What is the ideal humidity for hatching in an incubator?

[nhcd33]

Yes that sounds fishy. Do you have another hygrometer that has been verified for accuracy? As lazy gardener mentioned, the salt test is an easy, quick, scientific way to verify if it is right or off.

What is the altitude of Albuquerque? I do know that there are some differences in incubating at higher altitudes. I'm sure there are threads on the sibject.

@FridayYet may be able to add a few pointers.

We are about 4600 ft. I ordered another hygrometer but it hasn't arrived yet. I will lookup that salt calibration method and do that when I get it. I'm not doing anything out of the norm that would cause the humidity to be high in the house. Thank you all!!

 

[nhcd33]

Hi Nhcd33, 

Like LG, JB and WV mentioned already, something is off on your humidity reading.  What kind of incubator are you using and what kind of hygrometer?

I'm just North of Albuquerque, and have never had that high of humidity in my incubator when running dry- usually i'm fighting to increase it.  (Especially during the spring winds!!)  Our altitude won't affect your humidity reading much, but it does affect how you incubate if eggs are shipped in from a significantly lower altitude.  Tip: If you are new at incubating, definitely use local eggs first!  I can even give you some practice ones if you want.

Good luck.  You have been given some good advice already and feel free to ask more questions!

Yes I'm new to incubating. My incubator is an off brand but looks just like the Brinsea 56 egg incubator. I'm using my own fertile eggs from my chickens so no worries there. Thank you!!

 

[mtnvwheritage]

Ho do ya'all know if your hydrometer is accurate? We live in the east and are running heat right now so I guess its dry in here, I have a wet washcloth a pan of water, and a humidifier situated in front of our homemade incubator, and I am still having to spray inside the incubator to get the humidity to stay above 50% in the first 18 days...

 

[mtnvwheritage]

oh and I just bought a new accu-rite hydrometer...

 

[FridayYet]

Ho do ya'all know if your hydrometer is accurate? We live in the east and are running heat right now so I guess its dry in here, I have a wet washcloth a pan of water, and a humidifier situated in front of our homemade incubator, and I am still having to spray inside the incubator to get the humidity to stay above 50% in the first 18 days...

Why do you want it that high? I usually incubate around 35% to start (day 1-18), but I really go by air cells. If the air cell is too big on day 7, I raise the humidity. If it's too small, I lower it. Let me see if I can find a link to the salt test for you...

 

[jophus]

Ho do ya'all know if your hydrometer is accurate? We live  in the east and are running heat right now so I guess its dry in here, I have a wet washcloth a pan of water, and a humidifier situated in front of our homemade incubator, and I am still having to spray inside the incubator to get the humidity to stay above 50% in the first 18 days...

You should try dry hatching. Just try and keep your humidity above 25%, then increase to 60% last 3 days. It goes against everything I had every been taught, but it works like a charm.

50% is too high. You'll wind up with big chicks that can't turn in the shell to pip.

 

[mtnvwheritage]

I had read 50% somewhere on a thread and freaked out when I put the new hydrometer in, but now I am trying to keep it at 35-45% its sitting at 42% right now, it had been 30% up until yesterday I am nervous to keep it too dry because I just had 4 with dry membranes on my first hatch. Only 1 made it out of it shell, and I had thought the humidity was high. I will check the air cells that sounds more accurate. Thanks!

 

[mtnvwheritage]

It was on the first page of this thread, several people saying they hatch at 45-50%...

 

[FridayYet]

It often takes a few sets of eggs to figure out what works best for your incubator, in your climate, in your house. Keep notes so you can adjust your methods each time.

 

[jophus]

I had read 50% somewhere on a thread and freaked out when I put the new hydrometer in, but now I am trying to keep it at 35-45% its sitting at 42% right now, it had been 30% up until yesterday I am nervous to keep it too dry because I just had 4 with dry membranes on my first hatch. Only 1 made it out of it shell, and I had thought the humidity was high.  I will check the air cells that sounds more accurate. Thanks!

I try and stay below 35% and closer to 30% for the first 18 days. I don't do a "lockdown", but I don't mess with my eggs except to candle once a week, to check air cells. On day 18 I move them into the hatcher and raise the humidity over a couple of hours, usually to 65-70%. My hatches have been perfect. Chicks are a little dry, but not sticky.