First time incubating eggs - need advice on air cells please

[pennyJo1960]

Thank you @aart

 

[lu bantam chickens]

Is it ok not to add water to the incubator? would it affect the chicks in the eggs
when water runs out it goes to about 58- 60% humidity

 

[pennyJo1960]

Which is great till hatch even 65 would be safe I do dry incubate not suggesting all do it.

 

[lu bantam chickens]

Thank you will try tomorrow when water runs out

 

[pennyJo1960]

Thank you will try tomorrow when water runs out

I would use corner of a sponge or paper towel to get some out do not leave it please

 

[aart]

Is it ok not to add water to the incubator? would it affect the chicks in the eggs
when water runs out it goes to about 58- 60% humidity

It'll be fine for a few days.
It's the humidity over the whole incubation, not just a day or three.
Even 60% is kind of high.....until the eggs pip then you wan't it up to 60-80%.

 

[lu bantam chickens]

Hello all check my humidity today this morning it was 61% and with no water added and all wiped dry it is now at 55% humidity - is that ok?
Did notice one of my eggs near the back of the incubator the air cell has got larger over night

 

[mcdze]

its fine .. ive hatched batches in small incubators with 'very' high humidity throughout and also 'very' low humidity throughout - both with over 80% hatch rates .. humidity is one of the least critical factors in my own experience .. when it comes to eggs the best strategy is aim for the right humidity and temp and leave them alone .. you really cant help an egg hatch lol ... but yeah i got a batch in an inc right now at about 57% throughout and only reason its lower than 75% throughout is ive learned to use a lid in the bottom of my inc ... did 75% humidity throughout stop me from getting 11 out of 13 eggs to hatch last time .. no ... but im aiming for the mmore correct number which is just hard to do in a compact inc .. everything will be fine

 

[lu bantam chickens]

what should be the lowest humidity incubator has now gone to 51%

 

[aart]

what should be the lowest humidity incubator has now gone to 51%

50% is fine fora couple days, trace air cells on day 18 when you lock down.