for both still air and fanned.
Turn for first 18 days only, min of three turns a day
No turning for last 3
Humidity 50-55% for first 18 days
Humidity, 70-80% for last three days.

In addition, I candle the following;
Day's, 7, 14, 18. I discard the clears and non progressing eggs the following candle (i.e, I see a clear on Day 7, I don' remove it until Day 14)

I have had excellent results with those parameters. Next hatch I will also track the humidity by weighing the eggs as I have read that is the most accurate way to monitor progress, but I will still use the above parameters.

I may also advise to keep an eye out for a hatch-a-long at the same time, so you can chat with others that are in the same or close to position at that time, pretty cool to share the experience as it happens.

Good luck, stick with it!

Ben