The term 'dry hatch' is subjective, just like color, ie; one person may say red, another reddish, another bright red, another dark red, etc.
For some, living in high humidity areas may mean not having to add any water at all, hence the term 'dry hatch, some only a tiny bit, altitude also plays a part in the percent relative humidity in the ambient air. Higher altitudes contain less moisture.The humidity in an climate control situation will vary from an ambient air environment. This is why it is crucial to have a stable, climate controlled area for setting up an incubator.
Under 'wild conditions' upland gamebirds, those that nest on the ground need at least 30% moisture in the soil for ideal hatching conditions. The ambient humidity (% moisture in the air) doesn't have that much influence in the overall hatchability of the eggs, the moisture has to be in the ground, this is especially true in South Texas and regions with desert/arid or drought stricken areas. The humidity in the air is high but the ground is dry and holds little moisture.
In artifical incubation, we are trying to replicate those conditions of a nest on the ground. The eggs in an incubator are surrounded by whatever percent moisture is in the incubator...similar to a hen on a ground nest. The hen's feathers 'trap' the moisture that is evaporating from the ground, surrounding the eggs. .
There's alot more to it than this but I'll not bore anyone more than I have already, I digress!
Spirit
Greeter
Friend
Educator
