Any one else dry incubating??

[LilyD]

My last hatch I didn't do dry and it was a very good hatch but I have to say my humidity was above 40 the entire hatch and I had 6 eggs that didn't hatch of those that made it to lock down but had fully developed babies inside that seemed pretty wet. This time my humidity has been around 25 to 35 sometimes going as high as 40 when it's raining out but for the most part we are right around and the air cells seem much better this time. Can't wait to see if I get a better hatch rate.

 

[Delaney Birds]

Hi All,

I put 42 New Hampshire Reds into the hovabator on the 7-31 and started with 60-70 % RH but after reading some the posts, I decided to try the dry method and the RH is 30-35 for the last few days. The bator is in the basement so we have a constant ambient temp and humidity. This is our first try with the dry method so we will be watching the air cell when we candle. Will candle on 8-7 at day 7. Should I have weighed them before setting and monitored the weight loss? Or do we monitor the air cell size visually?

Thanks

 

[Helen in the Desert]

Just stuck the silkie eggs in to cook, any suggestions?

 

[Delaney Birds]

Quote:
Keep the temp stable at 99.5F, and turn 3 - 4 times per day if you dont have a turner in the incubator. This is my first time doing the dry method, but we had 4 hatches last spring. I did learn that th RH needs to be high (80-90% if possible) when they hatch so the membrane doesnt dry and shrink wrap the chicks before they can free themselves.

Good Luck

 

[mandelaykay]

UPDATE! So just to recap I ordered some eggs and the ended up getting lost so the day that they did not show up I ordered a smaller replacement batch. The replacement batch showed up the next day. The seemed wrapped fairly well, one had a small crack but I tossed it in anyways. Then the very next day the missing eggs show up. I decided to add these guys in the batch. I candled today and not all but some and every single one that I got from the "replacement lady" the ones that showed overnight look clear. I was not in complete darkness but they looked really clear. Those "replacement" eggs have been incubating for about 4 days give or take a few hours. I candled the ones that were lost and I saw 2 maybe three out the ones that I candled were developing. I think that I will wait another few days to do it again... Maybe day 7 or 8. What do you guys think? Is there a chance that some of the clear looking ones could still develop or is it obvious at this point in the game?

 

[Farmer_Dan]

I marked some that I thought weren't developing after 4 or 5 days, I was wrong! it's hatching right now.

Keep hoping, I think at about 10 days it's very clear which are good and which are bad, but sooo hard to tell before that.

 

[mandelaykay]

OHHH that makes me feel much better! Thanks so much Farmer Dan!!