Nurture Right 360

[Ted_Harrell]

I also use hot water instead of cold, it helps to set the humidity where you want it if you add a little at a time. Good luck, let us see some pics when your babies hatch....

 

[Uff Da]

Hi! So glad I found this thread - I have one of these incubators I have been trying to get set up for some hatching eggs I ordered and I have not been able to get the humidity higher than 42 with water tray A fully filled. That is with the vent only 1/3 open. Since these are shipped eggs I am planning to put them in there (big end up) and not touch them for the 1st 5 days. Do you think the best thing is to leave the vent fully open (water tray A is full) - not worry about the humidity level - and candle them on day 5? How often do you candle them to look at the air sac? Thanks!!

Have you looked at this thread? Lots of instructions in it, and feel free to post your questions there, too.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...gs-no-problem.1046313/page-5385#post-16540512

I personally don't worry about humidity readouts--I go off of my egg cell size and adjust accordingly. Many people get their best hatches with humidity under 40%.

 

[mwhit35]

I also use hot water instead of cold, it helps to set the humidity where you want it if you add a little at a time. Good luck, let us see some pics when your babies hatch....

Thanks - I was using room temp so I will try this next time I add water.

 

[mwhit35]

Have you looked at this thread? Lots of instructions in it, and feel free to post your questions there, too.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...gs-no-problem.1046313/page-5385#post-16540512

I personally don't worry about humidity readouts--I go off of my egg cell size and adjust accordingly. Many people get their best hatches with humidity under 40%.

Wow - thanks for the link - lots of great info.

Yes, I think that is what I am going to do. It has been hovering just under 40 no matter what so I am just going to candle them on days 7, 14, & 18 and go by the drawings to figure out whether it needs to be adjusted. Thanks!

 

[WVduckchick]

Hi! So glad I found this thread - I have one of these incubators I have been trying to get set up for some hatching eggs I ordered and I have not been able to get the humidity higher than 42 with water tray A fully filled. That is with the vent only 1/3 open. Since these are shipped eggs I am planning to put them in there (big end up) and not touch them for the 1st 5 days. Do you think the best thing is to leave the vent fully open (water tray A is full) - not worry about the humidity level - and candle them on day 5? How often do you candle them to look at the air sac? Thanks!!

Humidity is rather dependent on several factors, so a solid number is hard to give. 40 would be too high for me because it’s very humid where I live.
So yes, keep an eye on your air cells. Candle as often as you like! I used to candle almost daily! Lol.

Personally I think 5 days is too long to not turn them. 3 would be my maximum, and that’s only if the air cells were really loose and floating around the egg. Saddled air cells normally reattach within a few days.
Just keep an eye on them, I’m sure you’ll be fine.

I wrote an article on humidity, it’s the red link in my signature below. (Turn phone landscape if you can’t see it)

Best of luck with your hatch!

 

[mwhit35]

Humidity is rather dependent on several factors, so a solid number is hard to give. 40 would be too high for me because it’s very humid where I live.
So yes, keep an eye on your air cells. Candle as often as you like! I used to candle almost daily! Lol.

Personally I think 5 days is too long to not turn them. 3 would be my maximum, and that’s only if the air cells were really loose and floating around the egg. Saddled air cells normally reattach within a few days.
Just keep an eye on them, I’m sure you’ll be fine.

I wrote an article on humidity, it’s the red link in my signature below. (Turn phone landscape if you can’t see it)

Best of luck with your hatch!

Great article - thanks for sharing! How often do you turn yours each day? Mine are in the egg cartons big end up and I guess I will leave them like that so I just tilt them back and forth? Thanks for your help!