Day 23

[Char5691]

Can I fill both my water trays in my polyhatcher now on day 23 or is it too early?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

What species are you hatching (ducks, geese, emu) and what has the weight loss been up to this time. Have you candled or weighed?
Those variables need to be known for a correct answer.
If chicken, hatching is overdue. In general if hatching is imminent, I'd say to go ahead and up the humidity.
Do you have a known reliable hygrometer?

 

[Char5691]

they are cayuga ducks, didn't weigh them and have candled them, cant really see much now other than feet and feathers due to the egg being so full, the sack is clear at the bottom so dont think they have internally pipped but didnt know if i could do it now and leave them alone? Due date is 11/12th June

 

[ChickenCanoe]

So I'm guessing you could wait a couple more days to up the humidity but just make sure it is about as high as you can get it prior to any pipping.

 

[Char5691]

Its a still air machine and i was told not to put any water in until the end but i just dont know when?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Not putting water in till the end means just prior to pipping.
Who told you not to put water in and what has the humidity been all this time?
You want to add water during incubation to maintain the proper weight loss throughout.

 

[Char5691]

Not putting water in till the end means just prior to pipping.
Who told you not to put water in and what has the humidity been all this time?
You want to add water during incubation to maintain the proper weight loss throughout.

The person who leant me the still air polyhatcher. I havent got a clue on humidity as I dont know how to gage without a gage

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I understand. I've hatched for years and I didn't understand many things for much of that time.
For one, I constantly chased hygrometers before learning how elusive a reliable one can be and then the reality of humidity relating to incubation gradually became clear to me.
In nature, humidity isn't a set number. The same holds true for artificial incubation.
This is the best hygrometer I've used.
https://www.amazon.com/Govee-Hygrometer-Thermometer-Bluetooth-Notification/dp/B09BHSLWBL
Better yet is to get a small pocket gram scale. Ideally, chicken eggs will lose about 0.65% weight per day. 11-12% in the first 18 days. if they do, humidity was correct. It doesn't matter what the day-to-day humidity is. Total weight loss is most important.