High Humidity Please Help

[MrsChicky55]

I purchased some silkie/satin eggs that were shipped to me. They've been in the incubator for 6 days now. This is my first time hatching chicks so I went ahead and added some water for humidity but the humidity in the incubator has been 60-70%. I wiped the moisture from the windows of the incubator to try to reduce the humidity but the lowest it's gotten is 49%. I just opened the second red oxygen hole to try to reduce the humidity more but the humidity is climbing. I live near the coast but never really thought of this area as humid but when I checked today it's at 79% and it's a sunny warm day! How can I bring down the humidity so my chicks don't drown in the egg?

I had candled my eggs before putting them in the incubator to check the air cells since they were shipped and most looked pretty good although I guess I'm not sure what a normal # of unstable air sacs would be. Out of 33 eggs 1 has a free floating air sac, 9 have minor movement of the air sac (1-2mm), and one has a bit more movement but is still attached. But my plan was just to monitor the air sacs for appropriate air sac development so I didn't weigh my eggs before hatching. I'll candle tonight or tomorrow morning but I'm a little nervous about what I might find. If anyone has experience hatching eggs in high humidity, I'd really love to hear any tips or recommendations or what your experience was. - Thanks!

 

[ronott1]

Humidity comes from surface area and not the amount of water. The bottom of the incubator should have separate water reservoir that you can fill or leave empty. Empty all of them but one small one and fill it with water. Humidity should stabilize in about 8 hours. Based on what the humidity is, fill more reservoirs to get to the humidity level you want.

For silkies, I would try 35 to 0%

 

[ronott1]

Also, the plugs should come out especially at the end of incubation.

 

[DwayneNLiz]

Also, the plugs should come out especially at the end of incubation.

plugs should NEVER be used to control humidity
leave them for the first 10 days then remove

 

[DwayneNLiz]

I purchased some silkie/satin eggs that were shipped to me. They've been in the incubator for 6 days now. This is my first time hatching chicks so I went ahead and added some water for humidity but the humidity in the incubator has been 60-70%. I wiped the moisture from the windows of the incubator to try to reduce the humidity but the lowest it's gotten is 49%. I just opened the second red oxygen hole to try to reduce the humidity more but the humidity is climbing. I live near the coast but never really thought of this area as humid but when I checked today it's at 79% and it's a sunny warm day! How can I bring down the humidity so my chicks don't drown in the egg?

I had candled my eggs before putting them in the incubator to check the air cells since they were shipped and most looked pretty good although I guess I'm not sure what a normal # of unstable air sacs would be. Out of 33 eggs 1 has a free floating air sac, 9 have minor movement of the air sac (1-2mm), and one has a bit more movement but is still attached. But my plan was just to monitor the air sacs for appropriate air sac development so I didn't weigh my eggs before hatching. I'll candle tonight or tomorrow morning but I'm a little nervous about what I might find. If anyone has experience hatching eggs in high humidity, I'd really love to hear any tips or recommendations or what your experience was. - Thanks!
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what incubator are you using?
fan or still air?

 

[HeyHey]

Rice in a clean towel or sock will pull the moisture out.

 

[RosieRooChicks]

my chicks drown in the egg?

This is the first time to incubate. Do you think I did this if all was fine in the beginning and I have all but 2 left out of 6 (which also may have drowned) will candle tonight.

 

[DwayneNLiz]

at day 6 i wouldnt think so but you need to get it down

 

[ronott1]

my chicks drown in the egg?

This is the first time to incubate. Do you think I did this if all was fine in the beginning and I have all but 2 left out of 6 (which also may have drowned) will candle tonight.

Some research has shown that lower levels of oxygen at the beginning if incubation can slightly increase hatch rates. This is not recommended though because of the danger of not opening the vents at the correct time and killing the chicks.

For the first 18 days of incubation, the humidity level is important for air cell development. Too much and they will not shrink enough. Too little and they will shrink too much. There is a large range of safe though--25% to about 55% is safe. Above and below is a danger zone where you will lose chicks. At lockdown, 65% to 75% is good and will help keep the chicks from sticking to the shell.

 

[MrsChicky55]

Rice in a clean towel or sock will pull the moisture out.

I put some rice in the incubator this afternoon.... 8 hours later still sitting at 48%. Fingers crossed it will start working in time.