Regulating Humidity During a Hatch--How do you do it?

[Bravo]

This is the probably the most common topic on here but I am interested in how all of you regulate humidity during the hatch.

I went into lockdown at 60% humidity and it held between 60-65% for the first 2 chicks that hatched. Once several more started to hatch the humidity soared to 80%. At that point I removed the red plug but it wasn't going down fast enough so I had to remove one of my water sources (instead of filling the trough and having no control I used small plastic containers with screened tops).

Humidity dropped back down to 65% but I had to break lockdown.

This cycle kept repeating itself all yesterday. Then during night my humidity got really low and when I woke up to check on the peeps I had a chick that was shrink wrapped--luckily I caught it in time to save it. When I put the peep back in the bator there was another egg that had pipped early yesterday with no activity. I pulled it out and opened the pip area a little more and the chick was dead--and looked like it drowned.

I feel like I am getting both extremes going on.

For all of you hatchers--once you get into lockdown and chicks start hatching how do you keep humidity at 65% without breaking lockdown?

 

[Chicky Tocks]

Pretty much the same as what you've done, but if the humidity won't come down after pulling all available plugs, I'll crack the top just a tiny bit for about 20 seconds.

 

[MagsC]

Thats what I do too. If I need to keep it up, I put sponges, paper towels or rags in there.

 

[Bravo]

Interesting

Looks like I need to start timing my hatches better for the weekends

So is lockdown only really a myth?