Is Dry Hatching really a thing?!

[soxirella]

Hey folks, I am on my second attempt to incubate chicken eggs. The first time I had 6 / 12 fertile eggs hatch, with two giving up in the last 5-7 days.

I came across dry hatching. When compared to standard hatching, the only difference seems to be to not add water and not let the humidity fall below 15-30%. From day 18 both seem to require 65-75% humidity.

So isn't dry hatching just standard hatching, but with a more lenient humidity range? Instead of maintaining humidity of 45-55% in the first 17 days, I only need to maintain 20-55%. Yes, technically I don't need to add water to increase the humidity, but wouldn't the effect of dry hatching be the same as doing the standard but regularly forgetting to top up water and letting humidity fall to 30%?

I don't understand what's so different about it, to be considered its own method.

 

[Kjnannay]

I never heard of fry hatching. If incubator hatching is working, why change to dry? Fertilized and non Fertilized are the only issue we have. I think out of 18 there was 3 not Fertilized

We are on 2nd batch with new incubator that does it all. I'm very happy with it so far. Currently 1st chick hatched 20 minutes ago.

 

[soxirella]

It's just incubation without adding water and keeping it at a reasonable environmental humidity. Congrats on your new chicks.

 

[FowlProtector]

Hey folks, I am on my second attempt to incubate chicken eggs. The first time I had 6 / 12 fertile eggs hatch, with two giving up in the last 5-7 days.

I came across dry hatching. When compared to standard hatching, the only difference seems to be to not add water and not let the humidity fall below 15-30%. From day 18 both seem to require 65-75% humidity.

So isn't dry hatching just standard hatching, but with a more lenient humidity range? Instead of maintaining humidity of 45-55% in the first 17 days, I only need to maintain 20-55%. Yes, technically I don't need to add water to increase the humidity, but wouldn't the effect of dry hatching be the same as doing the standard but regularly forgetting to top up water and letting humidity fall to 30%?

I don't understand what's so different about it, to be considered its own method.

Although they are similar, standard hatching and dry hatching manage humidity differently. Dry hatching involves letting the humidity drop naturally without adding water to raise it. This technique replicates the natural state, particularly in lower-humidity settings. Standard hatching, on the other hand, ensures appropriate egg development by maintaining a more controlled humidity level of 45–55% for the first 17 days. Higher humidity levels (65–75%) are needed for the last stages of both techniques starting on day 18. By relying on evaporation from the eggs themselves, dry hatching purposefully avoids the use of additional water. Dry hatching is a purposeful method that may be more effective in some circumstances, particularly in drier climates or for particular egg types, even though it might seem like normal hatching just involves forgetting to top off water.

 

[nuthatched]

I came across dry hatching. When compared to standard hatching, the only difference seems to be to not add water and not let the humidity fall below 15-30%.

Best to stay 30%-45%. Yes, it is very much a 'thing'. Humidity can wreak havoc on growing chicks, causing drowning and malformation.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...h-eggs-using-the-dry-incubation-method.47694/

 

[soxirella]

I am on day two of my current incubation run. I have mostly maintained humidity between 45 - 55, with some time reaching 60 or falling to 35. Would it be ok to let the humidity drop to 30, and try to maintain 30-45%?
I live in a city with dessert climate.

 

[talkinboutchickens]

Hello, I tried dry hatching and it was very simple...So I don't make things more confusing than they have to be, I'll just attach my dry hatching thread here.
Also, here's another helpful thread.
I only got 50% hatch rate by doing a dry hatch, but it was my first time hatching and I made a few mistakes along the way, also incubator wasn't that reliable.

I think I did around 45-50 or so for the first 18 days. Most peeps like it lower than that, but I live in Michigan so it can be pretty humid at times, so I couldn't really do anything to lower the humidity. All depended on the ambient humidity (the natural humidity in the room the incubator is in), and how often I opened the incubator to turn the eggs (egg turner didn't work). If you are having trouble with maintaining the humidity, I suggest adding tiny pieces of damp sponge in there to raise it a bit, and cover the incubator with towels to prevent the humidity from lowering. Keep in mind that the humidity is very finicky, even if you add the tiniest piece of damp sponge.
I suggest 60-65 percent humidity during lockdown. (my humidity got up to 70 at times.) Last thing you want is chicks getting shrink-wrapped.
Also, just to note, but these are my personal preferences, some people like their humidity during dry incubation to be lower.
Feel free to ask any more questions you may have, there are also some good youtube vids on dry hatching. good luck!

 

[Island Coppers]

I've been hatching Marans eggs which are understood to have thicker shells and a heavier bloom so they loose moisture more slowly than some other types. I've aimed for a range between 30% to 40%. The point of regulating the humidity is to insure that the air sac is the right size at hatching. The balance between enough air, and enough room for the chick.

 

[soxirella]

BTW, the original point of this thread was to know whether it'd be ok if my humidity occasionally dropped to 30%, while actively trying to maintain 45-55%. However, it seems people recommending dry hatch would rather it always be around 30-40%.

 

[SourRoses]

I only dry hatch. Here in humid Fl it makes all the difference.
The goal is to manage the moisture loss from the egg over the duration of incubation. For that, humidity should be thought of as a range, not treated as a target to hit (like temp).
30% is as low as I let it go. You're not trying to dehydrate the eggs, or make the air around them feel "dry". It's just about not adding so much water.
When our climate is less humid, I add a little water here and there to keep it above 30%. It doesn't happen often. I aim to not go above 40-45% so manage the amount of water I put in gradually.

I don't add lockdown water until the last day. Then I boost it as high as it will go (80%) to help protect the chicks from membrane drying out as they zip their eggs.