Dry hatch, southerners!

[JacksonPearce]

Wow, I tried a dry hatch with my last batch of 12 eggs, and it was REVOLUTIONARY. I had been getting beyond terrible hatch rates-- only one or two from every dozen-- but with the dry hatch, it looks like all 10 that made it to lock down are going to hatch. If you're in a high humidity area, throw those humidity instructions to the wind and give this method a shot!

 

[theoldchick]

How did you do your dry hatch?

 

[JacksonPearce]

I added no water whatsoever to the incubator until lockdown, and then added a normal lockdown amount (filled up both troughs, in my case-- I have a Brinsea Octagon). Previously, I was having eggs make it to lockdown then die with fully formed chicks in them-- I think they didn't have enough air in their eggs to breathe when it came time to hatch!

 

[tjb]

I added no water whatsoever to the incubator until lockdown, and then added a normal lockdown amount (filled up both troughs, in my case-- I have a Brinsea Octagon). Previously, I was having eggs make it to lockdown then die with fully formed chicks in them-- I think they didn't have enough air in their eggs to breathe when it came time to hatch!

SE Texas... I did the same no water til lockdown - then 68-75% during lockdown 11/12 hatched and healthy -- 10 doing awesome at 5 weeks now. {one was healthy, then just dropped at 3 weeks}

 

[Snoozeys]

I like the idea of dry incubation but my core humidity without water is only 22%
I use an octogon as well !!

 

[Red Banks]

I am trying a dry hatch. My humidity is holding at 31.... is that too low? On day 3.

 

[Old Man Tom]

I am trying a dry hatch. My humidity is holding at 31.... is that too low? On day 3.

Hey, Red Banks I ran my first hatch ever BCM's at 35% to 40% first 18 days! 65% to70% last 3 days. Out 0f 8 fertile eggs 6 hatched on day 21 and 22. 2 that did not hatched were fully formed and 1 piped, the other one was full formed. I'm think I'm going to run 60% to 65% on last 3 days with new hatch. I was pretty happy with my first hatch ever! This is with a Marsh Rolex forced air incubator. Those who know this incubator say it will hatch Rocks, ha ha. TOM

 

[Red Banks]

Hey, Red Banks I ran my first hatch ever BCM's at 35% to 40% first 18 days! 65% to70% last 3 days. Out 0f 8 fertile eggs 6 hatched on day 21 and 22. 2 that did not hatched were fully formed and 1 piped, the other one was full formed. I'm think I'm going to run 60% to 65% on last 3 days with new hatch. I was pretty happy with my first hatch ever! This is with a Marsh Rolex forced air incubator. Those who know this incubator say it will hatch Rocks, ha ha. TOM

Thanks Tom,
I am at 32% just want to make sure it is not too low. Read this article and was intrigued. I was just given a Montgomery Ward Redwood incubator and was trying to find out about them when I was led to dry incubation.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...h-eggs-using-the-dry-incubation-method.47694/

 

[Red Banks]

Hey, Red Banks I ran my first hatch ever BCM's at 35% to 40% first 18 days! 65% to70% last 3 days. Out 0f 8 fertile eggs 6 hatched on day 21 and 22. 2 that did not hatched were fully formed and 1 piped, the other one was full formed. I'm think I'm going to run 60% to 65% on last 3 days with new hatch. I was pretty happy with my first hatch ever! This is with a Marsh Rolex forced air incubator. Those who know this incubator say it will hatch Rocks, ha ha. TOM

Congrats on good hatch!

 

[Old Man Tom]

Congrats on good hatch!

Thank you. I read that article awhile back. Love the part about not opening the incubator until day 23, period! There are people on this thread that swear all your chics will die! I left mine in and those that hatched were big and healthy babies. Don Lee (snowbird) is the one that gave me the 40% and 65% numbers. Set the temp at 100 degrees all thru hatch. TOM