Help! First time using incubator Humidity help!!!

[tpulido123]

I have questions, I need help! We purchased a Leahy 416 and 2nd batch is in as of this morning. (We lost 15 eggs and only 1 survived so far he's alive, we did everything wrong to start on 1st batch) I've been eating and breathing here on this site and others and youtube. We've never used an incubator. Our Leahy 416 works fine, all original, starts right up, temp and humidity no problems.. So my question is Why does my paper on my Leahy say HUMIDITY 84° first 18 days and last 3 days at 88° and everywhere else im reading it's like half that first 18 days then 60-70 last 3 days? Did I kill all my eggs trying to do what most call for when my Leahy cleary states higher humidity? Note: My hubby thought storing small end up and setting small end up and turning incorrectly was how to do this...but I researched toward the end of batch and believe this also had a lot to do with my babies not making it

I've since learned how to candle, water candle, control humidity by adding a pan with a bit of depth helps with controlling humidity longer and I've even had to open up my eggs to see what was infertile, blood rings and full growth but no pip. I believe I've done all the research I can but now to get this humidity question answered...my husband will say do what most call for BUT I'm thinking we should be doing what the manual says..can anyone tell me out there if youve ever used and hatched successfully with all original Leahy 416 and what you did?!?#? All help appreciated! I have 60+ this batch and can't lose these little guys

 

[HatchCraft]

I think you are confusing wet bulb temp and relative humidity as a percentage. 84 deg f ( wet bulb) at 100 deg ( dry bulb) = 50 percent RH.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

OK, there are two ways to measure humidity the lesser common way is with a wet bulb thermometer. Wet bulb thermometers measure in degrees. I don't use a wet bulb so I can't go into that. The second way is with a hygrometer which measures in percentages. Most of what you will find in research uses the hygrometer which will give you preecentages. I believe that is where are getting confused.

 

[tpulido123]

Yes, it says wet bulb on the page i attached (photo) that is the only piece i am missing..so we are using the zoo med temp & humidity thermometers. With these what should i be at? Sorry i should of been more detailed in original post

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Yes, it says wet bulb on the page i attached (photo) that is the only piece i am missing..so we are using the zoo med temp & humidity thermometers. With these what should i be at? Sorry i should of been more detailed in original post

Temps in a forced air should be 99.5F (Still air is 101-102F taken near the tops of the eggs.) Humidity varies from hatcher to hatcher. The few people that I know that use cabinet incubators usually have better hatches with 50-55% ish humidity. The best thing you can do is day 7 and 14 check the air cells to see if they are growing right. Then you'll know whhich way to adjust if you need to adjust.

 

[tpulido123]

Great, thank you!