On day 20 with pips....pull the vent plug or not????

[williamsvicki3]

O.k. it is now day 20 I have two eggs with pips. I can not find the info on here for ventilation. What should I do? I have a hovabator with a fan. The humidity stays at 65 percent. When I pull the red plug the humidity goes down to like 63 or so. Do I need the plug out or in? What is the lowest the humidity should be? Somebody please give me some info

 

[Bec]

I would like to know this as well...lockdown for me is tomorrow..

 

[Illia]

The humidity is just fine, I would put the plug back in though. I always want my humidity around 65% on hatching day, and never pull the plug as it usually keeps there. When the chick hatches, it will rise, but that's fine - It will drop as the chick settles.

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

Yes, keep the plug in. I dont pull the plugs until all chicks have hatched. Humidity I keep around 65%, 70% max.

 

[kathyinmo]

Leave the plug out! Oxygen is a priority! You can add water .... they NEED the oxygen!

 

[Renie'sPeeps]

I just hatched out 30 of 34 eggs with the humidity spiking between 82 and 84.. I did have 2 DOA because they were smoothered by other chicks sitting on top of them... I was soo mad.. those two chicks were nearly zipped out. I had seen them stick their beaks out and peep many times.. I was told never to open the bator during a hatch.. well.. I will be opening it next time. That is for sure.

 

[williamsvicki3]

Alright then.... Majority rules I guess and I'll leave it in for now. Thanks

 

[williamsvicki3]

Anyone else have any experience with this??

 

[RHewitt]

Pull the plug they need the oxygen. You can add more water to control humdity. Incubator instructions say to remove the plug for hatching to increase ventilation and oxygen level.

 

[azn_baddie]

I drilled 4 additional small pencil size holes in my incubator for air and kept my bigger holes plugged. The chicks will produce carbon monoxide and can die if no ventilation is provided.