Incubated my first chicken when I was 6 years old, 1969. My incubator held 1 egg and got it's heat from a single light bulb. Was no water in it. My egg hatched and I got a baby Rhode Island Red chick. Suppose that means I had a 100% hatch rate straight out the gate! 😂

@TwelveAcres

Жыл бұрын

Wonderful! Thank you for sharing! I bet you loved that little chick!

@darthraedr2377

Ай бұрын

Isn’t beebop9808 saying dry hatching is not a new thing?

I’m so glad that I’m not the only one that covers their incubator 😆

Tip:soak the chick starter for less mess in the brooder. Make it mashed potato consistency and they will eat it all.

You can reduce the amount of heat loss by putting the lid open side down on a towel rather than turning it over and losing all the warmth under the lid and making the unit work harder to get the space back up to temperature. Can also take the whole unit into a warm/super humid bathroom so there is no loss of humidity/risk of shrink wrap after lock down if you need to open the lid to remove dry chicks.

@Manzanitamystic

Жыл бұрын

Really good advise!!!💖

I've been dry hatching for a couple of years now and I have wonderful results with those quail as well as chickens. I don't add any water either in my humidity is naturally around 16% inside my incubator. It's never gotten down to 12% so I don't worry about it and everybody does fine. I love dry hatching. And my incubator is an ancient hovabator

@TwelveAcres

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the comment!! I love how easy dry hatching is!

Feel blessed. My incubator only has space for 12

This was a really great educational video on dry hatching. Very well done. Thank you!

@TwelveAcres

Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much!

I don't candle, personal preference. I don't like opening the incubator...I don't even remove the turning rack. I do dry hatching with 80%-90% hatch rate. I'm happy with that.

@rakoman4234

10 ай бұрын

Hey do u add water after lock down? Or do u keep it dry all the way?

@reneefitzgerald1120

10 ай бұрын

@rakoman4234 I do not add water at all. I'm in Florida, and the humidity is high here. My humidity inside is usually around 40% 🥵

IM GONNA TAKE A DRY BATH AS SOON AS MY WATER GETS HOT!!

What is the reason for putting the water in for the last 3 days if the hen doesn't use water for the last 3 days?

@JemilyLafontant

23 күн бұрын

Yeah I don't understand that either...

Trying the dry hatch for the very first time on 2 incubators. I'll have to post when they hatch how well it does.

@TwelveAcres

23 күн бұрын

Yes! Let us know how it goes for you!

Thank you for sharing your experience with you hatching! I just bought the nurture 360 and having been trying to prepare for the 12 Ameraucana Eggs coming. After watching your videos I have decided to do the dry hatch method you have shown. Seems a lot more simple then checking water all the time. You were very helpful with explaining the temps and humidity levels too. Thanks So much. I will definitely reference this video a few more times before I get my eggs in April. Do you have to use distilled water?

@TwelveAcres

Жыл бұрын

I just use tap (we are on a well) water. I've never tried it with other types of water before.

@TwelveAcres

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the kind comment! Good luck in your future hatch!

I thoroughly enjoyed your video on dry hatching. I have a Nurure Right 360 as well, but a slightly different model. I have never had great hatches using the usual method, so I really want to give dry hatching a try. From what you describe, it looks pretty straight forward. I live in Alberta, Canada. I don't have a humidity gauge in my house, but our weather service says the Relative humidity is 53% today. Do you think I will still need to add water the last three days? Since you made this video, do you have any other tips for dry hatching?

@TwelveAcres

3 ай бұрын

Some people do not add any water at all, not even in the last 3 days. As the chicks start to hatch they'll naturally raise the humidity on their own. I've not done it that way, but I may try it on my next hatch. Whatever you decide to try, I hope you have great luck!

👍Poland

As to the vent… I have heard from several different people, that this event should be open fully during lockdown to expel the CO2 that can build up and cause chicks to stop hatching, even after they start pipping. It kind of makes sense because there are 20 to 24 chicks, breathing, oxygen and expelling carbon dioxide… Just something to think about. I love your channel and I watch all your shows.

@TwelveAcres

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for such a great comment! I will definitely give that a try on my current incubation during lockdown. It does make sense!

@barbaraarrington9146

Жыл бұрын

What if there is no vent? Do you just open it a crack each day for a few seconds? I just tried dry hatching for the first time. I got 3 out of 12 that survived. Some weren't fertile 2 or 3 .I think the rest seemed to be shrink wrapped in the membrane. I helped 3 out and 2 of those survived. 2 others I took out 3 or4 days before and let a hen hatch them. 1 of those fell out of the nest the other one hatched is alive and in the brooder with the other 2. Does dry hatching usually shrink wrap the chick? I did add water the last 3 days and had the humidity around 85% . I am going to dry hatching 1 more time and see what happens. I hope for lot better results. I have not great results wet hatching although at this point it was actually better than this last dry hatch was.

@TwelveAcres

Жыл бұрын

Do you mind sharing what kind of incubator you're using? Some incubators I've used in the past just had a few tiny holes for venting, and were not adjustable. I would not recommend cracking open the top at all during the last 3 days. Typically shrink wrap happens more easily if you open the incubator during lockdown, but I have had it happen before, even when I've been vigilant about not opening it, and keeping the humidity high as well. Sometimes it just happens and I don't know why.

@xyumyaaj9576

9 ай бұрын

If there is no vent in the incubator, you can drill a small hole at the top on the clear plastic. Cover the hole with soft plastic, open and close the hole to vent.

Do you wait for them all to hatch to open? Do you worry about them rolling the eggs that haven’t hatched around? How long do you wait before you take the chicks out after hatch?

@TwelveAcres

Жыл бұрын

I do wait for all of them to hatch before I open it. The chicks absorb the yolk into their abdomen during the hatching process, which sustains them for up to 72 hours after hatching. It's recommended to wait 24-48 hours after the LAST chick has hatched to even open the incubator. Opening it at all during that final 3 days (lockdown) can cause the incubator to chill and the humidity to drop which can endanger the remaining hatching chicks. While the chicks can "roll" the other eggs around, I haven't found that it causes any issues for those hatching eggs/chicks. Thanks for the comment!

Thanks DR for your informative video .if i may ask what is the description of your incubator plus its price

@TwelveAcres

Жыл бұрын

It is the Nurture Right 360. It's currently priced around $180. It was $140 when I bought it in 2020. Here's the description: The Nurture Right 360° Egg Incubator comes complete with a rolling egg turner and external water pot to allow water to be easily added. Our Auto-Stop feature ceases to turn eggs three days before they hatch. The incubator fits 22 eggs and allows for 360° viewing with its wide, clear window. External water pot for easily adding water Auto-Stop ceases to turn eggs three days before they hatch External water top-up, easy water fill and humidity control Clear window with 360° wide view 22-egg capacity 360° induced airflow provides optimal air circulation and temperature stability Great for many egg sizes: Chickens: 22; Ducks: 12-18; Pheasants: 22-24

Good presentation! I am considering the purchase of the Nurture Right 360 and I want to do a dry hatch (fearful!! ha). How easy is it to clean the Nurture Right 360; is there a presentation on cleaning? Thanks!!

@TwelveAcres

Жыл бұрын

I have not made a video on cleaning it yet. I really should. I just cleaned mine today after another hatch. Use a scrub brush and an old tooth brush. I first rinse the base part under hot water, scrub it with dish soap and then do a final scrub with bleach. Rinse it well when done. The top clear part can be wiped out with a damp cloth.

@jimmyponds5504

Жыл бұрын

@@TwelveAcres Thanks for such a quick response! I appreciate your advice.

@staniciahawkins4731

Жыл бұрын

On day 18 before I start the lock down, I put down plastic shelf liners ( you can get from dollar store) . That way the chicks don’t slide easily in the cracks and it also makes cleanup easier

@TwelveAcres

Жыл бұрын

@@staniciahawkins4731 Great idea! Thank you for the comment!

New here! So if you dont add water until the last 3 days, dont they get stuck to the eggshell?

@TwelveAcres

9 ай бұрын

No. No chance of air getting into the egg as long as the hatching process hasn't begun. Then, adding the extra moisture in the last 3 days ensures that it remains the proper humidity even after hatching begins.

Can I lower humidity at 10 days in? I am worried that my incubator is always too humid. Its at at least 60% no matter how much water I put in. So its good for lockdown but not the days leading up

@TwelveAcres

Жыл бұрын

Yes I would try to lower it. How low does it get if you don't add any water? You might live in a high humidity place and that is keeping the moisture up high.

@xyumyaaj9576

9 ай бұрын

Your water reservior surface is too wide and big, that's why you can't control the humidity and always at around 60% when you add water. Use silicone caulk or some safe to use caulk to divide the reservoir into 4 parts. Only add water to one part of the reservoir. The humidity should come down with only 1/4 of the reservoir filled. At day 18, remove the caulk and fill the whole reservoir for the 60%+ humidity needed.

Your incubator is really 99.5° when it says 99.5°?

How much water goes in the last three days? I saw you pour it in, but how do you know when to stop? Also, do you need to keep adding more water after the first time? Thanks!

@TwelveAcres

7 ай бұрын

I believe it was around 1/3 cup or so. And you shouldn't have to add it more than that one time... As the chicks begin hatching they'll add to the humidity themselves.

@shirley3690

7 ай бұрын

@@TwelveAcres Thank you! Scared to try it but I guess we have to start sometime!

I have a nurture right 360 I am dry hatching. Mmy humidity went up to 31 and 32. Can't get it down notated what I do. I have a dehumidifier by it also. What can I do.

@TwelveAcres

5 ай бұрын

I would open the vent all the way and see if that helps. But you might look into acquiring a secondary hygrometer to test the humidity. Sometimes the ones that are equipped in the incubator can be faulty and give a false reading.

Does the turner automatically stop at lockdown or do you have to unplug it

@TwelveAcres

Жыл бұрын

It automatically stops. I really like this incubator!

@stevenfugate2408

Жыл бұрын

@@TwelveAcres thanks. My eggs have been in the incubator for 7 days now. Getting excited

How was that considered a dry hatch if you add water

@TwelveAcres

Жыл бұрын

I suppose they call it dry hatch because for the majority of the incubation period there is no water added. So yes, not totally dry doing it this way. I have heard of some people doing a 100% dry hatch, even during the final days. I have not tried that myself.

Do you weigh your eggs and if so how much weight do they lose during incubation?

@TwelveAcres

Жыл бұрын

I have not ever weighed them. I might have to do that on my next incubation. Now you got me curious. Lol. Thanks for the question!

@alastair1955

Жыл бұрын

@@TwelveAcres Thanks I will follow with interest. I am not a dry hatcher myself but do run a lower than normal humidity, to achieve the recommended 13% to 15% weight loss needed to get the right sized air sack to allow the chicken to hatch properly. In my view many people run humidity too high through the first 18 days and so have too small an air sack so the chickens die at hatch. So when they go dry hatch they get an improved hatch

@TwelveAcres

Жыл бұрын

@@alastair1955 This makes perfect sense to me! Thank you for the informative comment!!

Shouldn't people first preheat the incubator first, before putting the eggs in the incubator, so they can get an idea about what the humidity is, in order to make adjustments...and then put the eggs in ?

@TwelveAcres

Ай бұрын

Yes you could do that, but if you're doing a dry hatch method then you're not going to be adding water to it anyway. So your humidity in the incubator is going to be based off of your relative humidity that is in your home or space that you have the incubator in. If I have freshly washed the incubator, then I will definitely run it for a few hours just to get it totally dried out before I actually set the eggs in.

@straightupandforward7494

Ай бұрын

@@TwelveAcres Okay...I never tried a dry hatch before. I ordered a Sailnovo incubator because my old one wasn't keeping the humidity in like it is suppose to. I'm thinking about trying a dry hatch. Wado (thank you) !

so buy another one

Too much humidity : kzread.info/dash/bejne/fXdpssyQpKW8ZNo.html

I have the same incubator, which I think is partially responsible for the death of all of my goose eggs. The other part is a really bad breeder. At the time, I did not have a thermometer/hygrometer in the incubator at all times. After the eggs died, I got the Govee meter. The incubator not only was an average of 1° low, but it fluctuated from 98.2° to 100.2 all throughout the day, landing at each temperature in between for about two hours. Nothing could survive that. I kept the room they were in consistently at 72°. I was not trying a dry hatch because the incubator instructions specifically state “Do not let the incubator run without water!” The incubator is horrible and I would never recommend it to anybody. I have been told the old version from two years ago and prior worked well, but this new version is absolutely horrible. I purchased it last spring but did not use it until this year. Was there something in particular you did to maintain your temperatures? Does covering it halfway with the towel like you did make a difference? I understand you cannot cover the front or the vent will be covered. It was quite devastating to lose my eggs and especially my hope to have these adorable little goslings. I really don’t want to have to buy another incubator since it’s not something I’ll do often. Incubator and breeder are very important!

@TwelveAcres

Жыл бұрын

That is so devastating. I am so sorry about that. Perhaps the newer ones are not as reliable as the older versions. I've had mine for a few years now and it's been very consistent with temperature. I cover it with a towel because our home temperature fluctuates quite a bit, and I feel like the towel might help the incubator not have to work so hard on the cooler days.

@willowhittle8947

Жыл бұрын

I’m trying the towel now for a 24 hour stretch and then I’ll check the temperature reading. I will post back if it changes anything. Maybe that’s why your hatches have always been good and you didn’t even know it. 😂 Just found your channel. Thanks for making videos!

@TwelveAcres

Жыл бұрын

@@willowhittle8947 Well I hope the towel does the trick! And thank you for your kind comment.

Why dry hatch

@TwelveAcres

Жыл бұрын

For some people dry hatching works better than the standard method. In some cases if the incubator is too moist or has too much humidity the eggs have too little of an air sac when the chicks are about to hatch, and it can actually cause them to drown in the egg. So dry hatching tends to reduce the chance of that happening. You still provide the humidity at the end, so once the chick has made its initial break in the egg, the membrane doesn't dry out, because you have added the necessary moisture in the last 3 days.

@stevenfugate2408

Жыл бұрын

@@TwelveAcres thanks

@juliakoonce5603

Жыл бұрын

First time incubating, if I don't have water added to the incubator I drop to 4% what is too low for the first 18 days? We are almost day 14 started with 20 eggs and are at 9 left after candeling tonight. Trying to figure out how to get a better rate for hatch going forward

@battlebornoutreachministri5073

Жыл бұрын

@@TwelveAcres THE HEN DRY HATCHES AND HAS BETTER SUCCESS THEN MAN

@TwelveAcres

Жыл бұрын

@@juliakoonce5603 It sounds like you might live in a dry area, or perhaps just your home is on the dry side. Ideally you want the humidity in the incubator to be between 15-30%. I would suggest opening the vent all the way to let as much room air in as possible. You also can add just a spoonful of water as needed to get the humidity up a little higher. I've heard some people put a small humidifier in the room that the incubator is in to help regulate the humidity, if the home air is somewhat dry. I hope this helps. Good luck!

dry hatch you dont add water at all, period.

I take the baby out win get out so don't Mas up my eggs

WHERE THE HELL IS THE DRY HATCH, YOU PUT WATER IN IT. TALK ABOUT FALSE ADVERTISING!!!!!!!!!!

I've been trying to research if candling was absolutely necessary...I'm not a fan of the idea for a few reasons. Have you ever had an egg explode? I'd rather just leave them be if I can skip that part.

@TwelveAcres

Жыл бұрын

That is exactly why I never candle them. I don't want to disturb the eggs or the incubator at all if I can help it. I've watched videos of people doing it, and I've seen how neat it is to see the baby chick grow, but I just personally don't find it necessary.

@shawneespirit8376

Жыл бұрын

@@TwelveAcres the only thing I can find as a legitimate reason to candle is that an egg may explode and ruin the other eggs or make the chicks sick. Have you ever had this happen?

@TwelveAcres

Жыл бұрын

@@shawneespirit8376 No I've never had an egg explode. Never.

@batottahell1

Жыл бұрын

If one egg goes bad and starts to rot- it can destroy the entire clutch.