Day 2 of incubation humidity concern..

[Debbiek2]

Hello! This is my very first time hatching eggs for my kindergarten classroom. We are doing chicken eggs. My humidity was at 55 but has crept up over 60 since I’ve accidentally bumped the water container. It cost an extra bay to fill with water in the bottom tray. It was at 61 and I am home now hoping it doesn’t go any higher. If it is over 60 tomorrow should I soak up some water? Will this be damaging to the eggs for 24 hours? I am super nervous because the team (not including myself) has had poor results each year and I can’t handle much animal suffering. Any tips or advice would be great.

Another question. From what I have read it says you should put the small end of the egg pointing down, however the tray they are on in the incubator is flat. They don’t stay in a down position. Is that going to affect the chicks?

Thanks in advance!
Debbie

 

[Smileybans]

You can soak up some water if the humidity gets too high. But I have found that just opening the incubator for a hot second lowers the humidity. But it does depend on your incubator. The styrofoam incubators don’t hold humidity as well as the all plastic ones. At least for me.

What incubator are you using? Does it have an auto turner? Some of them have the eggs lay flat instead of standing on their end.

 

[cavemanrich]

The small humidity difference is not that bad. Many peeps will agree on hatching temperature,,,, but the humidity values are very varied among many of the hatchaholics themselves. Many incubate at 60%, and others dry incubate. What does matter somewhat,, at lock-down ,, there should be higher humidity to prevent shrink-wrap.
Let me tag @Faraday40 ,, since she does similar school hatching. You would get good school class advice from her.

WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,and

 

[Faraday40]

He’s right that humidity is not as vital as temp. If it’s high for a few hours not a big deal. Hens also have humidity fluctuations due to weather.

Eggs must be turned at least 3xs per day for first 18 days. Pointy end down is for vertical egg turners. Other turners roll the eggs on their sides. You don’t even need an auto turner if you have kids lol As long they get turned in some way, it’s good.

The eggs and how they were handled can greatly affect hatch. If eggs were ordered and shipped in mail then 50% would be considered a good hatch. If you can get fresh eggs and pick them up yourself = great hatch up to 100%. Basically you don’t want the eggs to get shaken up - scrambled - or be more than 10 days old before you start incubation

 

[Debbiek2]

You can soak up some water if the humidity gets too high. But I have found that just opening the incubator for a hot second lowers the humidity. But it does depend on your incubator. The styrofoam incubators don’t hold humidity as well as the all plastic ones. At least for me.

What incubator are you using? Does it have an auto turner? Some of them have the eggs lay flat instead of standing on their end.

Our incubator is ancient I think. It does have an egg turner but sometimes the eggs end up sideways and don’t turn. It is a Lyon incubator dome. Good to know them being flat is ok. Thank you! I will not worry as much about the humidity. It keeps fluctuating. I will be extra cautious during the last few days.

 

[Debbiek2]

The small humidity difference is not that bad. Many peeps will agree on hatching temperature,,,, but the humidity values are very varied among many of the hatchaholics themselves. Many incubate at 60%, and others dry incubate. What does matter somewhat,, at lock-down ,, there should be higher humidity to prevent shrink-wrap.
Let me tag @Faraday40 ,, since she does similar school hatching. You would get good school class advice from her.

WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,and

Thank you!!!

 

[Debbiek2]

He’s right that humidity is not as vital as temp. If it’s high for a few hours not a big deal. Hens also have humidity fluctuations due to weather.

Eggs must be turned at least 3xs per day for first 18 days. Pointy end down is for vertical egg turners. Other turners roll the eggs on their sides. You don’t even need an auto turner if you have kids lol As long they get turned in some way, it’s good.

The eggs and how they were handled can greatly affect hatch. If eggs were ordered and shipped in mail then 50% would be considered a good hatch. If you can get fresh eggs and pick them up yourself = great hatch up to 100%. Basically you don’t want the eggs to get shaken up - scrambled - or be more than 10 days old before you start incubation

Thank you! Great info!

 

[Kiki]

I highly recommend getting your humidity down closer to about 35% now.
50 to 60% would kill eggs in my house.

 

[Kiki]

Do you have a separately purchased humidity gauge in your incubator?
Do not trust the built-in thermometer or humidity gauge.
Buy separate instruments to calibrate.

 

[Debbiek2]

I highly recommend getting your humidity down closer to about 35% now.
50 to 60% would kill eggs in my house.

Really?! Most of what I came across said 55%. This is so hard because everything says something different!