Question about chicks and incubating

[JustAChickenLoverOverHere]

I haven't even put the eggs in the incubator because I want to make sure I have everything ready and that I've done all my research. I just have one question before I'm ready:
Do you guys think 48% humidity until day 18 and then 68% in lockdown will be OK?
I live in Houston TX (For reference)
Thanks in advance!

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I'm not sure of the wattage. It's whatever thd red lamps at tsc are.

No point in candling before putting them in except to check for tiny cracks. You can't tell if an egg is fertile until day 4 at least with candling

Those sound correct, but maybe bump it a bit since you're in Texas. I know the drier it is, the higher it needs to be.
@Eggcessive might have a chart or something to help with that

 

[JustAChickenLoverOverHere]

I no longer have questions about the wattage of the bulbs. Thanks @JacinLarkwell for that one.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Do you guys think 48% humidity until day 18 and then 68% in lockdown will be OK?

Probably, at least for your first effort. There is no perfect humidity for everyone, for many different reasons different humidities work for different ones of us, even if we use the same type of incubator. Some people do better at 30% humidity during incubation some do better at 50%.

My general suggestion is to try something. Be as consistent as you can and analyze the results. Adjust if necessary. Try to find out what works best for you. These links may help with that.

Mississippi State Incubation Troubleshooting

http://extension.msstate.edu/content/trouble-shooting-failures-egg-incubation

Illinois Incubation troubleshooting

http://urbanext.illinois.edu/eggs/res24-00.html

 

[JustAChickenLoverOverHere]

Do you guys think 48% humidity until day 18 and then 68% in lockdown will be OK?

Probably, at least for your first effort. There is no perfect humidity for everyone, for many different reasons different humidities work for different ones of us, even if we use the same type of incubator. Some people do better at 30% humidity during incubation some do better at 50%.

My general suggestion is to try something. Be as consistent as you can and analyze the results. Adjust if necessary. Try to find out what works best for you. These links may help with that.

Mississippi State Incubation Troubleshooting

http://extension.msstate.edu/content/trouble-shooting-failures-egg-incubation

Illinois Incubation troubleshooting

http://urbanext.illinois.edu/eggs/res24-00.html

Thanks!