Incubator troubles and humidity question

[Myah1011]

This is my first time trying to hatch out duck eggs using my incubator so I had a few questions about humidity. What is a good humidity range to keep the eggs at? I tried looking it up myself but saw many different levels of humidity that people recommend.
The duck eggs I’m trying to hatch are Pekin x khaki Campbell mix.
Now about my incubator, I got it a few years back and never had a chance to use it until now and I’m having trouble keeping the humidity from fluctuating too much, I think the lid is a little wonky in some spots so it doesn’t fully close, I typically have to add more humidity every hour and a half to two hours give or take, is this going to be an issue? I know if the humidity fluctuates too much then it can be an issue. If this is a problem does anyone know any fixes? Should I tape the sides or something?
This is the incubator I have, it’s nothing special. The incubator I bought is called the Econo 32 egg incubator.
Sorry if these questions are stupid! This is just my first time hatching duck eggs and using incubators.
(I have the incubator around 50-55 usually I just added too much water in the second picture it’s not usually that humid!)

 

[cheezenkwackers]

Personally, I do not add water until lockdown unless it is really dry (less than 40%), like in the middle of the winter. Too much humidity is way worse, in my opinion, than not enough. I have read that if they do not lose enough water from that egg they get too big to zip. So, you make it to lockdown and then they don’t hatch. So, unless you live in the desert, I would look up “dry hatching”. My hatch rate greatly improved from this. If you just have to add some water, spritz them only, similar to a mother duck returning after a quick swim.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Agreed I dry hatch until lockdown as well. If you put a calibrated hygrometer under a broody duck and then measure the outdoor humidity they are actually relatively close. I’m not sure where some of these very high humidity recommendations come from unless you are measuring the humidity in Florida. Even then most breeds at hatcheries are all mallard derived and mallards fly north in the spring to raise their young where it is much less warm and humid.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Just as with Galliformes and most birds, duck eggs should optimally lose 11 to 13% weight loss during incubation. For many years rather than hassle with trying to be calibrating cheap hygrometers that would quickly get distorted readings, I opted to use a pocket gram scale. The ones I had were cheap and repeatable. In addition, weight loss is a more accurate way of determining proper humidity for the eggs you have.
Not all eggs have the same porosity so weight loss can vary depending on the eggs in a setting at the same humidity level.
Plus, as has been said, in nature, humidity varies all the time so the need for a set constant humidity level doesn't exist.
It is necessary to have multiple precise thermometers, but not hygrometers.

 

[Myah1011]

Thank you all so much I have put my humidity in the 25-30% range now and will continue to monitor it
I really appreciate the feedback!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I don't disagree with anything you have been told. Experience is a beautiful thing. I just caution, that when dealing with lower RH readings than you originally thought, it would give you peace of mind knowing that the weight loss is moving apace. Weighing removes the need to candle.
And removes the concern about accuracy of hygrometers - including the numbers on the incubator display.

 

[Myah1011]

I don't disagree with anything you have been told. Experience is a beautiful thing. I just caution, that when dealing with lower RH readings than you originally thought, it would give you peace of mind knowing that the weight loss is moving apace. Weighing removes the need to candle.
And removes the concern about accuracy of hygrometers - including the numbers on the incubator display.

Alright I’ll probably get a pocket gram scale then since they are cheap and effective like you say!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I bought a couple online as they are plentiful there. Whatever type of scale you use, insure its repeatability. Weigh an egg, take it off and put it back on. It should be the same or within a gram or two. If not, it's junk.
Good luck.
I once bought a nice kitchen scale from Target. When I weighed eggs with it, the results were junk and it immediately hit the trash can.
Wanting to weigh more than an egg at a time I started looking for something both reliable and able to weigh a single egg as well as a tray of 40 eggs.
I ended up going to a company called Old Will Knott scales.
I am now thrilled with my choice.
It is a kitchen scale so basically for baking measurements.
I bought it with a calibration weight, and it has impeccably precise repeatability.
This is the one I chose.

https://www.oldwillknottscales.com/my-weigh-kd8000.html