Hatchery

Dear, I told you to set up the nest on the tallest outcropping. My Diurnal family wants to come over and visit, so I don't want to embarass myself before them. Can we move it... higher? At least just for the duration of their visit? 

— Diurnal gryphon trying to argue with his Nocturnal mate.

Hatcheries, as their name suggests, are places where dragons and gryphons gather their eggs and care for them until the moment of hatching. The various methods of eggcare vary by species, but can be generalized into two categories.

• Centralized - Eggs are gathered from mothers and placed in a singular building, for bigger settlements and tribes, there can be several buildings housing the eggs. Temperature, protection, care for newly hatched and oversight is performed by Carers
• Decentralized - The old and traditional way of raising offspring, eggs are cared for by parents or foster parents as they are kept within the homes of their families.

Specific racial differences

Aside from the general similarities between two centralized systems, each race has a couple specifics of care for their offspring. This article will go into greater detail for each one. Please keep in mind that this list is not exhaustive and will not cover every single possibility - such as Wild dragons or how various mixed tribes treat their hatcheries as this is deeply individualistic.

Air dragons

With deeply rooted respect for their ancestry and traditional way of life, Air dragons care for their eggs individually in a Decentralized manner. More than any other draconic race, they are opposed to the idea of centralized hatcheries and are jealously protective over their own offspring. 
Hatcheries are built to be warm and shielded from weather, generally as a part of the parent's home. Should the season allow it, dandelions are used to decorate the corners of the nest, as a symbol of the Sun. 

Water dragons

The seas and rivers of where Water dragons live would make it too difficult to protect eggs in a decentralized manner, which is why hatcheries are always kept in an area that can be easily protected against wild animals. The centralized hatcheries of Water dragons are not as heavily guarded as those of other species, as older dragons and those seen in disfavor with the current leader are tasked to be Carers and as such, their duties are sometimes neglected. Being a Carer is seen as an unwanted profession.
Hatcheries need to be either underwater or the eggs must be submerged in wet enough environments. If their eggs dry out, the hatchling within may hatch with deformities or fail to hatch altogether. Depending on the size and how dangerous the environment of the tribe or settlement is, some Hatcheries may even be left unprotected during the nights.

Mud dragons

Tribes within Mud draconic  territory oftentimes include Water dragons dragons, hence the tendency over time shifts towards centralized hatcheries guarded by well-trained Carers and older, retired Clawstoppers who jealously protect the future offspring of their tribes. Female Clawstoppers who produce eggs almost exclusively give them into care of Carers, as their duties prevent them from raising the offspring themselves. But eggs of everyone collectively are considered to be of utmost importance, since every single egg can potentially yield within the rare male. All newlyhatched male Mud dragons, regardless of who sires them, are given to the Matriarch for tutoring and are allowed only infrequent visits from their real mothers.
Hatcheries are built on wet soil, mud or in clay where the eggs can be kept in wet and humid environment. The interiors of hatcheries are traditionally decorated with symbols and iconography of the two Moons, Moon dragons and the cycle of seasons. Each egg is marked and signed by their own mothers so that the female hatchlings may be returned back to their mothers when they hatch.
More so than other draconic races, Mud dragons put great weight on the time of hatching for their offspring, to the point their entire Naming convention relies on it. Wakeanborn, Fertilanborn and Freezanborn are titles Mud dragons identify themselves with, however only Freezanborn dragons are treated with stigma, and generally considered to be bringers of bad luck, harsh times and discord. This is likely because Mud dragons mostly hibernate throughout Freezan, so any additional mouth to feed was difficult, especially in the past.

Fire dragons

Similarly to Air dragons, Fire dragons are maintaining personal hatcheries in decentralized manner. Although contrary to them, hatcheries are oftentimes shared in small family clusters, given that some caves can be inhabited by up to 10 individuals that may form separate families and mates. This is not entirely common or widespread, unless its a settlement where living space is limited or the families are less wealthy.
Hatcheries are kept in warmth and dry environment, eggs especially so. Dragon-built dwellings on the ground are avoided if possible to store eggs, nests instead are surrounded with the expensive and rare self-heating Hotrocks. Those that cannot afford this rock generally resort to manually heating the eggs with their own bodies or putting the eggs amidst hot coals and ash of a burnt-out fireplace to warm them up. Alternatively, several families may pool their gems to buy and share the Hotrocks between each other.

Jungle dragons

The vast colonies of Jungle dragons are all established around their hatcheries, a singular place close to the center of each settlement. This centralized hatchery accepts eggs from all Jungles alike, be they poor, rich, hunters, nobles or anything else. Similarly to Water dragons, their philosophy of importance is based on merit, not inheritance, so each hatchling is raised in roughly the same conditions. Given that adults are mostly pre-occupied with their career-related pursuits, the raising of next generation generally falls down to elderly or those that have a specific knack for being a teacher.
Hatcheries of Jungles tend to be established as far away from borders of the jungle as possible, to ensure that no wild animal can easily break in and devour their eggs. Still, this building is nearly universally constructed out of hardwood with a roof and patrolled with a guard at all times as securing the next generation is of utmost importance, due to the high mortality rate amongst young dragons and adults alike. 

Hybrid dragons

In general, Hybrids follow the example of their parent species and the way they themselves have been raised should they sire or adopt offspring. This is rather rare as most Hybrids are either infertile or face difficulties conceiving offspring with a mate who is not a part of their two parent species.

Gryphons

Both Diurnal and Nocturnal Gryphons share roughly the same nesting habits for their eggs. Decentralized nests are maintained by parents, who are sometimes assisted by extended family members - such as grandparents or siblings, especially lately. This additional protection by family members was put in place as an answer to pouching and stealing from Dragons who steal the gryphon eggs to sell them as exotic pets and servants. Talks about outlawing this practice has been discussed but not yet implemented by any draconic race.
Hatcheries of gryphons are nestled with feathers and fur of both parents, sometimes even lined with a claw if the newlyhatched gryphlet's parent or grandparent passed away already. 
Diurnals keep their nests closer to the ground and sometimes build it out of stone and wood. These hatcheries also tend to be lined with as many decorations as possible, be they trinkets, wood-carvings, or glass/gem-shards. There is a certain pride amongst Diurnals to show off and have the most beautiful nest in their tribe.
Nocturnals instead rely on subtlety and generally prefer their nests in higher reaches, concealed and well-within their own living quarters, if not directly within. As a direct result, they leave their eggs without supervision more commonly than their Diurnal counterparts.
Hybrid gryphon nests generally mean that both parents need to talk out their differences before they establish a nest. Either they decide on a compromise... or not and one parent is left a little bit grumpy.

Alternative Names

Lair, nursery, Carer's quarters, nest

Type

Lair