Operation Dry Hatch

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Hi there. I recently did my first dry incubation and was quite pleased with the results. I only got one hatchling from eggs that came through the mail (I watched in horror as the not-regular mailman turned the box over and over trying to cram it into my mailbox! If that's any indication of how the box was treated during the journey, I guess I am not surprised.). However, the hatch rate was really good with my home eggs. I was glad to have both in the incubator since it was a good test of the dry hatch method.

Anyway... When increasing the humidity on day 18 in my Hovabator with fan, the temp was all over the board. I have read that the thermostat should be adjusted as little as possible so I tried not to mess with it much after putting water in the troughs. The temp ended up being stuck at 97 for the better part of a day. Little by little I adjusted it, but still, trying to get the humidity and temperature right was driving me nuts. In the end, it all worked out. BUT, after that experience, I decided to get another incubator (with big window!) for hatching. This way I can have the correct temp and humidity up and running prior to "lock down".

Question: I keep the fan incubator at 99.5. When I move the eggs to the non-fan incubator for hatching, what should the temp be??
Thanks!!
 
Good thread! As I am an admitted type A who over-researches everything in my life, I of course did TONS of research before trying incubation for the first time early this year.

Everything was against me in this hatch: the eggs were coming from far away, a cold snap occured during shipping, I was a complete novice, and I could only afford a styrofoam incubator (no turner, no fan). Needless to say, I didn't expect great things. But all my research led me to believe that dry incubation was a miracle method, so I slooowly and painfully put down my incubator's instructions, and studiously ignored them.

As I live in high desert, I actually did have to add water to keep the humidity above the teens (I keep it above the teens and below 30). I had pretty much convinced myself that the eggs would never hatch, but I studiously followed the BYC hatching guide, with dry incubation tweaks.

Lo and behold, on day 19 (yes very early), I had a chick that race-car drove his way through hatching! A day later,4 other siblings followed, giving me a 50% hatch rate! I was floored, and tickled pink all at the same time!

I very much endorse the dry method, it's a miracle-worker. I will be trying it again with the turkey eggs that I just set on the 18th. Only this time, I did more research (yes I have no life), and decided to let the eggs sit without turning for 5 days to let the membranes repair from shipping.

We'll see how it goes!
 
Pele said:
Good thread! As I am an admitted type A who over-researches everything in my life, I of course did TONS of research before trying incubation for the first time early this year.

Everything was against me in this hatch: the eggs were coming from far away, a cold snap occured during shipping, I was a complete novice, and I could only afford a styrofoam incubator (no turner, no fan). Needless to say, I didn't expect great things. But all my research led me to believe that dry incubation was a miracle method, so I slooowly and painfully put down my incubator's instructions, and studiously ignored them.

As I live in high desert, I actually did have to add water to keep the humidity above the teens (I keep it above the teens and below 30). I had pretty much convinced myself that the eggs would never hatch, but I studiously followed the BYC hatching guide, with dry incubation tweaks.

Lo and behold, on day 19 (yes very early), I had a chick that race-car drove his way through hatching! A day later,4 other siblings followed, giving me a 50% hatch rate! I was floored, and tickled pink all at the same time!

I very much endorse the dry method, it's a miracle-worker. I will be trying it again with the turkey eggs that I just set on the 18th. Only this time, I did more research (yes I have no life), and decided to let the eggs sit without turning for 5 days to let the membranes repair from shipping.

We'll see how it goes!
Click to expand...


I can't tell you for certain but I have read that for incubators with no fan it should be 101. I can't say that I've ever done that because mine all have fans in them. I just had 7 eggs in my genesis 1588 and 6 made it to lock down and hatched 5 of the 6. I did the dry hatch one time and it was awful for me. I keep my humidity between 40 and 60 for 1 - 18 and in the high 70's for hatch. I've been having really good hatch rates but not saying this would work for anyone else. I think think this is a whatever works for you thing. lol When I first started incubating eggs, I was having awful luck with them. Now, everything has turned around and I can't complain about any of them. The best of luck to you all. Just 2 weeks ago I hatched 10 chicks from 13 shipped eggs and 3 from 3 of my own. Something is working.
Jim
 
I have a question about dry hatch???? So far everything is going great I have hatched 4 out of 17 Silkies today
woot.gif
... My question is I read about Dry Hatch on here and one of the rules on the person who wrote about his dry hatch was not to open it for any reason until day 23.... My babies seem hungry because they are eating the stuff out of the last egg that was just hatched,, In fact they seem to hurried him up and out of the way to get it. Are they hungry and will they starve before day 23? any advice will help a lot as I am a first time hatcher and a nervous wreck that something may go wrong after coming this far....
 
chickenmommy1 said:
I have a question about dry hatch???? So far everything is going great I have hatched 4 out of 17 Silkies today
woot.gif
... My question is I read about Dry Hatch on here and one of the rules on the person who wrote about his dry hatch was not to open it for any reason until day 23.... My babies seem hungry because they are eating the stuff out of the last egg that was just hatched,, In fact they seem to hurried him up and out of the way to get it. Are they hungry and will they starve before day 23? any advice will help a lot as I am a first time hatcher and a nervous wreck that something may go wrong after coming this far....
Click to expand...


One thing I can tell you is if you don't have any pips in the eggs left in there then I don't think it would hurt to open and take the little ones out BUT, if they hatched on day 21, they shouldn't be that hungry. They are just curious and will pick at anything. Hope this helps.
Jim
 
I'm so new to the chicken thing, so forgive me for being stupid. These styrofoam incubators, is that referring to the one's you build yourself or is that a special kind you buy?
 
that is very common, the hovabator is keeping the correct air temp..with humidity the actual air tem is 99..if you get an aquarium thermostate you see the actual temps were steady because they do not pick up that the humidity changes air quality..they sell them for pretty cheap at wal-mart..like when it is 90 degrees outside and 30 % humidity, it feels a little cooler, when its 90 degrees and 60% humidity. its stifeling hot..with humidity that high, the hovabator is doing its job, the temps will appear to drop, get one of the aquarium therms, you will see its actual air temp 98 - 99
PikaVicct said:
Hi there. I recently did my first dry incubation and was quite pleased with the results. I only got one hatchling from eggs that came through the mail (I watched in horror as the not-regular mailman turned the box over and over trying to cram it into my mailbox! If that's any indication of how the box was treated during the journey, I guess I am not surprised.). However, the hatch rate was really good with my home eggs. I was glad to have both in the incubator since it was a good test of the dry hatch method.

Anyway... When increasing the humidity on day 18 in my Hovabator with fan, the temp was all over the board. I have read that the thermostat should be adjusted as little as possible so I tried not to mess with it much after putting water in the troughs. The temp ended up being stuck at 97 for the better part of a day. Little by little I adjusted it, but still, trying to get the humidity and temperature right was driving me nuts. In the end, it all worked out. BUT, after that experience, I decided to get another incubator (with big window!) for hatching. This way I can have the correct temp and humidity up and running prior to "lock down".

Question: I keep the fan incubator at 99.5. When I move the eggs to the non-fan incubator for hatching, what should the temp be??
Thanks!!
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:

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