First Time Hatching Chicken Eggs?

[Ringtailtwister]

I'm confused about how to hatch my eggs. Some people say to dry hatch them with little or no water except the last three days. Then some say to use water through the whole incubation cycle what do I do? My eggs will be here tomorrow HELP!!!!

Also what is the best hygrometer to buy that doesn't cost a fortune?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I n't trust most hygrometers unless they're calibrated.
My best advice is to weigh the eggs at the onset and intermittently during incubation.
With proper humidity for THOSE EGGS, they should lose about 0.65% weight each day.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

I'm confused about how to hatch my eggs. Some people say to dry hatch them with little or no water except the last three days. Then some say to use water through the whole incubation cycle what do I do? My eggs will be here tomorrow HELP!!!!

Also what is the best hygrometer to buy that doesn't cost a fortune?

Let's start with what kind of incubator are you using? Are you at a high altitude? What is your climate like??

I'm a big pusher of a low humidity incubation method (also known innaproprietly as "dry") If you are using a styro bator and are not in a high altitude or arid area I strongly recommend that method and using the air cells to know how to adjust. I use this method for knowing how to adjust my humidity so it works for the eggs: http://letsraisechickens.weebly.com...anuals-understanding-and-controlling-humidity. I agree with not trusting hygrometers as well as thermometers unless they have been checked for accuracy and never trust the gages on the incubators unless they've been checked against a known accurate thermometer and hygrometer. I do believe it's good to have a hygrometer though as it gives you an idea of what you are running/what works for you. I use the digital hygrometer on my accurite thermometer.
The low humidity method will also work in the Janoel type bators as well. I don't recommend it [completely dry] for Brinsea as eggs seem to hatch better in them at 40/42%. I also would not recommend it for wood and cabinet incubators.

If you live in a high altitude you need a higher humidity. (I'd start out around 50% and keep an eye on the air cells. Higher altitudes need more ventilation as well for oxygen exchange.)

Dry climates I would start at 40/45% and again monitor the air cells for how to adjust. The average climate & altitude I'd use the method in the link. It also explains how to monitor the air cells (which for a beginner I highly recommend.)

I am assuming you are using shipped eggs?? They pose their own group of problems. I think @RubyNala97 has a link she likes to give out for shipped eggs.

I hope you keep us updated on how it goes.

 

[Ringtailtwister]

I have a Roll-X1 incubator and just picked up the eggs from a farm this afternoon, and I plan to put them in the incubator tomorrow. I live in Tennessee and it is very humid here.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

I have a Roll-X1 incubator and just picked up the eggs from a farm this afternoon, and I plan to put them in the incubator tomorrow. I live in Tennessee and it is very humid here.

Plastic right? With your humidity I would start dry and see what the incubator holds for humidity. as long as it's above 25% I'd run with that for a week, check air cells and then adjust according to the air cells.