Need help & advice - please reply soon

[saranbensmom]

O.K. I have 10 eggs in my bator that were laid by free range hens - I traded the setter's eggs for pure breds that I wanted her to hatch. I got advice that seems good to candle them to see when they fill the egg to know when to stop turning. O.K., now, I need to know what to do about the humidity.....I am quite inexperience - as you can tell- so if you can help me, I'd appreciate it. I don't want to kill the poor things and I MUST get my pures to hatch, as I have a lot of money tied up in them. Please, advise!
Thanks!

 

[Riocotesei]

For the first 18 days hum should be 40-45%
the 3 days after that should be 60-65%
You can buy a humidity measurerer at wal mart. If your chicken is hatching the eggs for you, I wouldnt worry about temp. or hum. they know better than us. Good luck!

 

[PoultryPedia]

There is much helpful info here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/LC-hatch.html

 

[saranbensmom]

Thanks for the reply - however, I don't think I made it clear on my first post. I have eggs on day 4 AND eggs on around day 14 that I got from under a hen. I swapped her eggs with some I bought. Now, having no forethought, I am in dire straits as to what to do about the humidity - if I increase the humidity for the ones hatching soon, will I drown the ones who still have 2 wks to go? how long can the younger ones take increased humidity?

 

[swtangel321]

your hum day 1-18 should be around 35%-45% , then on day 18 you should up it to 65%-70%


What is your hum at now ????


I would say when you start to see the eggs getting very full and you think your around day 18ish then up it, or when you think you are close only up it to about 55% then when you see your first pip up it to about 65%-70% that way you dont drown them.


When your first egg hatches your hum will go up so if you keep it around 65% it will get to about 70%ish, I keep mine around 60%-65% and dont have any problems !!!!! Good luck and keep us updated !!!!

 

[Wildsky]

Quote:
Yes - that link is right up at the top of the page LEARNING CENTER. Its a great place to start.

 

[swtangel321]

Quote:
Ohhhhhhhhh, ok !!!!!! Well what I would do if you dont have another bator to hatch in (that would be best) is on day 18 up the hum to about 55% - 60% that way the eggs on day 4 still have a chance and the eggs on day 18 hopefully have enought hum so they dont get stuck to there shells, this is the problem with stagered hatches, you hope the younger ones dont drown while the older eggs dont get stuck (alot of people use another bator for hatching) my last hatch turned out ok but my eggs were only 3-4 days apart.



Also make sure after the older eggs hatch you get the hum back down asap for the next set of eggs !!!!!!

 

[saranbensmom]

Thank you, swtangel321....I will do just that, as my other bator is plum full as well. Believe me, I won't do this again...I've learned from it!

 

[swtangel321]

Quote:
How many bators do you have ???

 

[PoultryPedia]

I've heard of people increasing/decreasing humidity &/or oxygen transfer (I don't remember which) for eggs individually using such methods as wrapping tape or plastic (possibly with paper towel inside for pouring warm water on?) around portions of eggs (while leaving part of eggs au-natural). You might try to search for others' experience and advice on that.