Correct humidity last three days.

[flchickenlady]

Would somebody tell me the correct humidity during the last three days of a hatch. I had my humidity at 70% the last three days and lost my entire hatch and I've been told it was too high. The first 18 days I had the humidity between 35% and 40% and turned the eggs three times a day. I used a hygrometer so I knew what the humidity was. I'm planning on setting new hatch the beginning of next week and I want to make sure I get it right. This time I'll have a forced air bator and have the temps at 99.5.

 

[Tuffoldhen]

I keep mine in the 40 to 50% range first 18 days sometimes on the lower end of the scale and the last 3 days 60 to 70% range. Everyone has their range set for what works for them in their environment. If 70% was too high try going at 60 or 65%, nothing is set in stone as to what to use but these ranges are what normally work for all people that hatch.

Somewhere on here there is a link to the dry incubation method, I've never tried it but some have had good success with it, might be a good read if you still have problems with humidity.

 

[flchickenlady]

Thanks, it's really sad and depressing losing a whole hatch and I'm scared to death I'll do it again.

 

[swtangel321]

Here is the link to dry incubation.... https://www.backyardchickens.com/LC-DryIncubation.html

I dry incubate it works great for me. Everyone has there way that works best !! maybe try it and see if it works better !!

Sorry about your bad hatch !!

 

[flchickenlady]

I've read that article over and over before I tried the first hatch, still didn't get it right. Now that we're adding a fan to the bator it's not considered a dry incubation anymore is it?

 

[swtangel321]

Quote:
Yes you can still dry incubate with a fan, The fan will just help the air flow so there are no "hot" spots in the bator !!

Do you add water day 1-18 ??

 

[swtangel321]

Also the bad hatch rate could be for other reason than hum.

Were they shipped eggs ??

Did you open any of them to see what day they made it till.

How many days did you leave them in the bator ?

 

[flchickenlady]

Yes I had water in the bator on days 1-18 and humidity was 30-35%. The eggs were from my chickens. The eggs made it right till the end when they started to pip, which they finally did on day 25. What did I do wrong?

 

[swtangel321]

Quote:
They piped on day 25 ?? Did any of them make it out ??

Late hatches can be caused from the temp being to low or the temp dropping at night !!

In a still air bator (no fan) the temp should be more like 101-102

So 99.5 was a little low, that could of caused them to hacth late !!

Forced air should be 100.

 

[flchickenlady]

The two that pipped didn't make it out they died in the shell, I waited on the others till day 26 and nothing ever happened, I candled the eggs and they were all dead, some had been peeping the shell but died a couple of days later. I kept the temps on all the eggs at 100, 100.5.