I'm new to hatching chicken eggs and I need some advice please

[JoshuaBurke]

Hello good friends,

This is my first time hatching chicken eggs and I have been reading alot of articles on this subject.

I see multiple people has different opinions on this subject.

I have a Farm Innovators Digital Pro Series Circulated Air Incubator with Automatic Egg Turner that I had bought from Tractor Supply 3 years ago.

I have my temperature at 99.5 F and humidity at 50 - 55 % humidity. (The humidity spikes sometimes and goes low sometimes).

My question is:

What is the perfect humidity for the first 18 days? I heard some people say 25 % - 35% and I also heard people say 45 - 50%.

How can I keep my humidity stable without it spiking and going down?

P.S. I'm on day 8 of incubation and I have candled my eggs and I can see veins and movement.

 

[igorsMistress]

Hi there. Humidity depends on a lot of factors. Whether you use a/c or heat in the house as well as the humidity of the air outside. The porosity of the eggs you're incubating will as well.
Your best course of action is to candle your eggs and monitor the air cells. If they're a bit small at day 7 then reduce humidity and check again around day 10. If they're too big then increase humidity and check again at day 10. I usually adjust by 5% max if necessary.
Humidity is based on surface area of the water so a wide, shallow vessel is better than a narrow, deep one to increase it. You're looking for an average, it will go up and down throughout the hatch.