First time incubator

[Huskybrown321]

I started my incubator and let it run for 2 days with the water attached per instructions and the humidity was around 53 to 56... the morning after i put the eggs in it was up to 69%. I haven't added water in 4 days but it's staying at 61%. Everything I've read says to keep around 50 to 55. Will this effect the chicks vitality? Has anyone tried to do dry hatching?
This was a test run on my farm eggs because my niece wants to hatch silkies. I'd like to get all the flaws out before spending that money on eggs. Thank you for any help!

 

[Debbie292d]

Hi!

I'm incubating silkie eggs as we speak and will be all summer.

Preferred humidity is 40-50%. 61% is too high for the first 17 days. Since it's not going down, is there a way to "mop" out the reservoir with a paper towel?

At lockdown, it should be up near that to 70%.

No, I do not dry hatch and especially wouldn't dry hatch silkie eggs as their shells are a little harder than regular chickens. That said, I have heard of a couple who did successfully, but I stick with what's recommended as it works.

Wishing you a great hatch!

 

[Huskybrown321]

Hi!

I'm incubating silkie eggs as we speak and will be all summer.

Preferred humidity is 40-50%. 61% is too high for the first 17 days. Since it's not going down, is there a way to "mop" out the reservoir with a paper towel?

At lockdown, it should be up near that to 70%.

No, I do not dry hatch and especially wouldn't dry hatch silkie eggs as their shells are a little harder than regular chickens. That said, I have heard of a couple who did successfully, but I stick with what's recommended as it works.

Wishing you a great hatch!

Yeah i know. This incubator was at 50 for 2 days empty then it's been going from 60 to 30 to 60.. I'm worried I'm gonna lose these babies....i just lost 11 girls and a roo yesterday so the babies are very important to me especially since this happened. I've read and watched videos for months and it still doesn't prepare you for life's ups and downs. Even it is only the humidity!

 

[Debbie292d]

Yeah i know. This incubator was at 50 for 2 days empty then it's been going from 60 to 30 to 60.. I'm worried I'm gonna lose these babies....i just lost 11 girls and a roo yesterday so the babies are very important to me especially since this happened. I've read and watched videos for months and it still doesn't prepare you for life's ups and downs. Even it is only the humidity!

If you're going between 30, 60, then 30, 60, that's averaging 45% and perfect. Humidity can be an average, temperature cannot.

My only worry is when you go to lock them down and trying to maintain it up above 60 to 70%. There you only have three days before they hatch, so I wouldn't want to be averaging humidity.

 

[Huskybrown321]

If you're going between 30, 60, then 30, 60, that's averaging 45% and perfect. Humidity can be an average, temperature cannot.

My only worry is when you go to lock them down and trying to maintain it up above 60 to 70%. There you only have three days before they hatch, so I wouldn't want to be averaging humidity.

Thank you. I'll just keep the bottle full.. when i had the bottle on with then it went super high so i should have no issue having it at 70% for the lock down.

 

[redinator]

Thank you. I'll just keep the bottle full.. when i had the bottle on with then it went super high so i should have no issue having it at 70% for the lock down.

Could you post a picture of your incubator? I had a similar problem with mine and I'm wondering if yours is the same style.