Anyone ever try the dry hatch method before?

[GrannyPat]

Just wondering if anyone has ever tried the dry hatch method before? An older gentleman on one of my Yahoo Chicken groups told me about it and suggested I try it after I had tried to hatch several times with no success. I had been given eggs a few times and spent $20.00 on a dozen another time and was only ever able to get one egg to hatch and that chick died a couple of days later. So, I was very discouraged and told myself I would just give up and buy my chicks from Tractor Supply or the Farmer's Co-0p from then on.
But, time when by and my chickens I had started to lay LOTS of eggs and my big roo was a very busy boy so I decided since my eggs were free I would give the older gentleman's suggestion about dry hatching a try. And, it worked great!!! I had 7 out of 10 eggs hatch and tomorrow my chicks will be 8 weeks old. They just went out into the coop with the big girls this week.

But, anyway, this was the least hands on hatch I have ever tried and the most successful. I used my Little Giant Incubator and automatic turner. Never added a drop of water the whole time. Already had my temp set right so didn't have to worry with it either. I more or less just walked away from my incubator most of the three weeks they were in there and low and behold on the exact date they should hatch they did. I had always thought my problem might be the humidity and trying to keep it right. Especially toward the end and I think it was just getting too humid in there for the chicks to get out and they drowned before they could. Seems to make sense to me since all the other times when I added water I had no success and now this time when I added no water I had success. I think that humidity was my problem because a few times when I was certain they weren't going to hatch I broke them open to take a look and found fully formed chicks that looked good to me but for some reason hadn't hatched. So, that is why I tried the dry hatch method and like I said it's the first time I have ever had a good hatch so you can be sure I plan to stick to that method. Only problem now is I have the fever big time but with 15 hens and nearly a dozen eggs every day I don't need any more.

Patty (GrannyPat)

 

[CapricornFarm]

Yeah, I used the dry hatch method but the one I followed had you add water before lockdown. Worked well.

 

[Rhondax6]

Very encouraging! Do you suppose this method would work with any incubator?

 

[quintinp]

I use the dry-hatch method, people who aren't hatching quail shouldn't fuss about opening the incubator to turn eggs (THE FIRST 18 DAYS), but on day 18 add lots of water and leave them eggs alone. I don't add any water the first 18 days.

 

[loopy119]

I always use the dry method. It just works better for me personally. I add a little water right before lockdown, but that's it.

 

[quintinp]

Quote:

 

[Rhondax6]

For those of you who dry hatch, do you monitor humidity levels once you go into lock down or do you just add a dish of water and call it good? And some of you don't add any water at all, ever?

I'm more encouraged to try a dry hatch method!

 

[1AcreRooster]

It's so humid here in FL that theres no reason to add water until lockdown.

 

[MommaB]

After 2 bad hatches with my LG I am planning on trying this method.

 

[quintinp]

Quote:
I put a bowl of water under the heat source, for more humidity, during lock down. I think all of us Dry-Hatchers out there put water in the incubator the last three days. If you dont add water to the incubator for lockdown, the membrane of the egg will dry and the chick isn't able to move around the egg and zip. And I dont worry about the humidity, I know my incubators "WAYS" now and know that for the 60% humidity I want, I put the bowl of water directly under the light bulb. I am sure if i didn't do this i would have to monitor humidity a lot.