Poultry Talk Ontario (pto.ca)

My eggs are on Lockdown.
I'm trying to imitate what I did last year, and it's sort of working.
The big differences are the time of year, room temperature, and humidity.
At first, the incubator humidity was quite stable, then as the days went on, it was harder to maintain.
From last year's info, I know a few of you keep the incubator at different temps, but consistent is best. Then raise the humidity by about 5% at Lockdown.
Mine was a steady ~53% H and I'm trying for ~60%. However, it seems to be holding at 58%.
Any thoughts?
Keeping my fingers crossed; some of the eggs were hard to candle due to colour and shell thickness.

As soon as the eggs begin to hatch the humidity will rise from the fluid from the egg and chicks.

I would put a sponge in the incubator, close enough to the vent that you add water to the sponge to bring up the humidity quickly. Fingers crossed for your hatch! Exciting!

... not that I'm an expert LOL, but I found it much easier to manage humidity after I put sponges in the water channels. Good luck! Hoping you have a good hatch rate.

I wouldn't put your humidity any higher, its good where it is,I keep mine at 55 at lockdown.

kenya wrote: ↑

Thu May 23, 2019 11:54 am

I wouldn't put your humidity any higher, its good where it is,I keep mine at 55 at lockdown.

I've always kept it at 65 during lockdown and 50-50% during incubation.

Last night, I did sneak in a damp sponge. The humidity has been holding steady at 60% all day, and there is condensation gathering on the lid.
So... I'm thinking to keep it where it is as best I can and not toy with it too much.
The room is a cool 66 F and the humidity reading is higher than last year's 50%. (Given this Spring's weather, it's not too surprising.)
At lockdown, I do not open the lid. If needed, I add water to a trough or sponge by using a meat syringe inserted in flexible plastic tubing that has a firm plastic tube attached.

If there is condensation on the lid your humidity is way too high and will drown the chicks.

I've read that "condensation on the incubator window equals humidity is too high" on a number of extension websites, as well as here on PTO.