Humidity in incubator is 52%. Is this OK?

[19hhbelgian]

I found a Brinsea Eco 20 (not big enough, but better than stuffing everything under my poor hen!

) with auto turner. It's holding perfectly steady at 99.5F, but the humidity is 52%. My concern is that that isn't high enough. I've read anywhere from 50% for the first 18 days, up to 85%!

Where should the humidity be? Also, 52% is the highest the humidity has been since I've set the incubator up... How will I get it to go higher????! Vent is closed all the way, and troughs are filled according to directions

HELP HELP HELP!!!

 

[nivtup]

We incubate at 40-45%. Hatch at 55-60%.

 

[bigredfeather]

You will probably be okay with the 52%. If you want it higher, try placing a container of water inside the bator. Humidity is determined by the amount of surface area of water. You may have to try different sized containers to get the humidity where you want it. I would guess a small container (like an empty yogurt cup) may add a little more humidity. I try to keep mine at 58-60% for the first 18 days, then 65-70% for the last 3 days. I have had very good luck with this % humidity. Everybody seems to have their own idea of what it should be, but this is what has worked best for me. My last hatch I had a 90% hatch rate using these percentages.

Hope this helps.

 

[jones-e]

this is great info!thanks BYC people

 

[TaLani]

This is what Tuffoldhen has recommended to me in the past: for days 1-18 = 40-50% and days 19-21 = 60-70%. So, I think you being at 52% is not bad at all.

 

[Katy]

Everyone has to find what works best for them....for me I get the best hatches having my humidity 30-35% for the first 18 days and then 60-65% for the last 3.

 

[19hhbelgian]

Wow!! Thanks everyone for the great advice... I usually kill my own threads before they even get started

. I'm glad I got so many answers on this though - I'd hate to be making fatal mistakes... It was a whole lot less worrisome when my hen was doing the incubating

I'm going to let it where it's at right now, and up it a bit when day 18 comes...

Can it also depend on the breed? I guess not really, but thought I'd ask

 

[Katy]

Other than waterfowl which take a higher humidity I think it has more to do with the climate in your area...not the breed.