First time incubating eggs!

[shelbylewis]

We recently had a tragedy and lost our favorite hen to a hawk. She laid an egg the morning before she was attacked so we decided to incubate some eggs including her last one in her honor. I am struggling with what the humidity level in my still air little giant incubator should be. All forums say something different. I have been managing it between 50-55% but tonight i added to much water and it went up to 60%. I am on day 9 and all embryos look good so far. I am turning the eggs manually and I am doing this at the very least 4 times a day, sometimes 5. However, I have not been turning on the same hour everyday. Will this affect the eggs? Or does it not matter just as long as they are turned?

 

[Broodygranny]

I hope your hens last egg hatches! I don't really turn my eggs at exactly the same time every day. I do try to turn them around the same time, just so they spend more even amounts of time on each side. I usually turn either 3 or 5 times a day so that the eggs are on a different side each night.

 

[JaeG]

Check the air cells to make sure they are growing large enough.

It is very individual as to what humidity works best in your climate. If the air cells are looking too small then you will need to reduce the humidity (no lower than 25% though).

for your hen's egg especially.

 

[shelbylewis]

Check the air cells to make sure they are growing large enough.
View attachment 1582940
It is very individual as to what humidity works best in your climate. If the air cells are looking too small then you will need to reduce the humidity (no lower than 25% though).

for your hen's egg especially.

Thank you so much!

 

[Mosey2003]

If you're opening it 4 times a day, I don't think it going up to 60% is going to be that big of an issue. It ought to come right back down after it's opened, no? If you're really worried, suck some of the water back out.

 

[shelbylewis]

If you're opening it 4 times a day, I don't think it going up to 60% is going to be that big of an issue. It ought to come right back down after it's opened, no? If you're really worried, suck some of the water back out.

It does go back down after I close it, I also have one of the plugs out for more ventilation, if it goes up I take the other plug out but I try to keep at least one in at all times

 

[Mosey2003]

I prefer not to use the plugs at all. I like maximum oxygen exchange. If you're working at keeping the humidity down, personally I'd pull both plugs, add some more water, and let it keep itself around 50% like it seems it 'wants' to already.

 

[shelbylewis]

I prefer not to use the plugs at all. I like maximum oxygen exchange. If you're working at keeping the humidity down, personally I'd pull both plugs, add some more water, and let it keep itself around 50% like it seems it 'wants' to already.

Do you put both plugs back in when you get to lockdown?

 

[Mosey2003]

Do you put both plugs back in when you get to lockdown?

Absolutely not! Lockdown is when you take them out if you've been using them. They could suffocate.

 

[shelbylewis]

Absolutely not! Lockdown is when you take them out if you've been using them. They could suffocate.

Okay, got it! Thanks for your help. I think the directions for the incubator does say that now that I am thinking about it. I like to talk to real people though I don't always trust the incubator instructions!