Can humidity be too high during hatching?

[fowlwoman1]

That is my question. Will the chicks die of humidity poisoning if it's say 90%

? I keep hearing that 60-70% is optimal, less than that, they will stick to the shell, but what if it's higher?

 

[deerman]

this will cause to slow evaporation of moisture from the egg, so you will get sticky chicks,and to small of a aircell at hatching time. 60% humidity then 70% last 2 days.

 

[BirdBoy88]

This is week 2 of hatching for me and my humidity has been staying between 65 and 72 %

 

[klf73]

I set mine for 55-60% the last 3 days after I was getting real wet chicks with 65-70%. After the first chick pips my humidity naturally increases to the 60's or low 70's. When I had started with the 65-70% my later chicks were hatching extremely wet, or not hatching and upon opening were fluid filled, also the humidity would jump to 85-90% which I believe was my problem. This works for me in my environment. I have not had a drowned chick since, nor have I had a stuck chick. I have 2 hygrometers so I know they are accurate.

Krista

 

[MissPrissy]

I have been having 100% hatches of my own eggs.

I have 70%+ on shipped eggs in the last few shipments.

Day 1 - 18 = 40- 45% humidity.

Day 19 - hatch = 70% humidity.

I don't know about poisoning but 90% humidity is too high for chickens because moisture can't escape in the proper ratio for the air cell to grow.

My waterfowl hatch in 85% humidity from day 26 - hatch. 90% is too high for them as well.

 

[Three Cedars Silkies]

Yes, 90% is too high. The egg can't lose moisture properly during the last 3 days and the chicks are likely to drown.

 

[MagsC]

That was my understanding as well, that the chicks will drown if ths humidity is too high.