What is the best humidity level for hatching and incubating?

[ohiobranchofchickenranch]

I'm using a sportsman 1502 and I am staggering when I set eggs so I'm rotating the ones ready to hatch and the ones that are still incubating. Right now the humidity is at 63-65% I hope this humidity is ok for both types of developing chicks, in fact I'm most worried about the humidity because the incubator has condensation under the hatching drawer that is dripping right out of the front and onto the floor. I'll take any advice I can get on that as well. Thanks

 

[halo]

Sounds like you're way too high. Ive had more problems with high humidity than low, always.

 

[kelliepulido]

too hi

 

[A.T. Hagan]

"Best" is a subject of much discussion and head scratching because it can and does vary across the country, with different incubators, and seemingly how you part your hair.

But your current level is much too high unless you have some that are going to hatch in the next three days. If so leave it where it is, if not you need to lower it to at least 55% or even lower. How much lower is where all that head scratching and discussion comes in.

.....Alan.

 

[cherylcohen]

My hatch was day 1-18 35%-45% humidity and day 19-21 65% to 75%

 

[bigstack]

25-38% days 1-18 and 65-80% in lock down until the first 1 hatches. Then I lower it to 65% the eggs will release moisture when they begin tho hatch.

Temp is 99.3-101.2 or as close to 99.5 as I can get!

I had 57 of 67 hatch in a 6 set staggerd hatch with this method.

Good Luck and God Bless!

 

[ohiobranchofchickenranch]

Thanks for the info it is always good to know what has worked for other people. I see though that I will have to do some first hand research since I had on chick that started to hatch but never made it past chipping a hole and when I found it dead and Dry and I mean dry in the incubator I thought I might have a serious problem. I will post what works best when I figure it out. thanks again