H E L P...Humidity. Ugh!!!

[theberlinfam]

So put my first batch in the bator (Hova 1588). I followed instructions and added water
to the small trough. My humidity was running around 60% for the first day. I read on here that it shouldn't be
more than 40%. Yikes!!! It stayed that way for a
day and I opened up and soaked up most of the water. Humidity is now at 38%. Will the eggs be ok since the humidity was so high that first day?

This is nerve racking!!

 

[Three Cedars Silkies]

Yes.

 

[RioLindoAz]

Quote:
Whoa, there. This shouldn't be nerve racking! This is no Indy 500. If anything, this should be a fun, enjoyable experience.
You really don't have to worry about it. Humidity doesn't really start becoming important until the last week. As long as its under control now, you are likely to have a successful hatch ahead of you. So just drink a cool glass of milk and stop thinking about it...

 

[midget_farms]

Dont worry - they are not that fragile!

THe humidity is a guideline - you want it around 40% but 50% is fine too. The reason you want it a little lower is because by day 21 you need some of the water to evap out of the eggs so there is a good air cell for the chick to break into during the hatch. If the humidity is too high (70 - 80%) for the entire gestation the air cell will be too small & the chick could drown.

But - you can have temporarily high humidity for a number of days w/o an issue.

Remember that at the end - you have to raise the humidity up to 60-70% the extra humidity will not soak back into the egg. you can't re-add water that has evaporated.

no worries.

 

[theberlinfam]

Thanks!!!!

It is fun and enjoyable...just want to make sure I am doing my part so they have the best shot at hatching!! Thanks for the feedback...