Humidity in Bator...EXCELLENT INFO HERE! EVERYONE SHOULD READ THIS!

[Buster]

Just finished my hatch in the Hovabator 1588 with 75% humidity. 10 of 12 hatched. That's 83%. My best hatch rate before I tried upping the humidity was 25%. We have a very dry climate so maybe that makes the difference. I would not have tried this method except that my lower humidity hatches were so poor that this was my last shot. If I had not had a good hatch from this batch I would have abandoned incubating altogether. I'm glad I tried this and my chicks are probably glad too.

Sometimes you have to tweak and tweak until you get it right and sometimes you have to back up and punt.

 

[Wheaties]

Congradulations Buster, I am so glad to hear that you had a successful hatch. That is what it is all about, right? I will keep you posted on how my hatch goes coming up. Try calibrating your hygrometer as we discussed before just to see if you can get an accurate reading of the enviroment where you are. I am curious to learn about what other areas may struggle with regarding incubation! Keep me posted on that if you do not mind sir! Thanks!

 

[Buster]

Quote:
No problem- In fact, the thermo/hygrometer is in the brooder now and temps are stable there so I will go calibrate it now. I'll get back with you soon.

 

[Jamie821]

Hey all wow Panner alot of eggs. I would go stir blind. I think I handle alot of eggs. Way to go Buster. OKay reading for Saturday were. 42-40- 37. Sunday readings 43-41- 34. Jean had pushed one ameracauna egg out on Saturday I put it back it was number 5 egg. I put it back and Sunday morning it was out again so brought it in house and candled it . It had a blood ring so opened it . It was fertile but died very early in incubation. Now all I need to know is how Jean knew. So far the rest she is doing great with. I am going to candle them on day 10 but that will be the only time I do it. I figure the hen doesnt so dont want to stress her out but once. She is being great with me hasnt been upset at all . She does do a little telling me off though I think.

 

[Buster]

Ok got the calibration all set up. I'll get back with you on that in 8-12 hours.

I'm glad I followed this thread or it would never have occurred to me to calibrate the hygrometer.

 

[Suellyn]

Congrats, Buster - LOVE the video... all those fuzzballs bumbling around, made me laugh!

Jamie821... did you say that you will attempt to "hygrometerize

" a wild goose next??? Or did I misinterpret what you wrote? Holy heck. I love your "humidity reports", not just for the numbers, but the interesting observations like how Jean kinda "lifts up" to vent or cool the eggs (or WHATEVER it is, that she knows needs done!!), and knowing that egg #5 was a goner... thats amazing, I wonder how they DO know.. ?

 

[Dipsy Doodle Doo]

Hi! I hatched this week at around 80%-85% from late Day 18 and nearly done on late Day 20 (now). I kicked up the humidity on purpose (added another wet sock) from my usual 65%, 'just to see'.

I'll show you the chicks tomorrow when I move them to a brooder (whoops, got a couple of surprises in this group).
Lisa

disclaimer: I don't recommend anyone keeping their hatcher at 85% humidity.
I'm ornery and did it just to see if the eggs would hatch.
Buster started it

 

[panner123]

Quote:
Bet your highest reading was in the morning. Sure was a lot of eggs hatching and most of the time it was a dime a piece. One year I did get a quarter for most of the year and .35 for the last three hatches. Was rolling in the dough at the time. Then again a gallon of gas was .19 then went to .25 and you could but a car for $1500 or a nice house for $7500. Is there anyone else out there that remembers those days? Those prices wouldn't even make the down payment now. Mother Nature is great, Jean knew the same way a woman knows to have a miscarriage. Not even the best doctors have that one figured out. So that leaves me knowing mama hen is a lot smarter than me on that note.

 

[Jamie821]

I am wondering the same thing myself Suellyn. Somehow she knew because she pushed the same egg out twice. No you did not misunderstand me. I am going to try to do a canadian goose. We have a family that comes here every spring to my back yard pond and lay. Dont know that I can pull it off without being attacked but am going to try to get one in there when she is laying her eggs but before she starts setting. I have learned better not to approach the nest after she starts setting as the gander has come after me numerous times. she usually lays about 5 eggs before setting so I am going to try to get it in there after number 3 is laid. Like I said try . It would be interesting if i can pull it off . YOu know that thing called curiosity.

 

[panner123]

Didn't curiosity kill the cat?