how does a broody hen....

[freshfish]

increase humidity in a natural environment? I am just trying to understand the raising humidity in my incubator during lockdown concept. Not that I'm against it, just wondering how its done in nature.

Thanks for any info,
John

 

[midget_farms]

Her vent gets sweaty.

No really she stops getting up. So more moisture stays under her.

 

[bobbi-j]

There is no way you can replicate in your incubator what a hen does naturally...

 

[Egghead_Jr]

A broody hen gets off the nest once a day during incubation. Once the eggs start to wiggle under her she stops getting off the nest for last few days. Humidity is raised that much more and constant the last few days as she wont leave the nest and stops turning the eggs.

This we mimic in the incubator by having some humidity, about 40%, and turning eggs for 18 days then stop turning and raise humidity to 60%.

 

[bobbi-j]

A broody hen gets off the nest once a day during incubation. Once the eggs start to wiggle under her she stops getting off the nest for last few days. Humidity is raised that much more and constant the last few days as she wont leave the nest and stops turning the eggs.

This we mimic in the incubator by having some humidity, about 40%, and turning eggs for 18 days then stop turning and raise humidity to 60%.

I have hatched with an incubator, and I understand all that. What I was trying (poorly) to say was, we can do these things, but it will still not be "natural".

 

[midget_farms]

Yup. We replicate it but in nature her vent gets sweaty. ...because the eggs are hot