varied answers about humidity what do you recommend ? + showing off fridge bator

[WarrenHound]

i recently set up a mini fridge (that i was given for free at a storage auction) as an incubator and it is maintaining a temp at 99.5, it has a fan, heater, thermostat and humidity reader. i have a small bowl of water at the bottom for humidity and it is reading consistently at 37% humidity i am worried as some of the articles i have read say to keep it at 40% others 20% and 50% then 60s during lock down =/ the incubator is in the house and as i said maintaining these i have locked off one vent hole in hopes of raising humidity ...what should my humidity goals be for both dry and wet incubation? i'd prefer to try dry .









ADD: i can adjust temp with this btw =D

 

[cmfarm]

It looks good! I like to do 30-35% the first 18 days and 50-55% the last 3 days. It works well for me.

 

[PrairieRidge]

Is the reason for the higher humidity the last 3 days so chicks don't stick to the shell?

 

[WarrenHound]

you know i'm not sure

this is just how i was taught

 

[ozexpat]

hi

try reading this

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/hatching-eggs-101

good luck

 

[Francischick]

First day I went 99.5-100.5 humidity 40-45% 18th day Lockdown 100 degrees 70-85 humidity you do not want the shells to stick to them at all if possible it no fun for you and especially for them.

 

[cmfarm]

Yes, you want to raise the humidity so when they hatch the membrane/shell doesn't stick to them.

 

[Stephen JP]

I am not sure how important all the tech is as when my birds are looking after their own eggs they don't have aids!! How does a chicken change the humidity? I have 94 eggs in my incubator at the moment, these are all different as in duck, chicken and guinea fowl. All due at different times!! However, I have 23 chicken eggs on day 18 and Muscovy s on day 8 so far all progress is good, fingers crossed

 

[wezl]

Good luck with the hatch! It's so exciting! The only reason we need the tech is we have to simulate the eggs being under a hen's butt! It's funny how very specific that environment is. They're just eggs. Some types of reptile eggs don't require all of this and some birds can leave their eggs with completely different species and yet they survive. I'm just always amazed when I replace that hen with my technology, and it works! Reading about incubation history can really give you insight to what it is we've created in these little styrofoam boxes!

 

[ozexpat]

I am not sure how important all the tech is as when my birds are looking after their own eggs they don't have aids!! How does a chicken change the humidity? I have 94 eggs in my incubator at the moment, these are all different as in duck, chicken and guinea fowl. All due at different times!! However, I have 23 chicken eggs on day 18 and Muscovy s on day 8 so far all progress is good, fingers crossed

do you use a hatching bator with your staggered hatches?