What should the humidity be while incubating chicken eggs?

[Chloe+chickens=LOVE]

A few days ago I received an incubator. I have not ordered any eggs yet but in am very soon. My main question is what should the humidity be while incubating chicken eggs? Thank you in advance!!!

 

[sylviethecochin]

EDT: oops, wrong article. https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-beginners-guide-to-incubation.73350/ is the good one.

Also, it's about 45% for the first 18 days, and then upped after that. But your humidity requirements do vary depending on your altitude.

I advise reading the entire thing.

 

[Rose Quartz]

A few days ago I received an incubator. I have not ordered any eggs yet but in am very soon. My main question is what should the humidity be while incubating chicken eggs? Thank you in advance!!!

it's a bit difficult to answer that question for the first 18 days it depends on your local weather conditions.

for days 19-21 it should be between 60%-70%


for the first 18 days as an example: I live in NS, it's always humid here, I run my incubator at 12% - 18% and get good aircell growth

but someone who lives inland where local humidity is lower would want to aim for 45% - 50%

 

[Chloe+chickens=LOVE]

it's a bit difficult to answer that question for the first 18 days it depends on your local weather conditions.

for days 19-21 it should be between 60%

it's a bit difficult to answer that question for the first 18 days it depends on your local weather conditions.

for days 19-21 it should be between 60%-70%


for the first 18 days as an example: I live in NS, it's always humid here, I run my incubator at 12% - 18% and get good aircell growth

but someone who lives inland where local humidity is lower would want to aim for 45% - 50%

for the first 18 days as an example: I live in NS, it's always humid here, I run my incubator at 12% - 18% and get good aircell growth

but someone who lives inland where local humidity is lower would want to aim for 45% - 50%

I live In Nova Scotia to! Thanks for the advice!

 

[Chloe+chickens=LOVE]

EDT: oops, wrong article. https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-beginners-guide-to-incubation.73350/ is the good one.

Also, it's about 45% for the first 18 days, and then upped after that. But your humidity requirements do vary depending on your altitude.

I advise reading the entire thing.

Thank you going to read it right now

 

[Rose Quartz]

I live In Nova Scotia to! Thanks for the advice!

oh cool! keep an eye on it then, it's really hard to keep it down. What kind of incubator are you working with?

 

[Chloe+chickens=LOVE]

oh cool! keep an eye on it then, it's really hard to keep it down. What kind of incubator are you working with?

Not sure of the name but it has one of those fans in it

 

[Chloe+chickens=LOVE]

here is what it looks like.

 

[cmom]

it's a bit difficult to answer that question for the first 18 days it depends on your local weather conditions.

for days 19-21 it should be between 60%-70%


for the first 18 days as an example: I live in NS, it's always humid here, I run my incubator at 12% - 18% and get good aircell growth

but someone who lives inland where local humidity is lower would want to aim for 45% - 50%

I agree, where you live and where you keep you incubator will affect your hatch. I personally incubate at a lower humidity. Initially the eggs need to loose some moisture. One of the biggest causes I have noticed of failed hatches is that some incubate at too high of humidity and condensation builds up in the air cell and even though the chicks are fully formed, when they internally pip the egg sack they drown. I don't hatch in my incubator but have styrofoam incubators I use as hatchers.

 

[Rose Quartz]

View attachment 1625575 here is what it looks like.

if you don't have one, you should pick up a thermometer that you can stick inside, that you've checked to be sure it's reading accurately.

and before you set your eggs, check to see if you get any serious temperature fluctuations when you add water.