Chaos Hatching Technique

[FatherFalcon]

This technique is sometimes used by people who want a simpler, less labor-intensive way of incubating eggs, especially with quail or other small birds.

What is the Chaos Hatching Technique?​

The chaos hatching technique is a more relaxed, less interventionist way to incubate eggs. The idea is that, rather than obsessively monitoring the temperature, humidity, and turning the eggs on a strict schedule, you set the incubator up and let it run with minimal intervention. This technique works best with stable, reliable incubators and good-quality eggs.


Here’s how it generally works:

1. Set the Incubator and Forget About It​

• Temperature: You adjust the incubator to the recommended temperature (usually around 37.5°C or 99.5°F for quail). Since the chaos hatching method doesn’t require constant adjustments, you want to make sure your incubator is stable and can maintain a consistent temperature without fluctuating too much.
• Humidity: Set the humidity level within the appropriate range (45-55% for the first 14 days and 65-75% for the last few days of hatching). While you may monitor the humidity occasionally, the idea is not to obsess over it every day.
• Turn the Eggs (or Don’t): Some chaos hatching methods involve turning the eggs just once or twice during incubation, or even not turning them at all. The idea is that turning may not be as critical as some incubation methods suggest. However, many successful hatchers still turn eggs at least a couple of times during incubation.

2. Minimal Intervention During Incubation​

• Once you set the incubator up, the goal is to leave the eggs alone. You don’t need to check the temperature every few hours, and you avoid candling the eggs unless absolutely necessary. You’re trusting that the incubator will handle the conditions appropriately.
• This is why it's essential to have a reliable incubator with consistent temperature and humidity control. A poor-quality or inconsistent incubator is more likely to lead to failures, especially with a more hands-off approach.

3. Hatching​

• When the eggs begin to hatch, the process will happen naturally. The chicks will break out of their shells when they’re ready. Since this technique isn't about actively managing every aspect of the hatch, you might have some variation in timing. Chicks may hatch over the course of a couple of days rather than all at once.

Advantages of the Chaos Hatching Technique:​

• Less labor-intensive: You don’t have to turn the eggs multiple times a day or obsess over minute changes in temperature or humidity. You just need to "set and forget" and let the incubator do the work.
• Less stress: For beginners or people who are new to incubating eggs, this method can reduce anxiety about perfect conditions and let the eggs hatch more naturally.
• Hands-off: If you don’t have the time or inclination to monitor the eggs constantly, this can be a good option.

Disadvantages of the Chaos Hatching Technique:​

• Less control: Since you're not actively managing the process, you're at the mercy of the incubator's stability. If something goes wrong, you may not notice until it’s too late.
• Higher risk of failure: If you don’t monitor the humidity and temperature, there’s a chance the hatch could fail, especially if your incubator has hot spots or fluctuates in temperature.
• Less consistency: The timing of the hatches could be more unpredictable, leading to chicks hatching at different times, which could be a challenge if you need to care for them immediately.

Key Tips for Success with Chaos Hatching:​

• Use a reliable incubator: The success of chaos hatching depends heavily on the quality and stability of your incubator. Make sure you invest in a good one that maintains temperature and humidity consistently.
• Don’t overload the incubator: Give each egg enough space for air circulation, and don’t overcrowd the incubator. This ensures that the eggs get the air they need for proper development.
• Be mindful of egg quality: If you’re using this method, ensure the eggs are of good quality to begin with. Eggs that are cracked, damaged, or of poor quality are less likely to hatch well, regardless of the technique used.

In summary, the chaos hatching technique is a more laid-back approach to incubating eggs, relying on a "set and forget" strategy. You set up the incubator, leave it running with minimal interference, and let the eggs hatch more naturally. It’s a great option if you’re looking for a low-maintenance method, but it requires trust in your incubator and a willingness to accept some variation in the process.

 

[Knobby]

Very similar to dry hatching

 

[FatherFalcon]

Summary of Process:

• Dry hatching starts with 30-40% humidity for most of the incubation period.
• Before lockdown (the last 3 days), increase the humidity to 70%.
• Keep the humidity at 70% during lockdown until the eggs hatch.
• The increased humidity at the end of incubation ensures proper chick development and successful hatching.

Dry hatching
The process of incubating eggs at a relatively low humidity level for most of the incubation period, followed by an increase in humidity near the end of the incubation process, specifically during lockdown, which is the period just before the eggs hatch. Dry hatching simulates natural conditions more closely, where the humidity tends to be lower for most of the incubation, and the humidity rises just before the eggs hatch, when the chick's need for moisture increases.
:

1. Starting Humidity (Dry Hatching Phase):
   • For dry hatching, the humidity is kept lower than normal incubation levels, typically around 30-40%. The idea is to allow the embryos to lose moisture, which helps the eggs to "dry out" to the correct moisture content before hatching.
   • This lower humidity phase helps prevent the eggs from retaining too much moisture, which could prevent proper development and make it harder for the chicks to pip (break out of the shell) when the time comes.
2. Increase Humidity for Lockdown:
   • Lockdown is typically the last 3 days of incubation (for chicken eggs, this is days 18–21). During lockdown, the humidity is raised to 70% to help ensure proper hatching conditions. This increase in humidity helps to soften the eggshells and assists the chicks in breaking through the shell.
   • The higher humidity helps prevent the eggs from losing too much moisture during the final stages of development and allows the chick to have enough moisture to hatch without the shell drying out too much and becoming too hard for the chick to break.
3. Water Addition During Lockdown:
   • To achieve the 70% humidity, water is added to the incubator. This may involve filling water trays or increasing the water surface area in the incubator. You may also need to adjust the humidity settings or add more water as the hatch progresses to keep the humidity consistent.
   • This higher humidity helps with the process of pipping and hatching. As the eggs start to hatch, they need moisture to prevent the membranes inside from sticking to the chicks, which could make hatching more difficult or cause injury to the chick.
4. Hatching:
   • When the eggs reach the hatching phase, the chicks need the increased humidity to properly absorb the remaining yolk and break out of the egg. If the humidity is too low at this stage, the chicks might struggle to hatch, potentially becoming "shrink-wrapped" in the membrane, which can prevent them from fully emerging.

 

[Susan Skylark]

I’m hoping to do something like this when I go on vacation for a week, I want to set eggs but won’t be around to ‘help.’ I’m very cognizant that it might be a disaster but as I’ll only be out a dozen eggs I’m okay with that. I do want to put a caution on No turn hatches though. I did one on purpose this winter and got a 25% death loss in 3-5 day old embryos. My most recent hatch with a faulty auto turner was even worse, I set 20 quail eggs (home raised, 90% fertility and hatch rate) and I have 3 living chicks on day 2 post hatch. Only 5 made it to lockdown (one dead in shell, one died 12 hours post hatch). 2 infertile, 4 were cracked preincubation (oops!) but began developing but later died, leaving 9 that died day 3-5 not counting the cracked ones, 50% early embryonic death rate. So maybe add a good autoturner to your chaos theory to improve hatch rates with less stuff you have to do (and I haven’t found one for quail yet, this was a test drive of a new incubator and I am not impressed!).

 

[Ridgerunner]

If this suits your personality go for it. I don't obsess over my incubator but I typically check it twice a day. It does hold temperature very well. It holds humidity until the water reservoir runs dry. But a couple of comments.

How does the specific incubator handle humidity? Different incubators handle humidity differently. When my reservoirs run dry I need to refill them. That means I need to monitor them. Checking twice a day works for me.

A Turkish study on chicken eggs clearly showed that turning makes a difference in hatch rate. They tested not turning as a baseline and varied how often and when in various tests. Over thousands of eggs the hatch rate difference was surprisingly low but there was a clear difference in favor of turning. I use an automatic turner.