Humidity Adjustments

[Swhite2415]

We got an incubator (Little Giant Still Air 9300 w turner) and are test running it. We've never incubated before and I do know there are better ones out there but we got this one to try.

The temp is staying well within range, it's actually staying right about at 99.5-100 but I cannot for the life of me get the humidity up!! It won't go above 50%. There are no humidity controls, there are water chambers under the egg turner. They have all been full and replenished when it's running low but the humidity stays the same. There's no help in the instructions on how to raise it!!

Also, I have RIR, plymouth rock, delaware and bantam eggs to incubate, will the bantams be okay with the other eggs? I've read they hatch sooner. Thanks guys!! Ya'll are always so helpful

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

Still air machines need to run hotter. I don't have one but I've heard that a lot. The humidity discs that tell you the humidity are junk I've had 2 little giant forced air incubator and they'll make you drown your chicks. You need a separate thermometer and hygrometer. What are you going to incubate? 45% Humidity for chickens. I put wet sponges in to raise the humidity.

 

[Swhite2415]

Still air machines need to run hotter. I don't have one but I've heard that a lot. The humidity discs that tell you the humidity are junk I've had 2 little giant forced air incubator and they'll make you drown your chicks. You need a separate thermometer and hygrometer. What are you going to incubate? 45% Humidity for chickens. I put wet sponges in to raise the humidity.

I was hoping to incubate a few different breeds of chickens together. The paperwork says humidity should be 60-80%?? it's currently staying between 48-52%

 

[007Sean]

Disregard the paperwork, it's useless.
You can get a hygrometer at Wal Mart, Accurite brand. Perform a salt test calibration and get a better handle on the correct, accurate %RH in the incubator.
Your location will also have an effect on the %RH, whether your in a dry or humid area, will to some extent determine how much water to add or not to add any additional water to obtain whatever % humidity you're looking to operate the incubator.
You will also want to operate the still air incubator at 101° to 102°F. This temp should be measured at the top of the eggs as their sitting in the incubator.
The % RH your currently reporting is adequate to incubate chicken eggs. You may try to increase the humidity for the last 3 days of incubation to 60 or 65% RH. Adding a wet sponge will increase the surface area and therefore increase the amount of humidity. It's really a matter of 'try and error' until you find out what works for you...every incubator is different as is the location and there is no absolute answer to incubating eggs under every situation.

 

[Swhite2415]

Disregard the paperwork, it's useless.
You can get a hygrometer at Wal Mart, Accurite brand. Perform a salt test calibration and get a better handle on the correct, accurate %RH in the incubator.
Your location will also have an effect on the %RH, whether your in a dry or humid area, will to some extent determine how much water to add or not to add any additional water to obtain whatever % humidity you're looking to operate the incubator.
You will also want to operate the still air incubator at 101° to 102°F. This temp should be measured at the top of the eggs as their sitting in the incubator.
The % RH your currently reporting is adequate to incubate chicken eggs. You may try to increase the humidity for the last 3 days of incubation to 60 or 65% RH. Adding a wet sponge will increase the surface area and therefore increase the amount of humidity. It's really a matter of 'try and error' until you find out what works for you...every incubator is different as is the location and there is no absolute answer to incubating eggs under every situation.

Since you were so helpful before!! It is now day 21 today, i have 11 eggs in the incubator, i have candled them and know four are good, others are questionable. I have one eggs that has pieces of the eggshell broke off and a small hole poked in the membrane, so im assuming hes gonna break through but this is my first clutch so im not sure what to expect. Does it take a couple days after day 21? Three of them are bantams and i read they hatch a lot on day 19 but nothing from them yet. Can i candle them again or no since its day 21? What day do i decide I wad wrong the whole time lol thanks!!

 

[007Sean]

Since you were so helpful before!! It is now day 21 today, i have 11 eggs in the incubator, i have candled them and know four are good, others are questionable. I have one eggs that has pieces of the eggshell broke off and a small hole poked in the membrane, so im assuming hes gonna break through but this is my first clutch so im not sure what to expect. Does it take a couple days after day 21? Three of them are bantams and i read they hatch a lot on day 19 but nothing from them yet. Can i candle them again or no since its day 21? What day do i decide I wad wrong the whole time lol thanks!!

Well, you have one that pipped and is resting before it zips. Just leave them alone at this point make sure your humidity is around 55 to 60% and just wait, this is the hardest part of incubating eggs for first timers. I would give them until day 25, after that it's not likely any will hatch.

 

[Swhite2415]

I have two piped now, when they hatch do i take them out while the others are still waiting? Leave them in? I read somewhere that you should leave them in the incubator for 24 hours but that seems weird to me

 

[007Sean]

I have two piped now, when they hatch do i take them out while the others are still waiting? Leave them in? I read somewhere that you should leave them in the incubator for 24 hours but that seems weird to me

They will be fine, until the others hatch or for 24 hours whichever comes first.

 

[Swhite2415]

Okay! What's an okay time period between pip and zipper? Like how long should i let them try? Or don't help at all?