Please give me any information you have on Dry type incubation

[thebigroo]

I am doing testing on Dry type incubation in foam cooler type incubators. I think I have been drowning my chicks in the egg. I have seen some information that says these type incubators often drown chicks. Please let me know if you have done it this way and please give me any information I might need. I am doing several hatches and really need help. Thanks, Larry

 

[tia]

I've used a Little Giant several times. The first time I had only two eggs and one hatched. The second time I had five eggs and one hatched, one pipped, but didn't break out. This year I ordered eggs online and tried once and had a full incubator and didn't get any to hatch. My humidity must have been too high. I ordered more eggs and moved my incubator to a different location and had two hatch. I am a classroom teacher and am new to this, but the trouble I had was trying to get the temperature and humidity regulated. I had several different thermometers and none of them were the same. The temperature in the incubator kept spiking on me. The school building that I was incubating eggs in temperature fluctuated quite a bit. The last two batches quite a few eggs would move but they never pipped. I'm not sure what happened, but I know it just about breaks your heart. I just got a new incubator a Suro and I am trying nine eggs in that. This is day 6. I don't know if any of that information helps you or not. There are a lot of people on here more experienced then me for sure.

Tia

 

[tia]

Just to add to that.... I think a reliable thermometer, hygrometer, and a room where the temp. doesn't fluctuate are the most important things.

 

[Sillystunt]

from what i read on the sticky~

30% humidity temp 99-100. Depending on where you live in regards to how much water. i am in florida and put 2 tablespoons to get 30-40%. adding a tablespoon every 4 days.

hatch time increase water to get to 55-60% humidity. Of course location will make water amonts range, 1/4 cup here in Florida. Anthing higher COULD(key word) lead to drowning. Some have done it high with no problems.

there is a sticky and the debate gets pretty heated. But there is a great post by ?? avatar 3 dark eggs and see copied a study.
WORTH READING!!

I did and felt smarter...lol

Mine are in extra bathroom that is gutted. i leave the window open and vent closed.My house is freezing!! Got digital therm/hydro online at walmart 8 bucks~

 

[One Acre Wonder Farm]

Good info here:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=167544

 

[DANNY]

Technically it's not dry hatching. You just don't add water if there is enough moisture in the air around the bator.

 

[Mrs. Glassman]

I also read this link, I used the dry approach and had a 100% hatch on my first try.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/LC-DryIncubation.html
There is way more info in the other link, but this link is what convinced me to try it.

 

[thebigroo]

Mrs. Glassman you are right. I saw the same write up and it convinced me that I have been drowning my chicks. That write up caused me to try dry type incubation. I also read several other people's stories. I sure hope this increases my hatch rate. I was having good hatch rates this fall and winter but spring and the last month stinks. Thanks, Larry