Very interesting... My first attempt is still in process and I am not confident based on the humidity levels and a strange temperature variance that I believe was brought on by the swings in humidity. Frustrating... I will give your dry method a try. Well, I'm gonna let it roll...
Curious, I am down in MN, but I was wondering about your heater. You say Orek heater, eh? What model/size is it? The other day I noticed my roo had some hint of frostbite after a night of negative temps, of course I got my birds in a coop but not sophisticated at all, sand floor, heated waterer...