If you don't have external pips there is 0% chance that opening the bator caused any problems and even if you did have pips, if you have adequate humidity, the chances that it would cause any problems is slight. The whole shrink wrap thing is blown out of proportion. I am CONSTANTLY in and out of my bator during HATCH and have NEVER had it shrink wrap a pipper or zipper. Now, there is greater chance that a pipper will have memebranes dry out around the pip hole and adhere to the chick which can cause complications if you are not observant. But seldom will opening the bator cause the total certain doom that is spread throughout the hatching community with fearmongering. There is nothing wrong with being hands off and keeping the incubator closed as a precaution, but there is something wrong with being made to fear opening the bator is case you need too. Just make sure that your humidity is up and your intervention is timely and that your humidity comes right back up after you close it. Good luck with your hatch!
55-60% is quite high for the first 17 days. Most hatches at that humidity will result in chicks drowing at hatch time in the excess fluid left in the egg due to the egg not loosiing enough moisture because of high humidity in the incubator.
A lot of the manufacture's instructions list a much too high humidity. I hate those things. They don't take many variables into consideration when they throw out those numbers or tell a hatcher to fill x amount of wells. Different people have success at different rates. People in high altitudes do need a higher humidity. For everyone else I HIGHLY recommend a low humidity incubatioin and checking the air cells to be able to tell if and when you need to adjust. Myself, I incubate at 30% for the first 17 days. If I can run dry and stay near that level I do. I never use my wells during the first 17 days. Here's some more info you might find usefull, it's the method I use: http://letsraisechickens.weebly.com...anuals-understanding-and-controlling-humidity
