Help on humidity ... incubator was out of water on day 6

[Cherstin]

Yikes! Can anyone give me advice on humidity within the first few days? My incubator is supposed to have an alarm that sounds when the water is empty. I'm not sure if it was completely out or just very very very low. I filled the water part and stuck a cheap humidity reader in there and I'm showing 35%. I'm on day 6 and incubating guinea eggs (28 days). If it did run out of water it would've been recently. The manual says to fill it every five days or so (the alarm is supposed to remind you).

Anyone got any ideas? I've read that humidity only really becomes critical during hatch. Do you think that 35% would be okay if it has been like this for a day or so? If I was going to lose the eggs, when would I notice? (As in, when should I candle to see?)

Thank you for any help.

 

[silkiechicken]

No worries, fill it up and it will be like nothing happened. Net water loss is the important part, have that water lost at 50% relative for 18 days, or 25% for 9 and 75% for the other 9 and they will still be fine. That said, person A has best luck with holding it at 45% and person B has it best at 55%, it's not an exact science, so no need to stress.

 

[giasmom]

I do the dry incubation methed so my humidity during the first 18 days only runs between 25 & 35% during that time. I just hatched 16 guineas last wk that were 5 days early, so I never even got to up my temps for the last 3 days. So I believe yours will be fine. I see no problems with it at all. Hope all turns out well for you.

 

[Cherstin]

Sweet ... thank you! After I posted I did a search and see that some people incubate purposely at low humidity with no problems at all. I am hoping for the best. And who knows how accurate this Petco humidity gauge really is, anyway.

Thank you for your help! I was a little panicked. I kept thinking it should be at 55% or so but I guess minor nuances can work, too. Thank you!

 

[giasmom]

No prob !