As a disclaimer, the preferred humidity and temperature levels can vary based on the type of incubator you own. It's always best to check the directions or do a few minutes of extra research. The incubator used with the humidity and temperature levels in these guidelines is linked here. In case you need additional direction, there's also a video below that follows the steps. If you adhere to these 5 steps and waiting approximately 3 weeks, you'll have your own chicks to introduce into your homestead!
GATHERING/RESTING EGGS
If you buy hatching eggs and they are shipped, let the eggs rest (large end up) for several hours. If you have saved your own eggs, they should also be stored large end up and turned at least twice each day. For easy turning, we keep ours in a clean egg carton in a climate controlled room. We switch sides twice a day.
LOADING THE INCUBATOR
We let ours run for at least 24 hours prior to adding eggs so that the humidity and temperature are stable. For our incubator, we run the humidity from 40 – 50 % from day 1 – 18 and the temperature around 99.6.
TURNING THE EGGS
You should turn the eggs a bare minimum of twice a day. It is recommended to do it an odd number of times, so 3 or 5 so that they don’t lay on one side all night every night.
CANDLING THE EGGS
Candle the eggs somewhere from day 7 – 10 and then again at day 18 right before you put them on lockdown. For eggs that are not developing, have blood rings or other early death you will want to remove them so that they don’t explode.
LOCKDOWN AND HATCHING
On day 18, put your eggs on lockdown. Stop turning them and crank the humidity up (up to the 60% range). You should start to see chicks hatching around day 21. Do NOT remove the chicks as they hatch until all of the eggs have hatched. If you open the incubator the humidity can plummet and shrink wrap the unhatched chicks into their eggs. The chicks that hatch first will be fine without food and water for up to 48 hours.
Have you hatched your own chicks using an incubator? Let us know if you have any other advice to add!
Article Source: Mr. Animal Farm
