Basics of Incubation

[Ontario Chick]

This is a really good summary of Incubation basics, for those times when you don't have the time or inclination to read a whole book :)
http://www.poultryhub.org/physiology/incubation/

[Robbie]

Good information, thanks for posting.

[poultry_admin]

Stickied

[lolotsung]

This is a really good summary of Incubation basics, for those times when you don't have the time or inclination to read a whole book :)
http://www.poultryhub.org/physiology/incubation/

"Good hatchability is achieved when relative humidity is maintained at approximately 50-65% until the last 3 days of incubation, at which point it should be increased to between 70-90%" <- is this correct I read in another post that 75% was too high?

[Killerbunny]

I don't go beyond 65%. I feel above that is too high and the chicks suffocate or drown. ALso as soon as the chicks start to hatch the humidity rises because of the moisture inside the egg being released.

[Ontario Chick]

Over the years we have all lowered the humidity considerably, I haven't hatched in last few years , but ended up with 45% -50% during incubation and 55% -60% during lockdown.
As the chicks start hatching they contribute more humidity when drying off, you can usually tell when a new chick has hatched by the humidity rising a bit.
@kenya may want to add something to this :)

[Kbr42]

I incubate at 45-50% humidity from 0-18 lockdown until hatch 65%

Has always worked well for me.