Temperature and Humidity in Hatcher?

[lilchik]

I have RIR, Silkie, Frizzle, and Sizzle eggs in the hatcher, due on 12th. What do you all do with your temperature when hatching? Do you recommmend dropping in 1 degree? Or do you just keep it in the 99.3 - 99.6 range?

I dropped it 1 degree for my last hatch, got 10 of 11 RIR, but only 5 of 10 Silkies.

Could it be the humidity? Do you spray with a mister after removing the dried chicks or any other time around hatch time?

This is my 4th year hatching with an incubator, I get so nervous at hatch time...expectant mommy syndrome. I want to try to perfect my hatches and get them the best I can.

Thanks!

 

[NateinFL]

I incubate at 101.5 for bantam eggs and it worked great for me, with a 67-70% humidity. Sometimes I let them warm up to 102 for brief periods at the top of the egg.

 

[lilchik]

All the books recommend 99.3 to 99.6 for chicken eggs, isn't that too hot. I have read too high or low temps cause deformities, etc???

 

[NateinFL]

I'd check around a bit more for the temps, but I think 99 is a little conservative. I found that 101.5 is the optimal temp. and I spent hours on websites looking that up, that was the result of my research. You will find some that say more or less of course. Also remember your thermometer might not be exactly perfect either.

 

[lilchik]

I have the digital setting on incubator and two thermometers inside. All 3 read different. That makes getting a correct temp very frustrating.

Nathhowe do you use this 101.5 for just bantams? I have bantam and Rhode Island Reds together.

Thanks!

 

[NateinFL]

Yeah all I have is bantams. I never let my lowest temp go below 99 or the highest above 102 and it seems to work well. I know what you mean about the digital thermometers not reading accurately.

 

[kathyinmo]

Still air incubators require the higher temp. I think 101.5 or something like that. The circulated bators (with a fan) should be 99.5

Your question .... No, I do not drop the temp 1 degree for hatching. I keep it the same throughout. Spray what with a mister? No, I do not spray anything.

 

[panner123]

SPRAY WHAT? Are you sparying flowers or hatching chickens? You keep the temp the same and kick the humidity up to 60%. A chicken egg is the same, no matter what breed. The differance is in the bator and the operator. 10 people can have the same bator and you will get 10 differnet opinions on that bator and how to use it. But if you follow the tried and true method you will do fine. If you try some of these off the wall methods, you are on your own. Have heard someone say you needed to have the humidity at 85% to hatch an egg, which this person believed he was doing. Only when his equipment was checked, it was off by 30%,
so he was actually hatching at 55%. When people go off the norm and it works for them, they never think that the equipment may be wrong. Mother Nature was kept chickens around for some time now, I believe her way to be the best. But man has been trying to help her along and has done a preey good job of it. Follow those who have done this for years and you will be O K. Follow those who think they have learned it all in six months and you will have problems. The worst part of that is, you will be getting your eggs and chicken at Safeway instead of your back yard.

 

[NateinFL]

Yeah dont spray the eggs! I did forget to mention that I had a still air. Theres so much talk already about temp on here its not really worth going into great detail but i think you get the idea.