Hatching Bantams; Increase Humidity Sooner?

[Rara541]

Hello, I am hatching my first pure breed silkies. I’ve hatched standard crossed with silkies in the past, but never purebred. In the past, my chicks have hatched on day 18 or 19 and I’ve heard since the eggs are smaller. It takes even less time for them to fully develop and hatch. I am wondering if anyone with experience would recommend increasing the humidity on day 16 instead of 18 since I am guessing they may start to pip even earlier then the mix breeds I’ve done before. The eggs are smaller… Thanks!

 

[fuzzymonkeez101]

I have hatched bantams and would still not change the humidity until day 18. Once the first chic starts to pip it will automatically increase the humidity anyway if they come early. Just do everything like normal and do not open the incubator until a full 24 hours after the 1st one hatches.

 

[Yardmom]

How did your hatch go? For future readers , If your eggs have been known to pip early, then start lockdown early. How else would the first chick get the increased humidity?

 

[fuzzymonkeez101]

How did your hatch go? For future readers , If your eggs have been known to pip early, then start lockdown early. How else would the first chick get the increased humidity?

How do you think it happens when a hen hatches them? Does she turn up the humidity before the first chick hatches? It doesn't matter if you wait to turn up the humidity until the first one pips, it will increase naturally just from the moisture in the eggs. If you increase humidity too much too early you will drown your chicks before they even hatch