I have a still air incubator and i am hatching out eggs again.. but i always forget what the humidity should be until day 18 and then how much higher it should get bumped up on day 18? any help would be awsome, thanks!
I keep my humidity 30-35% for the first 18 days and then bump it up to 60-65% for the last three days.
well, the standard rule is 1-18 day use 40-50% for 19-21 use 60-70% but that's all is depend on people's experience, different place and bator and condition need different action and humidity. good luck
In Gail Damerow's books she recommends 102 degrees and 60 to 62 percent relative humidity for still-air incubators, raised up to 70 percent humidity during the hatch. (I'm quoting) So that's what I'm shooting for (but this is my first hatch). Hopefully it's good advice. She's written several books so...
For the best information on humidity, go to the Learning Center, click on the How to Pages. Read the article by Bill Worrell on dry incubation. Many of us new comers to chickens have been useing this medthod. Only Bill has put it in words that everyone can understand. More chicks have been drown in the egg than have been hatched at high humidity. As a child I can remember my grandfather always telling us to keep the humidity down in the incubator. This was a walk in incubator that could hatch over 15,000 eggs at a time. I used this incubator for a number of years after I got out of the Navy in 1962. I believe he built it in 1935. there was a number of chages made to it over the years. But it was working when I leaft N. J. in 1971. Keep your humidity down and you will hatch many more chicks. Think of it this way, how does a hen raise her humidity to 50 or 60%. Even during the last three days the humidity in the nest doesn't go up that much. Yes, it does some, but that is because of the chicks breaking out of the egg.
Thank you Panner123 for that info. I have been a little confused about the humidity thing and that specifically addresses that confusion. Like how a hen raises the humidity that amount for the last 3 days? Anyway that article is what I am looking for.
As far as the hen and raising humidity the last three days, I think it's more that she sticks very tight those last 2-4 days and by her not getting off the nest at all the humidity probably is raised somewhat. By our leaving the lid closed and raising the humidity level, that's our way of simulating the hen those last 3 days.
