First time incubating = Questions

[TheBajan]

I've got 3 dozen eggs in the incubator. Temp is set to 100 +/- 1 and as much as I am able to see the temp difference from top to bottom varies by about a single degree. Humidity is between 56% to 59%. I placed them in on 5/11 right before bedtime so I assume that would be day zero?

1. Does my humidity sound right? I've read so many conflicting opinions about what the humidity should be that I'm just not sure.
2. I've read that in the first few days it's better to have a lower temp as opposed to a higher temp. Any thoughts on that?
3. When should I start to candle them? I've looked at pictures online of what I should be seeing but I'm still unsure exactly what to look for during that first candling. What do you look for in deciding if a chick is viable?

Thanks!

 

[FolkSonginC]

I've got 3 dozen eggs in the incubator. Temp is set to 100 +/- 1 and as much as I am able to see the temp difference from top to bottom varies by about a single degree. Humidity is between 56% to 59%. I placed them in on 5/11 right before bedtime so I assume that would be day zero?

1. Does my humidity sound right? I've read so many conflicting opinions about what the humidity should be that I'm just not sure.
2. I've read that in the first few days it's better to have a lower temp as opposed to a higher temp. Any thoughts on that?
3. When should I start to candle them? I've looked at pictures online of what I should be seeing but I'm still unsure exactly what to look for during that first candling. What do you look for in deciding if a chick is viable?

Thanks! View attachment 2140156

I would say your humidity is too high, I've only done a few hatches before but I usually keep it at around 30% for the first 18 days, give or take depending on what the air cells look like. It also depends on where you live, people who live in very humid places can sometimes even do dry incubation and add very little/no water. You just have to use the air cells as a guide. The days to candle are usually day 7, 14, and 18 right before lock down, and on day seven you should expect to see a little bit of veining that sort of looks like a spiderweb, and you want to mark the air cells and make sure they're the right size. Higher humidity causes smaller air cells and lower humidity can result in larger air cells. Here is a good guide:

 

[TheBajan]

I would say your humidity is too high, I've only done a few hatches before but I usually keep it at around 30% for the first 18 days, give or take depending on what the air cells look like. It also depends on where you live, people who live in very humid places can sometimes even do dry incubation and add very little/no water. You just have to use the air cells as a guide. The days to candle are usually day 7, 14, and 18 right before lock down, and on day seven you should expect to see a little bit of veining that sort of looks like a spiderweb, and you want to mark the air cells and make sure they're the right size. Higher humidity causes smaller air cells and lower humidity can result in larger air cells. Here is a good guide:View attachment 2140176

So should I wait until day 7 to reduce the humidity? I will have to open the box to take out some sponges from the water tray. Will it hurt them if I wait?

 

[FolkSonginC]

So should I wait until day 7 to reduce the humidity? I will have to open the box to take out some sponges from the water tray. Will it hurt them if I wait?

it wouldn't hurt them probably either way, humidity is pretty flexible and easy to fix but I would say take them out now, it's fine to open the incubator for a short period of time and the temperature change won't hurt them, when broody hens sit on eggs they have to take breaks to eat and drink (and poop) so it's natural for the eggs to have short cool off periods.