Dino+ (Nanny, Hatchey) Mod Guide for ARK: Survival Ascended

Dino+ (Nanny, Hatchey)

Raising baby dinosaurs in ARK: Survival Ascended can quickly turn from an exciting milestone into a full-time job. Between the constant feeding, the meticulous imprinting timers, and the sheer volume of eggs scattered across your base, the breeding process often demands more attention than the rest of the game combined. If you have ever found yourself standing over a juvenile Rex, waiting for the next imprint percentage to unlock, you know exactly how tedious this can become. That is where the Dino+ (Nanny, Hatchey) add-on steps in. This quality-of-life mod is designed to strip away the most repetitive parts of creature management, letting you focus on exploration, building, and combat. It is not a complete overhaul of the game's mechanics; instead, it works as a set of specialized structures that handle the heavy lifting for you. The add-on is currently a work in progress, but the core features available now are game-changers for any serious breeder.

What Does the Dino+ Add-On Actually Do?

The mod introduces several upgraded structures that replace their vanilla counterparts. Each one is built with efficiency in mind, offering larger inventories, quieter operation, and smarter automation. The two standout additions are the D+ Nanny and the D+ Hatchery, but the improvements extend to other essential crafting stations as well.

The D+ Nanny: Your Personal Baby Sitter

The D+ Nanny is the heart of this add-on for anyone who breeds dinosaurs. Once placed and powered, it automatically handles two critical tasks: feeding and imprinting. You can set the imprint amount you want the Nanny to achieve, up to 100 percent, and it will work through the process without any input from you. The structure checks nearby dinos at a configurable interval, so you can adjust how aggressive it is in its duties. For feeding, the Nanny uses a threshold system. You can define a percentage of the baby's total food stat, and the Nanny will step in to feed whenever the creature drops below that line. This means you no longer need to keep a personal stockpile of meat or berries in your own inventory. You just load the Nanny up, and it distributes the resources as needed. The result is a completely hands-off raising experience, freeing you up to go on a taming spree or raid an enemy base without worrying about a starving juvenile back home.

The D+ Hatchery: Egg Management Made Simple

Collecting eggs manually is a chore, especially when you have multiple breeding pairs. The D+ Hatchery solves this by automatically collecting eggs within its range and initiating the incubation process. It does not just hold the eggs; it actively works to hatch them, with configurable multipliers for incubation speed and collection intervals. You can also disable the mating boost for nearby dinos if you want to control when breeding happens. This structure is a massive time-saver. Instead of running around your base checking every nest, you can simply check the Hatchery's inventory to see what has been collected. The incubation process is streamlined, so you can move from egg collection to baby care without a single moment of wasted effort.

Beyond Breeding: Upgraded Crafting Stations

While the Nanny and Hatchery are the headline acts, the Dino+ (Nanny, Hatchey) add-on also improves several core crafting stations. The D+ Improved Refrigerator offers a larger inventory and slower spoil times, with a smaller model that is easier to place in tight spaces. The D+ Smithy and D+ Industrial Cooker both receive expanded inventory space, with the Cooker gaining the ability to autocraft without dealing with dyes and a water capacity that has been boosted to an incredible 10,000. For those who prefer a quieter base, the D+ Fabricator and D+ Chemistry Bench operate with reduced noise levels. Every one of these structures requires a power source, such as gasoline or a generator, to function. This adds a layer of strategic planning to your base layout, but the payoff in efficiency is well worth the effort.

Customization Through INI Settings

One of the strongest aspects of this add-on is the level of control it gives you. All of the core structures, including the Smithy, Cooker, Fabricator, and Chemistry Bench, can be fine-tuned using customizable INIs. You can adjust crafting speed, resource requirements, and output quantities to match your server's difficulty curve. The Nanny and Hatchery also have their own dedicated settings, allowing you to tweak imprint amounts, feeding thresholds, and incubation multipliers. These settings are placed in your GameUserSettings.ini file. If you do not want to customize the values, the structures will simply operate at their default settings, making the mod accessible to players of all experience levels. For server admins, this flexibility is invaluable for balancing the gameplay experience.

Compatibility and Installation

The Dino+ (Nanny, Hatchey) add-on is designed for ARK: Survival Ascended and is compatible with the current supported versions of the game. It is important to check the mod's compatibility with other mods you may be running, especially those that alter core game mechanics or add new structures. The mod is a work in progress, so some features, like the Improved Fabricator and Chemistry Bench, may not be present in the latest update. If you are looking to download Dino+ (Nanny, Hatchey) for ARK: Survival Ascended, the process is straightforward. The mod is available through the game's mod browser, and you can also find it on popular modding sites. When you are ready to install, the most common method is to subscribe to the mod on the Steam Workshop and then enable it in your server's mod list. For a seamless experience, many players use the foxygame.net launcher, which offers a one-click install for Dino+ (Nanny, Hatchey) and automatically manages version compatibility, ensuring that your mod stays up to date with the latest game patches without any manual intervention. The launcher's add-on catalog makes it easy to browse and manage your entire mod list in one place.

Spawn Commands and Engrams

For single-player or admin use, the mod includes a full set of spawn commands. You can use "Cheat GFI Nanny 1 1 0" to spawn the Nanny, or "Cheat GFI Hatchery 1 1 0" for the Hatchery. Similar commands exist for the Improved Fridge, Smithy, and Industrial Cooker. The mod also adds new engrams to the game, which can be unlocked through the normal progression system or granted via admin commands.

The Verdict

Dino+ (Nanny, Hatchey) is an essential add-on for any player who takes breeding seriously in ARK: Survival Ascended. It removes the most tedious aspects of raising creatures, automates the egg collection process, and improves several core crafting stations. The customization options ensure that the mod can be tailored to fit any playstyle or server difficulty. While it is still a work in progress, the features currently available are polished and functional. If you are tired of babysitting baby dinos, this mod is the solution you have been looking for. It is a smart, efficient addition to any base, and it will change the way you approach breeding forever.