First Hatch and Humidity

[wildflowerrun]

OK, so I still have some time. It's only day 14 around here and I'm all anxious to candle and the next week.

I know that around day 17-18 I stop turning and start going into lockdown. No opening of the unit at all.

But I've also heard that the humidity needs to go up.

So my question is how am I going to control the humidity in the 5 days without opening it? (Day 18-Day 23.)

I am using a GQF 1500 Sportsman as an incubator and a hatcher. I have been able to get the humidity up pretty high before (a few hours I learned a lesson!), but to get the temperature down off 99.5 for hatching, I need to open up some vents.... which lowers the humidity.

How will I ensure that there's enough humidity in there? Or do I err on the side of too much water/high humidity (and open a lot of vents?) for the first few days, and it will settle out in time for hatch day and beyond?

Also, it has no viewing window. It's solid all the way around, so I will not be able to see pips or anyone out and waddling about. Is that going to be an issue? Or just trust my machine/temperature readings and open it up for a (hopefully good?) surprise on day 23?

Any and all advice is GREATLY appreciated!

 

[loveourbirds]

I have 2 of the 1200 series and one 1500 series. you can add more humidity wicks to raise humidity. if one of your vents are pretty well open you should have enough oxygen.

im in Ohio, humidity here is approx. 50% my incubators are in a dry shed. I take out the original humidity pans, and replace them with 7x9 cake pans. during the first 18 days I fill them 1/4 to 1/2 full and let them dry or almost dry before refilling. don't let them stay dry over a couple of hours. when I refill the water tray I check on the eggs and leave the door open for about 15 minutes. this allows a complete air exchange in the incubator, and simulates the chicken getting off her nest.

on day 18 I fill the tray all the way up, I stop turning (move down if that's your plan). I open the incubator each day until I see a pip. on that day, I mist the eggs very lightly with water between 95 and 100 degrees just before I close the door, this brings the humidity up fast. I open it late on day 21 and remove any hatched chicks and re-mist the eggs lightly. open quickly on days 22 and 23, misting before you close the door.

I typically get 85%-95% hatches (from first candling), a little lower right now due to heat and lower fertility.

I used to live on the Delmarva peninsula in Newark MD, close to Ocean City. I wouldn't be afraid to try these same ideas there.