Humidity...How do you feel about it????

[aka Rachel]

I'm not sure on the numbers because I have a brinsea mini and no hygrometer that fits inside.

However, the first hatch I did with no added water, and on lockdown I filled both reservoirs as instructed and hatch was ok, however a couple eggs never did hatch even tho they were fully developed.

My next hatch I added no water, then on lockdown I filled both reservoirs but the humidty seemed very high. I soaked up most of the water. When the chick hatched it was very wet and part of him remained a little sticky.

I think I lost the chicks in the first hatch due to too high humidity.

This time I will only fill one reservoir and see how it goes.

 

[Gypsy07]

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Ooo. It's so interesting the different humidities that other folk have success with. The one time I tried a dry hatch, humidity was around 35-40% up till day 18. I bumped it up to 70% for lockdown. The eggs had lost far too much moisture - over 30% of their starting weight! - and none of them even pipped. All fully formed but dead in shell and with huge big air sacs.

 

[gryeyes]

How do I feel about humidity? It makes me all sticky. Ewwww.

In all seriousness, I wish humidity issues were just bull-hockey. But it seems to matter for my hatches. So that's why I shelled out the bucks for more 'bators with humidity pumps, to automate the whole humidification process.

 

[debilorrah]

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Ooo. It's so interesting the different humidities that other folk have success with. The one time I tried a dry hatch, humidity was around 35-40% up till day 18. I bumped it up to 70% for lockdown. The eggs had lost far too much moisture - over 30% of their starting weight! - and none of them even pipped. All fully formed but dead in shell and with huge big air sacs.

They are SUPPOSED to lose that much from their starting weight.

 

[Gypsy07]

They're supposed to lose roughly 11-14% of their starting weight. Nowhere near as much as 30%.

 

[tnfarmeggs]

Well now I don't know if I should keep at 40% or 50%

Getting temp. set right now to get these eggs in, it's our first homemade incubator

 

[14 chickens & counting]

Thanks to all on the advice about the humidity. Since this our first hatch...I'm going for around 45%..maybe a bit lower...40%...I'll probably try for around 70 - 75% on lockdown...but that's 16 days away!!!! I could change my mind by then.

 

[14 chickens & counting]

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Good luck with your first "homemade incubator"!

 

[14 chickens & counting]

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[Gypsy07]

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Did you notice an improvement in hatch rates with the fully automated bators?

What kinds have you got? And what one do you think is the best?