No Hygrometer - any other signs to keep humidity level in control?

[Asperl]

Hi guys,
This is my first time incubating six chicken eggs.
The question I have is: are there any signs/tips I can follow in order to determine whether the humidity is under control i.e. add water or not. without having access to hygrometer?

I have read few threads about dry hatching and have been adding very little water to incubator: 20ml on Saturday 4th Jul (start of incubation), about 5ml on Sunday 5th Jul and 11ml on Monday 6th Jul morning (as there was no water at the bottom of incubator)

Any advise would be appreciated?

Thanks.

 

[hysop]

What kind of incubator are you using?

Dry hatching works best in regions where their climates are really humid to begin with.

 

[Asperl]

Thanks for the reply.
Using Janoel 12 in London UK.

 

[hysop]

Can you order one now and just make do without til it gets there?

Humidity is most important on lockdown because if it’s not humid enough the can get shrink wrapped and die. But too much humidity can drown them.

For now adding a little bit each day is fine. But I highly suggest getting one for lockdown at least.

 

[Asperl]

Thanks Sharon, I ordered one before starting to incubate however it is lost somewhere in the post so liaising with seller either to send another one or track the existing one in post.

 

[hysop]

Thanks Sharon, I ordered one before starting to incubate however it is lost somewhere in the post so liaising with seller either to send another one or track the existing one in post.

Oh okay. I hope you’re able to get it before lockdown. For now just keep adding water and tracking air cell size.

 

[Kiraeh]

Weigh your eggs. Chicks don't drown from too much moisture in the air, they drown from too much water in the egg, if humidity is too high throughout incubation and not enough is lost. Make sure you have at least 12% weight loss. At lockdown, add water until you see condensation on your viewing window. Aim for slightly less than that. Opening the incubator should feel like the bathroom after someone's had a hot shower.

 

[Asperl]

Thanks, will do as suggested. (Fingers crossed)

 

[hysop]

Weigh your eggs. Chicks don't drown from too much moisture in the air, they drown from too much water in the egg, if humidity is too high throughout incubation and not enough is lost. Make sure you have at least 12% weight loss. At lockdown, add water until you see condensation on your viewing window. Aim for slightly less than that. Opening the incubator should feel like the bathroom after someone's had a hot shower.

You worded it perfectly. The drown from not having lost enough moisture which can be caused by high humidity throughout the incubation period.

You brought a great idea to weigh the eggs (I did that twice then got lazy with the rest of my batches ). It was a good experience overall.

 

[Kiraeh]

Yeah exactly! It's one of those things that's often explained just a bit vaguely.

Weighing the eggs is a bit of a chore but I'd recommend it to anyone who is uncertain. I find air cells rarely look as neat and easy to interpret as that one graphic that goes around- my first hatch I would have been convinced I had problems if I'd just compared to that. But my weights were right on target. I'm sure with more experience I'll get the eye for air cells, but it's definitely an art. Weighing gives you hard numbers.