I'm hatching eggs and I can't get the humidity up. Please help

[feedman77]

Excuse me if I sound stupid haha but what exactly is lockdown? Is that when you take the egg turner out before they hatch? And thank you, you've been very helpful!

Yes lockdown is when you stop turning the eggs and raise up your humidity so they can get into position and hatch. And remove the turner.

But I hatch upright so I transfer my eggs from the turner to cut out egg cartons.

 

[Our Roost]

Yikes! We were all beginners at one time and surely aren't know it all's. To explain lock down better, it is on day 18 of your hatch sequence. You remove the lid and take eggs out of turner trays and arrange on bottom of wire mesh that covers your water. To better that, go to a arts and crafts store and purchase some felt in 8x12 sheets. Fit to cover the wire mesh. On day 18, fill an old windex bottle (Well Rinsed) with water and spritz the felt as if to moisten or slightly saturate it. Refill your water slots as well. Now arrange eggs on felt. They don't stand up, so you lay them on their side! Ha. Put the lid back on and heat will slowly return to the setting you are working with. You might have to tweek it a bit after an hour or so as it may have changed a bit. Take a deep breath and relax. Any more help we can offer?


PS. Broody hens leave the nest occaisionally to eat and drink. You are allowed to leave the nest occaisinally also!

 

[duckyluvme1]

​Yikes! We were all beginners at one time and surely aren't know it all's. To explain lock down better, it is on day 18 of your hatch sequence. You remove the lid and take eggs out of turner trays and arrange on bottom of wire mesh that covers your water. To better that, go to a arts and crafts store and purchase some felt  in 8x12 sheets. Fit to cover the wire mesh. On day 18, fill an old windex bottle (Well Rinsed) with water and spritz the felt as if to moisten or slightly saturate it. Refill your water slots as well.  Now arrange eggs on felt. They don't stand up, so you lay them on their side! Ha. Put the lid back on and heat will slowly return to the setting you are working with. You might have to tweek it a bit after an hour or so as it may have changed a bit. Take a deep breath and relax. Any more help we can offer?

I think that's pretty much it! Thank you so much for the help

 

[feedman77]

​Yikes! We were all beginners at one time and surely aren't know it all's. To explain lock down better, it is on day 18 of your hatch sequence. You remove the lid and take eggs out of turner trays and arrange on bottom of wire mesh that covers your water. To better that, go to a arts and crafts store and purchase some felt  in 8x12 sheets. Fit to cover the wire mesh. On day 18, fill an old windex bottle (Well Rinsed) with water and spritz the felt as if to moisten or slightly saturate it. Refill your water slots as well.  Now arrange eggs on felt. They don't stand up, so you lay them on their side! Ha. Put the lid back on and heat will slowly return to the setting you are working with. You might have to tweek it a bit after an hour or so as it may have changed a bit. Take a deep breath and relax. Any more help we can offer?

Question? Wouldn't the felt over the wire mesh effect the air flow in the incubator. As well as the humidity amount as it is covering the water.

It does sound like a good idea for clean up and traction for the babies.

 

[Our Roost]

Your incubator should have a small removable plastic plug (red or blue) on the top which can be removed on day 18 for lock down to allow more air flow and escape of humidity if needed. Cut the felt or layer it so its about 3/4 of an inch away from sides and not completely covering water trays. Spritzing the felt resolves any loss of humidity. Don't soak the felt! Remember that you are filling the trays on day 18 because that's the last time before they start hatching. Trust this works. You can also use cheese cloth instead of felt. Yes, the felt or cloth helps with small feet tangling and cleanup. You can remove egg shells and discard as the chicks hatch for more room within.