Dry Incubation- lockdown too humid?

Nimby Chickens

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My 20 remaining eggs are due to hatch the 9th! I locked down on the 6th.

I've done a dry incubation so far- and on the 6th when I added the water, took out the turner, etc. I filled all the trays with warm water as high as I could. When I checked on them later my hygrometer said that the humidity was 85%! Now, it could be off since I never calibrated it, but even if it was that seems way too high. I didn't want to open the bator, but I did anyway and got a straw in there really quick. I siphoned out a whole segments worth of water. Humidity has gone down to 70% or so but they were at 80% for at least a day.

Are they going to be all right? Van I risk opening the bator again to siphon more?

Any and all advice appreciated.
 
I tend to do a dry incubation, but I hatch with a higher humidity. I think you will be fine. I also firmly believe opening the incubator the last 3 days is fine AS LONG AS their are NO PIPS.
 
I hate to ask this question because I'm sure it's been asked before, but does a dry incubation mean you add no water for 18 days? And what is a normal humidity level for dry incubation?
 
Last edited:
Yes. No water for the first 18 days then on day 18, add water. As for what humidity, it doesn't matter.
 
we live in florida, I tried the dry incubation method, first time out. we were lucky and went 13/14 from lockdown to hatch.
no water first 18 days, then lots of water, plug both holes and I taped the lid down until all were hatched.
and we had a two day rain shower during their hatch weekend.
there was water droplets all over the glass at the top for 36 hours, once they start to hatch it will get even more humid.
in my humble, you will be fine.

check this link
https://www.backyardchickens.com/LC-DryIncubation.html

and I used this one
http://freshpics.blogspot.com/2007/05/stages-of-chick-embryo-development.html

and during hatch weekend, this helped-
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/aa204
 
Quote:
I always make sure my humidity doesn't go below 25% otherwise here in my climate the airwaves tend to get to large
 
So, 12 out of 20 chicks have hatched and are in the brooder. I fogged up my bathroom and moved them and the hatched eggshells out of the bator because I was sure there were no pips in the remaining eggs.

There are still no pips, hatch day was technically yesterday at 10am. The other chicks started hatching the 8th! Crazy early birds.

My question is, should I hold out any hope for the remaining eggs? No noise, no pips, no movement. Bator is at 99.5 and 70% humidity. I'll give them a while to try to hatch - but how long before I give up? 20 made it to lockdown... very sad that only 12 hatched.

Advice?
 
H
So, 12 out of 20 chicks have hatched and are in the brooder. I fogged up my bathroom and moved them and the hatched eggshells out of the bator because I was sure there were no pips in the remaining eggs.

There are still no pips, hatch day was technically yesterday at 10am. The other chicks started hatching the 8th! Crazy early birds.

My question is, should I hold out any hope for the remaining eggs? No noise, no pips, no movement. Bator is at 99.5 and 70% humidity. I'll give them a while to try to hatch - but how long before I give up? 20 made it to lockdown... very sad that only 12 hatched.

Advice?
How did the rest turn out?
 

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