I'm just going by what I've read and experienced. Maybe there were other factors but my worst hatch the high humidity at lockdown was the issue I believe because other than the eggs it was the only difference. Either way its best to make as informed a decision as possible. I've done quite a lot of reading but there is so much info out there and so many variables.
I don't see any difference in my hatches hands on vs hands off and I've done it both ways several times now. I'm doing what has worked for me so far but always open to opinions and suggestions, best way for me to learn has been lots of reading/research and informed decisions.
Grats on all the chicks and your best hatch yet Kiawaki!
I go by experience Southernhusky. I do read some things to see if the writer knows what they are talking about---if not I do get a good Laugh. Keep in mind some writers that write about hatching eggs(I read one)----never hatched a egg or only a few----They collect info from other hatchers and sites like this----to get a book together to publish and sell----Money, most of the time! People do post all kinds of "Stuff: about hatching and some people believe everything they read, even though before they read the last story, they believed entirely different---LOL. I have read many instructions from people wanting to help---then read a little later that this person has not got their first incubator yet but was posting what they read??? I was reading the instructions on a Styrofoam incubator a few days ago----it said to keep the lid closed until after the hatch was over---OK. Then It said to remove the chicks as soon as they dry some??? Then it said chicks can live 48 hrs without food?? Then it said if the moisture was to high you could crack open the top to lower it, etc, etc.. I scratched my head till I am about bald. LOL If I had of been new at hatching I would have been more lost after reading all this--LOL. If I was looking for helpful info I would want to collect it from experienced people----people that have great hatches----I have said this before and I will say it again----I am a hands-of-hatcher, but if I wanted to become a hands-on-hatcher I would Pick Amy's brain and a few others like her----because they are good at what they do.
When you say humidity that high has been known to drown chicks----I know what you are saying----even though Amy is correct---it was not the humidity that drowned the chick----it is the high moisture in the eggs that would drown them, but we know the moisture would not have been that high if the humidity had of been lower. So, I guess its best we say it right so the next reader does not take it the wrong way.
Experience is what helps the most. I was never satisfied with a 20% hatch or 50% or 75%, etc, etc. My goal was to get as close to 100% as possible. I have a heart(some think not) if I put 50 eggs in the incubator and only 20 hatch----some people are happy with that----If I open those eggs and they are fully formed dead chicks---I feel like I failed them-----I feel they died because I failed to do something or did something wrong. My Mind goes---"I have To get better" to save these dying chicks. When you get to where---when you put a 100 eggs into lock down and about all hundred hatch---every time----it will make you feel that all the trying and hard work to get you to that point was worth it. Good hatching to everyone is my desire.