Ideal Temperature and Humidity for Hatching and Raising Backyard Chickens
As more and more people become conscious of how their food is grown, backyard chickens have risen in popularity. From knowing what type of chickens to buy, coop instructions and chicken feed variety, the amount of information can be overwhelming and confusing! Entire forums and sites are dedicated to answering any question you can think of when it comes to owning and raising backyard chickens.
Temperature and humidity control is a commonly overlooked topic that can make or break your chicken rearing success. Before eggs should even be placed inside the incubator, there needs to be a consistent temperature reading between 99° and 102°F. Humidity also plays an important role. Advice varies, but many experts suggest humidity between 45-50% for days 1-18 and at 65% for the last few days.
Just like the weather, chickens can be finicky creatures, even after they’ve hatched. In order to thrive (and produce delicious eggs!) the temperature and humidity of their environment must remain consistent and within the proper range.
Many experts agree that 50% humidity is the magic number when it comes to humidity and the level of comfort within a coop. If humidity is too low, you run the risk of creating a dry environment. This produces dust which can became a major health concern to your flock. On the other hand, if kept too moist, the coop becomes a breeding ground for mold and bacteria.
Temperature must also be monitored and maintained when raising chickens. While it is important to be vigilant for cold, snowstorms and frost in the winter months, summer months and warmer weather can also cause a myriad of issues. Optimal temperature is between 65° and 75°F. Anything above 75°F can cause an unhealthy amount of stress on the chickens, affect their organs, and potentially reduce their life expectancy. Because chickens do not have sweat glands, heat is trapped under their feathers. Their only cooling technique is to flap their wings and pant, so helping them maintain proper temperature is critical.
SensorPush allows you to monitor the temperature and humidity of any space you desire, including your incubator or coop. This state of the art technology enables information to be retrieved and sent via Bluetooth to your iPhone or Android. It records conditions, even while you’re away, and notifies you if conditions have been outside the optimal range.
No chicken coop should be without the invaluable technology that SensorPush provides. Gardens and farms across the globe are seeing the amazing benefits that this device offers. Current conditions, graphs and data at your fingertips will give you the peace of mind and tools necessary to master any agriculture endeavor you pursue.