Solving Omlet Smart Auto Door Timing Issues with Alexa Routines

[jam]

Hoping to hatch some more chicks in a couple of weeks. The last time I hatched some eggs I had trouble with getting the humidity right, probably because Ive got a cheap incubator and have to hope that my humidity dial is acurate, and couple of buff orps didnt hatch, but on breaking them open, they were nearly fully developed. I have to use about a dozen jam jar lids to get it up to the right humidity and when I have to top them up its tricky not to get the eggs wet.

Ive heard some people mention, dry hatching I think its called... But how does this work and would it be better for my cheap fan assisted incubator?

Thanks

[Pekin]

Dry hatching just means not adding any water at all.

If your humidity in the bator is below 25% and you 'dry hatch' you'd be lucky to see any chicks at all.

It only works if the ambient humidity is very high, perhaps if you live on the coast or in the lake district.

You still need to measure humidity, which is best done with either a wet bulb thermometer or a digital hygrometer, the dial ones can be out by an awful lot.

You say a couple did'nt hatch, how many did?

[bronze]

You can dry hatch and then just add water for the last few days (when you stop turning)

[jam]

I got 15 eggs, 4 had to binned after candling and 2 didnt hatch so i was left with 9, whihc was still good. So is dry hatching not an option for me then?

[Redwing]

i dry incubate to day 18 then add water

 

in my cheap inccy i used a jam jar with water in to raise humidity if that wasnt quite enough i folded a bit of kitchen roll and made a wick with it stood in the jar. works well

[jam]

so you put no water at all in the incubator until day 18? Sounds good, but I thought that would stop the eggs from hatching? oh well, i thought wrong! I might try it, what percentage humidity do you raise it to on day 18?

[Redwing]

I always hatch dry to day 18 the humidity seems to normally stay at about 30-35 percent its much worse to have high humidity, ive hatched about 140 chicks this year

 

I take it to 55-60 at day 18

[jam]

so your incy stays at 30-35 with no water in it? Mine is dead at zero without anything in it. I must live in a house with very low outside humidity I like the idea of using tissue as a wick, i shall steal that one from you

[Redwing]

there should be some humidity, even in this heat mine hasnt fallen below 25

[Roobaloo]

My humidity is between 35-45% (average about 40%)...is this ok? I tried without water but it fluctuated between 15 and 40% So I figured it would be better to be a bit more stable?

 

...or should I assume my hygrometer is useless?? (it's an exo terra dial kinda...)

[Redwing]

thats fine, 40 is acceptable, many people use 45 for days 1-18, I dont but if the natural humidity is at that level then thats fine

[Blue-DiamondChick07]

I always hatch dry to day 18 the humidity seems to normally stay at about 30-35 percent its much worse to have high humidity, ive hatched about 140 chicks this year

 

I take it to 55-60 at day 18

 

Take it this would be day 15 for bantams??

[crazy kc]

No, still day 18