Quail egg incubation

[dryflysport]

I have Brinsea mini advanced incubator and I’d like to know if this incubator can be used without water/ humidity? I tried to incubate coturnix eggs with the humidity and failed. I have read where dry incubation is, for some, a better hatch ratio. So can this baton just run on temp alone?
Thanx

 

[blackoaktammy]

I would be too nervous to try dry incubation. I monitor humidity levels several times a day. I keep humidity at 50-55% during incubation and bump it to 60-70% when I put the eggs in the hatcher. I have buttons, but coturnix should be similar. Hopefully someone with coturnix will pitch in.

 

[ChristineR]

I have the same incubator and I dry incubate all the time. I have better results that way. In fact, I just accidentally dry hatched Valley quail a few days ago (these are my first quail, I usually hatch waterfowl or chickens). I think it might depend on the humidity where you live. I live in the Pacific NW. In the desert, your results might be different.

 

[ChristineR]

You might want to start out without any water and if it looks like they are losing too much water, you could add some.

 

[RUNuts]

Did you calibrate your hygrometer? Lower end of reading on some (most?) are 25%. Be skeptical of anything lower than 30%. 20% reading can be 0%.
I'm using a Styrofoam incubator and ambient humidity is 60-80% outside in the swamp. 55-65% inside with AC running. Runs the humidity at 30-35% in the incubator. Hatching fine. About to start my 6th batch this summer. The first 3 were in January-March and humidity was lower. At first pip, just enough water to get to 40-45% humidity. Isn't much. Hatching fine. Best wishes.