calling on the experts on HUMDITY

[fried green eggs]

I always candle day 18 just before I put them in lock-down and pencil which showed movement. You might need to slowly rotate and then hold it still to see the movement till you can see a foot or wing move.

 

[Stephanie739]

Many people will recommend using the air cell size chart. I have never seen this chart. I have never went by the chart either.

I recommend using

20-35% humidity the first 18 DAYS

The last 3 DAYS the humidity should be above 70%

This should only be used for chicken eggs in my experience. I haven't used this with other birds, but I have had GREAT success with this method.

I also recommend getting a spray bottle. I keep it handy for when the eggs start to pip, and when they do, I will start misting them. They will probably get misted about 5 times a day.

Close to my opinion. I've never used a chart, just guessed based on reading...and my hatches went well.

I like 35-40% during the first 15 days...gradual increase on day 15 to 65-70% by day 18 and remainder of hatch I try to maintain between 70-80.

I also like using a spray bottle, but I didn't use it as much as Quintinp...just when/if the humidity dropped during lockdown..sprayed it through the vents.

 

[chicks4fun]

I also like using a spray bottle, but I didn't use it as much as Quintinp...just when/if the humidity dropped during lockdown..sprayed it through the vents.

Thanks for adding "through the vents" LOL I was already to ask how you keep it closed-up and yet spray them. I wasn't thinking about the vents.
I read that I should close the vents on day 18---I assume to help keep humidity up?
Lockdown is coming quick and I am reading everything I can find.
I think I will cut up an egg carton to put the eggs in. They are small bantam eggs so I hope they don't get lost in there.

 

[chicks4fun]

I like 35-40% during the first 15 days...gradual increase on day 15 to 65-70% by day 18 and remainder of hatch I try to maintain between 70-80.

I had thought about gradual increase in humidity but most folks say to wait until day 18, I wonder if they have every monitored a hen to see what goes on in nature. I hope I can hatch more eggs so that if this hatch doesn't work out I can use all this great information I have been getting.

 

[chicks4fun]

I always candle day 18 just before I put them in lock-down and pencil which showed movement. You might need to slowly rotate and then hold it still to see the movement till you can see a foot or wing move.

I will try this. I wanted to try it tonight but I'm tired and I am so afraid I will break one of those little eggs. So I will try tomorrow. I will be jumping for joy if I see movement.

 

[Stephanie739]

I had thought about gradual increase in humidity but most folks say to wait until day 18, I wonder if they have every monitored a hen to see what goes on in nature. I hope I can hatch more eggs so that if this hatch doesn't work out I can use all this great information I have been getting.

My gradual increase sort of happened by accident, and my hatches have been good, so I just started to consider it part of my plan On my first hatch, I was having trouble keeping the humidity up and was very nervous about lock down. I was experimenting with ways to increase it (thus the gradual increase!) I did it on my 2nd hatch too.

Maybe now that I know how to quickly bump the humidity I will wait until day 18. I have lost a few eggs on the 2 hatches sometime during lock down. Maybe I won't lose any if I bump it quickly!

My incubator is home made. I have turkey eggs in there now, and I'm keeping my humidity higher during the incubation stage (45-50%) per the instructions of a heritage turkey breeder. We'll see!

Good luck with your hatch! What do you have in there??

 

[Stephanie739]

Oh I need to correct something...when I gradually increased the humidity, on day 15, I have been around 45-50 and have gone up about 5 degrees (or maintained current) until day 18. I sort of explained it wrong....

 

[Stephanie739]

I wonder if they have every monitored a hen to see what goes on in nature.

I have a baby pool in my run and my broody would dip her wings in it. I'm guessing that was a humidity instinct?

 

[chicks4fun]

My incubator is home made. I have turkey eggs in there now, and I'm keeping my humidity higher during the incubation stage (45-50%) per the instructions of a heritage turkey breeder. We'll see!

Good luck with your hatch! What do you have in there??

I have Mille Fleur d'Uccle eggs (bantams). This is my first incubator hatch & I am so nervous.

Turkey eggs--that's really cool. I've always wanted to raise some turkeys but I am still reading up on them. Are they hard? Do you keep them with chickens? I was worried as it seems like turkeys & chickens don't do well together because of blackhead.

 

[chicks4fun]

I have a baby pool in my run and my broody would dip her wings in it. I'm guessing that was a humidity instinct?

That is interesting. I don't have a pool for my hen---I have no idea how she does it. They say chickens will pluck some of their feathers out but I've not noticed this with my broody. She had a 100% hatch rate in May.