Day 1...

[Poultry keeper12]

Hey, it is day 1 in incubation. The temperature is perfectly fine. It is very hot and humid were we live so the humidity shoots up to 62-65% is it bad for the humidity to be that way? Thanks.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

If you are incubating chicken eggs, yes that is too high. It can cause small air cells which allow the embryo to grow to big and then not be able to turn into position to pip correctly or possibly face water in the air cell when they try to pip for breathing and drown.

I keep my bator completely dry to see where it runs inside the bator, then add water and check after a couple hours. 40% is a good number for humidity through day 18. I like to stay between 30-45% mostly. Humidity a LITTLE one way or the other isn't make or break the way temp is. What color are your eggs? Use the higher number if white and the lower number if dark.

If you are not using a calibrated hygrometer/thermometer, the numbers may not be accurate and can have heavy impact on your outcome.

I suggest moving the eggs to a new location inside the bator every day or two to adjust for temp variation that do occur even in forced air bator. It will help to ensure even development.

Happy hatching!

 

[Poultry keeper12]

If you are incubating chicken eggs, yes that is too high. It can cause small air cells which allow the embryo to grow to big and then not be able to turn into position to pip correctly or possibly face water in the air cell when they try to pip for breathing and drown.

I keep my bator completely dry to see where it runs inside the bator, then add water and check after a couple hours. 40% is a good number for humidity through day 18. I like to stay between 30-45% mostly. Humidity a LITTLE one way or the other isn't make or break the way temp is. What color are your eggs? Use the higher number if white and the lower number if dark.

If you are not using a calibrated hygrometer/thermometer, the numbers may not be accurate and can have heavy impact on your outcome.

I suggest moving the eggs to a new location inside the bator every day or two to adjust for temp variation that do occur even in forced air bator. It will help to ensure even development.

Happy hatching!

Hey, thank you for the reply! I have a mix of brown and white eggs. And the humidity now is 50-57% also I have had two other batches after day 18, they were wattling and turning but then stoped the first batch, I got two out of ten. The next batch I got one out of ten the second batches chick has a deformed leg. Could this be the humidity being too high?? Also I am reading the temperature and the humidity off the incubator. Is it too late too make the humidity to down? Oh! I have read that you candle too make sure the embryos are growing and the air cells are fine! If the air sells aren't fine would it be to late to change that?? And I have a still air incubator.

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

Hey, thank you for the reply! I have a mix of brown and white eggs. And the humidity now is 50-57% also I have had two other batches after day 18, they were wattling and turning but then stoped the first batch, I got two out of ten. The next batch I got one out of ten the second batches chick has a deformed leg. Could this be the humidity being too high??

Your success rate is pretty low, I'd be worried if I was one of your eggs, hahaha. J/K.

I suppose that's how we all learn in the beginning, I shouldn't speak though as I have never tried incubating eggs before.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I am reading the temperature and the humidity off the incubator. Is it too late too make the humidity to down? Oh! I have read that you candle too make sure the embryos are growing and the air cells are fine! If the air sells aren't fine would it be to late to change that?? And I have a still air incubator.

It isn't too late, it's about overall evaporation. Get that humidity down below 50% if you can.

Your terrible hatch rate may very well be from using the incubator read outs. Are you incubating at 102? In still air it is even more important that you move the eggs around to a new spot daily for even development. It is MUCH cooler near the edges where air comes in through the holes. And if hand turning... more times is better than less, the egg WON'T cool down too much. Deformities can happen even if all parameters are correct. Genetics AND parent nutrition as well egg age when set play big roles.

Are these your own eggs you are setting?

 

[Poultry keeper12]

Yes these are my eggs I am setting, my temperature is at 2.25F the still air incubator is off a little with the temperature.