Hovabator Humitidy

[Gsweet83]

Ok makes sense! They have been in egg turner so will probably do an egg carton. My humidity has been stable from 43-50% tops. I am happy with that. Air cells actually look rather large after candlind last night compared to the 'charts' you find online. I am excited! But will try try again if i fail. they sure are kicking around in there! So very cool. Thanks again for your help!

 

[Heidisgran]

well see that's even different than all I've been told...some say not more than 65 at hatch others say lower...ducks like 80 or more I guess!! I don't want anymore tragedy's for a while I'm going to go by the incubators factory settings I pray close is enough...surprising a hen doesn't concern themselves so much!!! I had a guinea egg I opened for my chickens and it had an embryo in it just from our warm humid weather!! I think I'm trying too hard lol

 

[Alaskan]

How high you want the humidity at hatch depends a lot on how high the humidity was during incubation.

So.....if you had higher humidity during incubation, then you are correct, 65%RH at hatch would be the absolute maximum you would want.

I just really liked all of the information I read about doing a "dry incubation" where the humidity is super low during the first 18 days, then crank it up at hatch. It just happened that at my house, 40% RH is as low as it gets.

Anyway, it IS SUPER confusing because so many people do tend to follow so many completely different humidity rules.

 

[Gsweet83]

well see that's even different than all I've been told...some say not more than 65 at hatch others say lower...ducks like 80 or more I guess!! I don't want anymore tragedy's for a while I'm going to go by the incubators factory settings I pray close is enough...surprising a hen doesn't concern themselves so much!!! I had a guinea egg I opened for my chickens and it had an embryo in it just from our warm humid weather!! I think I'm trying too hard lol

I hear ya! I have a few under my pullets as well and Hubby keeps saying... She's not freaking out about the hygrometer!!!!

 

[Gsweet83]

50% hatch rate on my first hatch. Not too shabby. 48-50% humidity for 18 days then 65-70% for lockdown. Lovin these babies!!!!

 

[3 NH reds]

That is great it worked out for you. I am a dry hatch convert. I went by a book and had 55% humidity for the first 18 days and the hatch rate was bad and we lost chicks to mushy chick due to high humidity. Now I go dry so long as it is 20% or more, right now it is 25% at day 14. My last dry hatch was22% and day 18 went to 65%.. I had like a 75% hatch rate.

 

[ajneal30]

I have had humidity problems with my bator too, except I live in nevada and can't keep it high enough. I think I would really like to try a dry hatch next time and see if that helps.