Cant Get My Humidity Right... UpDate on Hatch

[FirstTimer]

This is the first time i am trying to hatch eggs and ive heard i need to get the humidity around 60% and right now ive only got it at 54% and i cant get it any higher.

and


Is it ok if i lay them normal in the incubator? like with out a carton or anything?


and


if i put them in yesterday (Dec 2nd) would that mean that today (Dec 3rd) would be day 1 or day 2?

and

what day do chickens hatch?

And

My 2 Temp Takers are Giving me diffrent readings.

1 says 100 (electric)
1 says 96 (Stick)

If you see anything wrong with my incubator please tell me so i can at least get some chickens out of this hatch.

 

[ranchhand]

Hi!

The temp depends upon what kind of incubator you have. It it still-air or is there a circulating fan?
I usually shoot for 40% humidity the first 18 days, then at lockdown on Day 18 I raise it to about 55-60%. Everyone has their own way of incubating, you have to figure out what works best for you.
As far as Day 1, if I put them in in the morning, I call that Day 1. If it's later in the day, I call the next day Day 1.
Lying in the incubator is fine, some use cartons for the last 3 days. Normally you turn the 3-5 times a day until Day 18. On Day 18, stop turning, boost the humidity and DO NOT open the incubator until the hatch is done.

I hate to give you a link again, but you do need to check this out. It has all the basics and more!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=48726

 

[Sillystunt]

Quote:
Yes, i second this!!!!

 

[FirstTimer]

thanks alot and its a still-air incubator

 

[NancyP]

I have the same thermometers as you and found the stick to be more accurate. For still air the temp should be 102 or as close as you can get it. I would aim for the low side of 102 this allows for safer temp fluctuations. Happy hatching.
Nancy

 

[FirstTimer]

ok so i put them in the incubator last night around 6 p.m. so that means today is Day 1?

 

[NancyP]

Yep, you got it right. 6-6 is 24 hours that is one day.
Nancy

 

[FirstTimer]

ok one more question

is there any way you can tell what type of chicken they are by looking at the eggs?

when i bought them they just said "chicken eggs"

 

[canada-goose]

Not really. It varies a lot.

 

[FirstTimer]

Ok can i have some tips from people on how to get my humidity up for Future reference???