How to Incubate Chicken Eggs

incubating your own eggs can be both educational and entertaining

Raising chickens can be both educational and entertaining as well as a way creating sustainability in these unstable times. Not only can you provide chickens for your own use, but hatching chicks can also become an easy way for your family to make a little money on the side.

Things You'll Need

• fresh fertile eggs
• incubator with manual
• draft free room with constant temperature of 65-80 degrees.

Instructions

1. The first step is to set up your incubator according to the instructions that come with the incubator. There are many different incubators on the market so it is important that you use the instructions that come with the incubator. Your incubator may come with a circulating fan or an automatic egg turner if they do, install them also at this time. Next you will install your thermometer be sure that you've located it in a location in the incubator that shows accurate temperature and that you can see the thermometer with the incubator closed. Run the incubator for 6-8 hours to make sure the temperature has held on desired temperature before placing eggs in incubator.

2. Following the directions that come with the incubator add lukewarm water in cups provided maintain humidity throughout incubating time. Be sure that ventilation ports are open according to the instructions with the incubator. If you have an automatic egg turner, set eggs in turner with the small end down. If you do not have an automatic egg turner, using a lead pencil, lightly place a small "x" on one side of each egg and an "o" one the other side. Place eggs in incubator gently so that they lay sideways on the floor of the incubator. Do not overcrowd eggs. Overcrowding interferes with hatch-ability. Adjust thermometer so that thermometer gives proper temperature reading.

3. The automatic turner will turn the eggs automatically but check several times a day to make sure that the automatic turner is working properly. If not using an automatic turner, turn the eggs 2-3 times per day at the same time every day. If hand turning eggs, gently roll eggs using palm of your hand until turned. Eggs can be rotated by removing a few from the center of the incubator and rolling the rest toward the center. Monitor regularly to make sure there is still plenty of water available for humidification. Whether using automatic turner or hand turning, stop turning eggs on day 18. This is critical because your chicks are positioning themselves for hatching. Your chicks will hatch on approximately day 21.

4. Do not open incubator except to remove chicks. Chicks can be removed from the incubator when they are completely dry. some chicks may hatch late so continue to run the incubator for a few extra days beyond normal hatch period.

5. After chicks are removed from incubator, place them in a warm dry place. Consult e how for information on brooding, feeding and watering. After all chicks have been removed from incubator, rinse the bottom with an antibacterial soap.

Tips & Warnings

• Use only fresh uniformly-sized eggs not more than 7 days old. Do not refrigerate.

• Keep Incubator in room with draft free, constant temperature.

• Turn eggs minimum of 2 times per day 3 times per day is preferred.

• Keep incubating conditions sanitary wash hands or use hand sanitizing jell before handling eggs or equipment.

• Mark on calendar day eggs set, day that you are to stop turning and estimated hatch date.