Dry hatching

[PaigeSullivan]

I’m on my second hatching and I’ve just recently found out about dry hatching. The first set I hatched didn’t do so well so I’m wanting to try something different this time. My second batch are already in the incubator for 4 days now so I’m needing to know if it will harm them if I start the dry hatching now after the humidity has already been high for a few days.

 

[Hmong Chicken]

It shouldn’t hurt them. Go ahead and give it a try!

 

[kfelton0002]

I'm sold on dry hatching! My hatch rates on my turkeys and chickens went up with the dry method. I am currently attempting duck eggs I bought for my friend's son. I shoot for humidity between 30-35%. I add water because if I don't my humidity is like 10-15%.

 

[killmak]

I am just about done another dry hatch, we shall see how it goes. I always struggled to get a high humidity in my homemade incubator so I just leave my humidity at 20-25% until lockdown then I get it up to 50%. While they are hatching it usually hovers around 60-70%.

 

[PaigeSullivan]

I’m going to give it a try! I have over 70 eggs in the incubator so I’m really hoping for a high hatch rate this go around!

 

[Altairsky]

If I do dry hatch my humidity sometimes drops to 10%. Is that OK or should I add water 'till it goes up to 25 - 30%? I'm planning to hatch chickens, not ducks.

 

[killmak]

10% is a little low. It would depend how long it stays that low. You could keep an eye on the air cells and egg weight to see if 10% is too low. A lot of people when dry hatching don't have to regulate humidity as it naturally stays in the 15-30% range. If you are below that range you can add water to get into range. If you are above the range without adding water I wouldn't worry too much unless you are having chicks drown, then I would find a way to dehumidify the air.

 

[TOR]

10% is a little low. It would depend how long it stays that low. You could keep an eye on the air cells and egg weight to see if 10% is too low. A lot of people when dry hatching don't have to regulate humidity as it naturally stays in the 15-30% range. If you are below that range you can add water to get into range. If you are above the range without adding water I wouldn't worry too much unless you are having chicks drown, then I would find a way to dehumidify the air.

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