Dry hatch newbie in need of some advice :)

[SeattleLeah]

I am planning my first incubation in a few weeks. From what I have read, I am sold on the dry hatch method but I do have a few questions.

The basement where I plan to place the incubator is very humid (75%) so Im thinking I may have to add a bit of rice to keep the humidity between 25-40%. What do you think?

Also, I have an automatic egg turner. I know at day 18 I remove it but is there any special way I should place my eggs? Is it ok to lay them on their sides right on the wire rack or should they be placed in an egg carton large end up the way they were in the turner?

What recommendations do you have about the vent holes? I was thinking of getting the bator all warmed up with the vents open. Closing some if I need to adjust temps and then opening them all for lockdown. ???

Oh and by the way I will be using a still air hova-bator which I installed a computer fan in. I have Blue Lace Red Wyandotte and Blue/Black/Splash Orpington eggs on order


Thanks!

 

[quintinp]

I am planning my first incubation in a few weeks. From what I have read, I am sold on the dry hatch method but I do have a few questions.

The basement where I plan to place the incubator is very humid (75%) so Im thinking I may have to add a bit of rice to keep the humidity between 25-40%. What do you think?

Also, I have an automatic egg turner. I know at day 18 I remove it but is there any special way I should place my eggs? Is it ok to lay them on their sides right on the wire rack or should they be placed in an egg carton large end up the way they were in the turner?

What recommendations do you have about the vent holes? I was thinking of getting the bator all warmed up with the vents open. Closing some if I need to adjust temps and then opening them all for lockdown. ???

Oh and by the way I will be using a still air hova-bator which I installed a computer fan in. I have Blue Lace Red Wyandotte and Blue/Black/Splash Orpington eggs on order


Thanks!

I am glad that you chose the Dry Hatch method. I incubate using no water too.

I wouldn't add rice if I were you. I would see what the hygrometer in the incubator reads after the incubator is set up and turned on.

I recommend using an egg carton, as the eggs won't roll around in the incubator. I have had really nice hatch rates using this method.

I would leave the vent holes open. UNLESS you can't bring up the humidity, and in that case, I would leave 1 vent hole open, and close the others.

The computer fan should help out A lot.

Good luck, and Happy Hatching!

 

[SeattleLeah]

Thanks quintinp, this is a huge help! When I transfer the eggs from the turner to the carton for lockdown should I leave them pointy side down? Will they be ok to hatch in this position?

 

[quintinp]

Yep the pointed end down.

 

[SeattleLeah]

I have the bator all set up and its keeping a consistent temp of around 99.5. Both red plugs are removed and I have the computer fan running. The humidity inside is surprisingly low (around 25%) despite the room humidity being 80%. Should I add a tiny bit of water or will this be ok for the dry hatch method?