Anyone ever try the dry hatch method before?

[loopy119]

I have done dry incubation in my homemade incubator. I just add water at the end in a pan i have under the eggs. Sometimes sponges too or wet papertowels. I use my LG and turner now and i keep it around 100 degrees F. When i dry incubated in my homemade bator, i would keep the eggs in an egg carton with a coffee mug (turned sideways with the handle like a kickstand) under one end, then when it was time to turn them, i would just move the mug to the other side. You should turn three times a day, at least, or an odd number of times. That way the eggs aren't on the same side every night while you sleep. I only use my homemade bator for hatching now. I hope i answered some questions. Again, this may not be for everyone, but it works for me.

 

[jim-pav]

I am so glad this post came up. I just set 12 eggs in my Brinsea Octagon. My temp is always spot on 99.5 degrees. The humidity without any water in it is 45%. When I added water it goes to 75%. So I currently removed the water for a dry hatch at 45%. That's as low as it goes. I don't own a dehumidifier. We'll see how it goes! I'll add water after 18 days. Thanks everyone for this informative thread!

Jim

 

[alaina]

To my knowledge, the temp and all else is the same, no matter the incubator. And if you are opening it to turn the eggs, thats OK too. the article I used was henthusiasts incubation cheat sheet. It has been posted on here numerous times,


www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=14596-incubation-cheat-sheet

gives complete instructions!!

 

[Arielle]

IMO, a fan will pull more moisture from an egg; so if the humidity level is higher than you want, try adding a fan. Pull a fan from an old PC tower and wire to an old adapter. Instructions are here on BYC--do a search. I'm still trying this theory in an experiment. Maybe someone with more experience will chime in.

 

[hmlongino]

I need help!!

After 3 miserable attempts of summer hatching in Ga, I am trying something new. I moved my incubator into a part of the house with a constant temp, and with a constant humidity of 50%. I thought I was following this advice- https://www.backyardchickens.com/LC-DryIncubation.html, but things aren't going smoothly??

I have eggs settling from shipment that need to go in tomorrow. My bator's temp is fine, but the humidity is only 19%. This is with both plugs open, which I thought would stabilize it to the humidity in the room. So, now I have no idea what to do in order to make the bator and the room sync up, humidity-wise. Do I add some water? It doesn't say that in the article. I need some advice-- and QUICK!!

 

[GrannyPat]

Quote:
Hi, I'm in the South too, in East Tennessee. I started my dry hatch on Mother's Day weekend and my chicks hatched exactly 21 days later right on schedule with no problems. I had had several unsuccessful hatches a few times before with fully formed chicks that did not hatch so I did the dry hatch out of desperation. However, like some here have said that they added water at different times I NEVER added water at all. I just put my eggs in my automatic turner and closed the lid and never opened it again till my chicks hatched. I had 7 out of 10 eggs hatch that way. Like I said in my post that started this topic I practically walked away from my LG incubator only checking it every few days to be sure the temp was staying right. I knew that it was set to the right position from all the times I had tried hatches before so wasn't too concerned about it but checked it anyway now and then just to make sure. But, like I said I never did add even one drop of water to that hatch and it was the only successful one I ever had. Needless to say that is how I will do it from now on.

GrannyPat

 

[TedJan92_in_Idaho]

What is the lowest you can go on humidity for dry hatching? According to my Cooper meter it is 21% in the room for the incubator. with 1 pan filled it goes to about 43

 

[pete55]

Hi there - let me try and give you a little Trans-Atlantic information

Here's a thread I did earlier which should answer many of the questions

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=491013

Or you can always visit our website for more incubation information

http://oakgarthgeese.com

Best of luck everybody

Pete

 

[steffpeck]

So I have had my incubator running for 2 days with no water in it. My humidity level is right at 20%. I am going to put eggs in tonight and try a dry hatch. Is 20% humidity to low?

 

[Rhondax6]

This whole dry hatch thing has be very encouraged for next spring!