New to Incubating Chicken Eggs

[samanthapolishsilkies83]

I have been raising chickens for years, but I am brand new to incubating eggs. I have a Little Giant Forced Air Fan Incubator, model 10300. I have filled my 6 trays with water and I have my thermometer set to 100. I have a thermometer/hygrometer that I purchased separately as well to be sure the little giant one is right. I have found that if I leave the probe at about the same level as the included one they read pretty close to the same. I may end up putting the temperature back to 99.5, but my biggest concern right now is getting the humidity right. It's staying right around 48% and isn't changing much. I have 12 polish/silkie mix eggs ready to incubate. I'm just waiting for my incubator to stabilize first. What humidity should I have it at? I have read many different humidity recommendations.

 

[aart]

Here's some good info to read about hatching:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...incubator-thermometers-and-hygrometers.73634/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-beginners-guide-to-incubation.73350/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/incubation-humidity.73386/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/guide-to-assisted-hatching-for-all-poultry.72886/

 

[samanthapolishsilkies83]

Here's some good info to read about hatching:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...incubator-thermometers-and-hygrometers.73634/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-beginners-guide-to-incubation.73350/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/incubation-humidity.73386/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/guide-to-assisted-hatching-for-all-poultry.72886/

Thank you! I'm seeing a trend of there not being a hard fast percentage for humidity. I've read more than one article saying that weighing your eggs and tracking weight loss and tracking air cell size are most accurate, so I'm going to go with that. I'm currently just waiting for the temperature to stabilize. Thank you again!

 

[aart]

I'm currently just waiting for the temperature to stabilize.

This is very important, it can take a couple hours for a temp change to settle.
Testing your therms and hygros against a known accurate is another very important step to take before starting an incubation.

 

[samanthapolishsilkies83]

This is very important, it can take a couple hours for a temp change to settle.
Testing your therms and hygros against a known accurate is another very important step to take before starting an incubation.

I bought a thermometer/hygrometer that was a top 10 recommended one for incubators. If it turns out to be garbage and I fail this hatch, I'll definitely be back here to ask more questions. Thank you!

 

[justoldbobo2]

I usually dry incubation and add some water at lockdown. Always had better hatch rates. But here in Louisiana it's always humid. Good luck

 

[samanthapolishsilkies83]

I usually dry incubation and add some water at lockdown. Always had better hatch rates. But here in Louisiana it's always humid. Good luck

I'm in the Pacific Northwest (Oregon). I moved here from Louisiana. It's humid here, but not as humid. I put water in my trays. The humidity seems to be holding steady, but the darn temperature keeps fluctuating so much. It's making me crazy. I'm cautiously optimistic at this point.