Dickey Hatcher questions

[capayvalleychick]

That's great news. How'd the rest of the hatch go?

I had 7 chicks total. Almost all of the unhatched eggs were due to infertility. Only 2 did not hatch. My second hatch was much better. Getting the hang of this. Thanks for asking.

 

[lizamae89]

Hello, We are new to the Dickey incubator. We just finished our 4th hatch week. We usually fully load the trays and are concerned about the hatching tray being too full for the chicks to hatch well. Consequently, we open the door every 12 hrs to take out hatched chicks so others have more wiggle room. Our hatch rate is terrible and will last 3-4 days. Now I'm wondering if we are opening the door during "lockdown" and compromising our other hatching chicks.
Humidity also has us concerned/confused. We add a new tray of eggs every week and always have eggs in the hatching tray in the rotation. Is the higher humidity for the hatching eggs negatively affecting the eggs in the turning trays? The humidity now is high for most of the week. What is the compromise here? Should we keep a lower humidity in the incubator for the sake of the upper turning trays and just cross our fingers for the little hatchers? Thanks for any help!!

 

[curious chickee]

Hello, We are new to the Dickey incubator.  We just finished our 4th hatch week.  We usually fully load the trays and are concerned about the hatching tray being too full for the chicks to hatch well.  Consequently, we open the door every 12 hrs to take out hatched chicks so others have more wiggle room.  Our hatch rate is terrible and will last 3-4 days.  Now I'm wondering if we are opening the door during "lockdown" and compromising our other hatching chicks.  
Humidity also has us concerned/confused.  We add a new tray of eggs every week and always have eggs in the hatching tray in the rotation.  Is the higher humidity for the hatching eggs negatively affecting the eggs in the turning trays?  The humidity now is high for most of the week.  What is the compromise here?  Should we keep a lower humidity in the incubator for the sake of the upper turning trays and just cross our fingers for the little hatchers?  Thanks for any help!!

I am researching the same thing and was told start at 30% humidity, then at lock down add sponges and ans water to reserve pan. After hatch complete empty reserve pan, get humidity back down to 30% in between. Repeat at next lock down. By having low humidity in between it is supposed to allow the eggs to lose the moisture they need in time. It sounded like good advice to me from a breeder. Again this is what I was told, I have not tried it yet as I don't have my dickey yet.

 

[Sassy chik]

I have an older dickies hatcher and incubator I just plugged it in for the first time since I bought it last summer how long does it normally take for the hatcher to heat up to temp? I also would like to know what thermometer/ hydrometer is best to use for an accurate reading. I have 2 nr 360s never used a cabinet before. Thanks in advance