Do I DARE ask...does anyone incubate without a hygrometer???

[happytxchick]

Where I am here in Texas, it is humid (very humid) year round. I'd love to be in Phoenix in the dry heat...love it there!

ETA: In fact, my yard currently looks as if a natural lake is trying to form...God, please, make the rain take a break!

 

[JenEric Farms]

I do and I have had some great hatches! I had 7 out of 9 shipped silkie eggs hatch in one set. I have a little giant and I keep the two side wells full until the last three days then I fill the middle well to prior to lock down. I did have some Marans eggs that did not do well at all, but they were shipped from California to Maine and from what I have read they are much more difficult to hatch due to humidity factors, so they may have done better if I had attempted to monitor the humidty better.

 

[The Chicken People]

Exactly and without getting feelings hurt or politics in the way! I like meeting new people and just love BYC!

 

[HBuehler]

I'm bad..stick the eggs candle around day 7 walk by them daily to make sure they are still on 18 days later take out the turner..add a few tablespoons of water and 90-100% hatch every time..oh I take my chicks out after they hatch as well.When I did it like the book and not the chicken I only had 75-80% with an occasional 100%.Weight loss was only around 5%.Humidity now runs around 30% and lockdown 45% With the full 10% weight loss.No meters no fuss no worries just cute fuzzy butts..and a backup generator to ensure no power outage some things are just a must

.. 39 babies in lockdown today with an ice/snow storm knocking on the door. Another 60 ready next week

 

[happytxchick]

Quote:

 

[happytxchick]

Thanks to everyone who has responded so far...anybody else?

 

[whytedragon]

I havent' hatched any chicken eggs yet, but I know with my Cockatiels...the mother and father will dip their bellies in a bowl of water, and return to sit on the eggs..and they take turns doing this, about once a day per parent. So I am sure they are monitoring their humidity, but I doubt they're being very exact.

 

[hunt4meat]

got my 1st batch of eggs in the bator right now, and NO I do not have a hygrometer. My granny never used one, why should I? Neither does either of a couple others I know. Keep the water trays (or pans) full untill late in the incubation, and then put in an extra one for the last few days. Worked for them...

That said, I am not a breeder nor do I sell my chicks or hatching eggs (yet).

 

[silkiechicken]

I don't use one. I've on ocasion measured wet bulb/dry bulb temps to figure out relative humidity, but usually just watch air cell growth.

 

[NancyinAlaska]

I bought one of the little digital thermometer humidity thingies from Wal-mart, put it in the incu, and everything went well.............my 1st time