Humidity again!

[Anne W]

Always an emotive subject - I try not to get worked up about it - after all in nature with a broody there isn't anything to measure humidity is there? But it's very difficult not to get worked up about it! I have a brinsea octagon 20 advance ex ( with automatic humidity control)

My first lot of eggs gave me 5/5 which was wondeful to say the least. My next lot 8/10 and the last lot I had 5 DIS - one of which had died very early but when I candled at around 18 days 4 of them had large airsacks which logic tells me were probably the ones that were DIS. I know that it is often thought to be a humidity problem but the othere 8 didn't have large airsacks and hatched fine.

So....why would the 4 DIS eggs have large airsacks do you think? Is it to do with humidity and if so why weren't the others affected. The manual says start off at 45% which I read so many times where people say it is too high and then the manual says hatch at 65% or higher ( Katie Thears book says 75% !) I actually incubated at 45% , hatched my first lot on 75% but got worried and reduced it a bit and the second and 3rd time I did 70%.

Apparently incys with a fan need different management to those without . Anybody got any thoughts on this?

 

[Anne W]

I meant to say that it may have been coincidence - but 3 out of the 4 DIS eggs came from the same source in Scotland - so maybe it was something to do with the travelling do you think?

 

[Davidd]

Hi, if the eggs where posted then yes, the air sac could have been damaged in the post- quite common- as for humidity - fan assisted i would do as you did- 40-45% incubating and 60-70% at pipping- still air you can get away with running dry most of the time in this country until they pip- too much humidity is worse than not enough- too much and the chicks grow too big and can't get out- DIS - You have had good hatch rates- nobody can expect 100% - if you can average 60-70% then you are doing well- like i said i would keep doing what you are doing and don't worry too much
regards, David

 

[Anne W]

Thanks - that's reassuring