Humidity ok? Freaking on lock down

[CarlaJeanchickenlady]

I’m so scared the humidity is too high! Help! I don’t know how I would get it out and it’s only on very bottom, but it’s lock down and I’m convinced something is wrong lol

 

[Smuvers Farm]

What does the hygrometer say?

 

[CarlaJeanchickenlady]

It does not have one built in, I purchased one but have to take in and out but scared due to lock doen

 

[CarlaJeanchickenlady]

Does the water droplets at the bottom look bad??

 

[Smuvers Farm]

In lockdown you really want the humidity as high as possible so no, the water droplets don't look bad. Mine had water droplets falling from the top during one lock down. I'd open it and wipe it down since you don't want the eggs to get wet, so as long as the eggs aren't WET you should be OK.

 

[Joeschooks]

If you’re sure you don’t have any pips yet I would pop the hygrometer in and see what it says. Too high humidity isn’t too much of an issue, just your chicks might not fluff up too well. I know it’s stressful, especially if this is your first hatch but please try to relax.

 

[CarlaJeanchickenlady]

Thank you all! It’s day 19 and I am convinced something is wrong and worried bc not a lot of movement. Which I read can be ok. I had one quitter and terrified since, and one egg looked way small day 17 but trying to remember it’s not over yet lol thank you for the advice!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

It looks fine.

I like mine to have SLIGHT condensation on TOP. Under neath could be full of water as far as I'm concerned. If the top is dripping it's too much and could potentially drown a pipper.

What day of lock down are you on? I spend ALL of day 18 getting humidity right... which includes opening the top many times. If I need to open it late, I drape stuff around to capture the heat/humidity and reach my hands under to do what I need. It makes for less shocking of imbalance between the two and reduces risk of shrink wrapping.

Also, even though lock down is good practice... and not assisting hatch, Many of us do what we want. Sometimes removing chicks or egg shells mid hatch to make room for what still going on. Or even popping the top to wipe heavy condensation, cuz it can get pretty wet when you have a LOT of hatching going on.

So I'm not suggesting that you open your bator a bunch. Just saying that sometimes it's OK to do what you think you need to or what YOU are comfortable with.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Day 19 is always my hardest. I KIND OF hope to see something cuz I'm worried no one is gonna make. But in reality I'm SUPER excited when pipping starts to take place on day 20, and hatched by day 21. And this is my actual repeated experience time and time again. I see no movement on day 19... ever. Maybe I'm just not looking at the right time. I usually get 85-100% hatch from those that made to lock down.

I've been hatching almost weekly since Thanksgiving... and experience that same anxiety EVERY single time.

 

[Smuvers Farm]

x2 EVERYTHING Eggie said!