lock down humidity
I\'ve never heard of \"lock down\" associated with hatching, but think I\'ve figured out that means during the time from pipping to hatching from the context. I think Michael (not Mike) has had good results with dry hatches, but I haven\'t experimented with that at all.
Here are some of the numbers I shoot for.
In the egg storage room I try to keep the temperature around 55 to 60 degrees with as much humidity as possible...the goal is 75% on the hygrometer.
I try to keep the keep the temperature in the hatchery between 75 and 80 degrees with lots of humidity...50% or so. The room temp is much easier to regulate than the humidity. I use many water pans to increase the room humidity, but the outside weather affects it a lot.
In the setters I would like 57% humidity, but early in the hatching season it may only be 45 to 48%.
In the hatchers I aim for 75%, but there again I may settle for 66% when snow is on the ground.
Higher humidity in the rooms and incubators is much easier obtain after the spring rains come.