Debrief Me on Dry Hatching! (And my questions about it)

[Lilorp14]

Hello! I have just started up my new Nurture Right 360 and have 22 eggs to hatch in it. I really want to try dry hatching, but I can never seem to find straight answers about it. Let me know your methods (With detail please, I always get vague answers ) I have a few questions about it too, if it's possible for you to answer those.
1. What range of humidity is acceptable for dry hatching? My incubator is at 30%. Is this too low?
2. Should I add water during lockdown, or will a chick pipping add enough humidity to the atmosphere?
3. If, for example, it rains one day and I leave the door open because its cool outside, and humidity goes up significantly in the house, would that compromise the eggs in any way?
4. What are the exact rules if I was to go with regular incubation methods? I get mixed answers on this too...
5. If I forgot anything, I'll comment it . Thanks!

 

[casportpony]

@Pyxis or @WVduckchick might be able to help.

 

[HatchCraft]

I believe the method of dry incubation originated with an article by Bill Worrell. This article was widely circulated on the internet at the time. https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...h-eggs-using-the-dry-incubation-method.47694/
I personally try and keep the humidity between 30%and 50% while adding no water during incubation. But that will depend on ambient humidity. Point being humidity can vary considerably during incubation and still result in a good hatch. I think It's a good Idea to increase the humidity during the hatch.
This has been a contentious subject on BYC . Only last week a thread I was following on dry hatching was deleted.

 

[Fairview01]

Dry incubation not dry hatching. The humidity should be at a level that causes the air cell to progress as in the pic. That is what will give a good hatch. Rules and what others say it should be wont.

Dry incubation is typically used for the eggs of certain breeds like the marans. They have slightly thicker shells than the typical egg.

When hatching I use maximum humidity. Maximum humidity during the last 2 days helps the chicks break through the shell and free themselves from the membrane easier. 2 days of high humidity at the end of the incubation period will not

 

[WVduckchick]

I have a Nurture Right 360 also, among several other incubators, but I like to use the 360 as my hatcher. I have cream legbar eggs in it currently, zero water and it is maintaining 30%ish humidity. I don’t worry about minor fluctuations, although I wouldn’t want it to go under 20%. I would add a little water to the A well if it dips under 20%.

3 days prior to hatch day, I remove the turner bracket, lay a piece of rubber shelf liner under the eggs, and fill both A and B water channels. That takes me to about 65% which works fine for me. Keep an eye on the external fill points for the level to go down, top off the water if necessary.