In my opinion 50% for the first 17 days is high, but that's irrelevant at this point. A lot of condensation is technically too much. I'd let a little out (lift the lid) and see if 70% would work better for you.
A lot of users that go by the 50% during the first 17 days do not have successfull hatches because, (especially in the styros) it tends to drown the chicks at hatch time or they grow too big and can not turn to hatch because the air cells have not progressed. That and those manuals give the wrong temps for still air bators too. It's all finding what works for you with your bator. I have an older little giant with the fan kit installed, but I have been looking at the Hova Bator with the "picture window".Ok thanks. I am getting a new incubator this weekend...Hova Bator 1588. Its styrofoam. Right now im using a friends which is also styrofoam. Have not had good luck so far
You'll have to let me know what you think of it. Just make sure you check the temp/humidity on the bator with a thermometer/hygrometer that you know to be accurate because the bators are known to be off on their gages as well. A lot of people don't REALLY know what they are doing for the first hatch. I didn't. I had bought a new thermoemter but didn't check it before using it and ended up with one chick hatched day 24 and one that hatched but died on day 25. I had 17 at lockdown. I thought they looked behind, but I was hoping I was wrong. They were all moving and energetic. Turned out my thermometer was 6 degrees off. I felt so bad. Before I did a second hatch (which turned out awesome,) I made sure I had three thermometers and a whole lot more knowledge of incubation and humidity and the why's and how's and I haven't had another bad hatch (knock on wood.) It's a learning process some of us just get the harder lesson in the beginning. The important thing is to not give up, learn what went wrong, correct it and try again until you figure out what works for you and your incubator.
