Humidity for a Dickey hatcher

[redbarnmeadows]

I just got a Dickey hatcher this spring with the auto-waterer and water pail on top, and I'm trying to dial in on the right humidity. I'm currently getting slightly sticky chicks at hatch, so I want to try to lower the humidity. As I understand it, using the vents is the best way to do it, but which vents do I adjust more open or more closed? Thanks.

 

[hippichick]

Just curious, what are you keeping your humidity at during hatching? There are three vents. Two in back, and one on the upper left side of the hatcher. On mine, my side vent is usually closed. On back of hatcher, my lower vent is fully open, and upper vent is open just a bit. I usually adjust the side vent, and the upper vent in back of the hatcher if needed.

 

[hippichick]

double post, sorry...

 

[redbarnmeadows]

The digital thermometer/hygrometer that came with the unit reads mid 50s to low 60s, but I have no faith in the accuracy of any thermometer or hygrometer readings and prefer to adjust based on what the chicks tell me. I have the unit in a room in the basement where there is no sunlight at all and very little if any temperature fluctuations.

At the moment I have the side vent open and the back vents most of the way open, and I even floated a plastic top from a cottage cheese container (disinfected first of course) in the water pan to cut down the surface area of the water.

Am I going in the wrong direction maybe? I thought sticky chicks meant too much humidity, but maybe it's too little? How do I know if they are over or under-ventilated?

 

[pips&peeps]

Quote:
Are you using the hatcher as a hatcher or as an incubator and hatcher?

Usually sticky chicks have too much humidity then dry out. Are you opening the door alot?

I incubator my eggs in a sportsman and set the humidity at 45-50% and when they pip I put them in my Dickey hatcher at about 55-60% and they hatch fine.

Too much humidity and the chicks will drown when they internally pip. I think my back vents are 3/4 of the way open and the side vent is closed. There is probably alot of humidity in your basement......

 

[Chook-A-Holic]

What is the humidity in the room that you have the hatcher in? If the humidity is high in the area the hatcher is located then it's going to be impossible to lower the humidity by opening the vents. I incubate at 45% to 50% in the Dickey incubator then move the eggs to the Dickey hatcher on day 18 with the humidity at 60%.

 

[redbarnmeadows]

My basement is typically around 35-40% humidity. The room is fully enclosed, with an exhaust fan to keep the air moving, and I usually have a heat lamp on over the brooder, so that dries the room out a little bit. I dry incubate for the first 18 days - I have a Brinsea and a Dickey incubator for that. I use the hatcher strictly for hatching. I only open it very briefly twice a day during a hatch to remove chicks and it recovers humidity very quickly.