Dry incubation vs. humidity

[dolly85]

I've done it both ways and haven't found much difference in hatch rates. I do not let my humidity get below 20% though, 16% would make me a little nervous. My last two hatches have had an average humidity of about 35% and they've done very well.

 

[MountainChickenMama]

I just added a little bit of water in one of the troughs to see if I could get it up to like 25% or so, we shall see what happens....I need to go and buy some thing tubing so that I am able to add water without opening the bator...My goal this time is to not touch the eggs too much, it will be tough, but I am only gonna candle a few days, which days do ya suggest that I do that besides Day 3-4?

 

[SarahIrl]

No candling until day 6 or 7, leave in any 'maybe' eggs. Candle again at day 12 and day 18 before lockdown. No chance of exploding eggs, no messing with very small delicate heat sensitive tiny embryos. I always reccommend that, candle the all eagerly at day 4, start tossing by day 6 or 7 and get them every three days unti lockdown with a quick peek at the end of day 20 when I see the first internal pip. Bad, bad, I know, but I know I can trust my incubator to do it's stuff. It's magical, I swear. I have been much better this time, am currently day 14 and have candled twice (day 5 and day 9). Will candle again tonight and once at lockdown.

Good luck!

 

[lotsachicks]

I tried the dry incubation theory with my last hatch and lost 70% of my chicks to being shrink wrapped, they were all fully formed and perfect looking just couldnt pip and zip. My first hatch I kept the humidity about 40% for days 1-18, then 65% for lockdown and had a 90% hatch rate. I will not be dry incubating anymore.

 

[bookerdog]

I would think dry incubation would have alot to do where you live. Dry incubating on the Oregon Coast would be different then dry incubating in eastern oregon. The humidity is much different in those area's. I don't like my humidity to go below 25% for 1 to 18