#Egg hatching incubator how to#

If this precise temperature in the incubator is lost for only 2 hours, the embryo will be terminated. Even a single degree higher or lower risks losing the egg. The chicken eggs must be kept at a temperature of 37.8–38.9☌elsius at all times for the entire incubation period. Whether you buy the most expensive incubator on the market, or you just jerry-rig your own out of cardboard, they all need to control these three basic aspects: Temperature

However, you must make sure your parameters are exactly right and consistent to ensure success. You can buy a cheap incubator for as little as £50, although they run into the thousands for high-end industrial-level incubators. If you want to control all parameters, incubate your own eggs and hatch friendly chicks! Set Up Your Incubator She will also be calmer when water is close while incubating. A healthy hen has plenty of water and will lay better eggs when fully hydrated. Plus, a bird that is raised by its mother will be more feisty around humans and fiercely protected by an angry hen.īe sure your poultry always has plenty of access to water by installing a Poultry Font Drinker which will slowly release water all day. But be aware that there is a risk of the chicken not surviving. She will sit on the egg for 21 days of incubation until, hopefully, the baby bird properly hatches. If you truly want to go with a hands-off approach, your broody hen will do the work of an incubator for you. The very first step is deciding if you will do the work, or let mother nature take over. You must also sanitize any foreign eggs of any bacteria they may come with or pick up on their journey. It is possible to receive eggs in the post, but this is a risky move that often results in half your shipment of eggs getting smashed. If you lack a rooster, ask a local breeder or another farmer for some fertile eggs before you get started, so you do not waste your time with incubation. If you do have a rooster and are still not hatching, your man is past his prime, and you'll need a new rooster to take over. Without a rooster in your coop, your eggs will not be fertilized, and you will not have any hatching eggs. You can't have healthy chicks without healthy hens! Make Sure You Start With Fertile Eggs The 3kg Eton TSF Feeder is a great option for hanging your feeder and adding nutritional supplements. Cramped coops will not lead to egg-lined shelves.įill in any gaps in their diet with whole ingredient supplements. Remember, every chicken needs 1 square metre inside and 3 square metres outside.

Stressed-out chickens are less likely to produce eggs. Make sure your chickens have plenty of room outside and are living a stress-free lifestyle. Healthy chicks can only come from healthy moms.

#Egg hatching incubator how to#

If you have never incubated eggs before, or just need a refresher course, we will break down everything you need to know on how to hatch chicks safely and smoothly. When humans intervene, we actually increase the success rate and yield of healthy baby chicks. While mother hens are good at taking care of their chicks, they are busy and can easily get distracted, accidentally hurting their eggs. It doesn't matter if the chicken or the egg came first, because you'll be handling plenty of both!Ī chicken will hatch from its egg after only 21 days, and it is crucial to properly care for them during those 3 weeks. Hatching season is here, and that means incubating.