Prepare the nest with lots of bedding in a quiet, dark area of the shelter.
Step2
Place eggs (8 to 10) under the hen or in the nest when she's feeding.
Step3
Check to see if she's going to "set" eggs. Remove her a few times and see if she returns to nest.
Step4
Provide feed and water close to the nest.
Step5
Separate her from the other hens if there seems to be a fight over the nest.
Incubate Eggs
Step1
Gather eggs from a flock of hens with a rooster in the pen with them. It takes one rooster to every ten hens to produce fertile eggs.
Step2
Store eggs in a place that's between 50 and 75 degrees F until they're placed in the incubator.
Step3
Read the incubator instructions and follow its guidelines.
Step4
Keep the incubator indoors where it's easy to maintain.
Step5
Start the incubator a few days before you place eggs in it in order to adjust the temperature, humidity and airflow.
Step6
Place an "X" with a pencil lightly on one side of egg. This will tell you if you have turned the egg.
Step7
Turn eggs at least two to three times a day for the first 18 days. Do not turn them the last three days of incubation.
Step8
Test for infertile eggs by "candling" the eggs.
Step9
Clean and disinfect the incubator after all the eggs have hatched.
Tips & Warnings
Broody hens are easily recognized by their behavior. They spend most of their time on a nest and, when you get close to them, they ruffle their feathers and cluck.
on 11/22/2005
Select eggs from breeders that are: (1) Well developed, mature and healthy. (2) Compatible with their mates and produce a high percentage of fertile eggs. (3) Are not disturbed much during the mating season. (4) Fed a complete breeder diet. (5) Not directly related. Avoid excessively large or small eggs. Large eggs hatch poorly and small eggs produce small chicks. Avoid eggs with cracked or thin shells. These eggs have difficulty retaining moisture needed for proper chick development. Penetration of disease organisms increase in cracked eggs. Do not incubate eggs that are excessively misshapen. Keep only clean eggs for hatching. Do not wash dirty eggs or wipe eggs clean with a damp cloth. This removes the egg's protective coating and exposes it to entry of disease organisms. The washing and rubbing action also serves to force disease organisms through the pores of the shell.
on 11/22/2005
Before you place the eggs in the incubator, dip them in warm water. This will give them the moisture they need to start developing. ALWAYS keep them moist. Never shake the eggs.
on 11/22/2005
Keep the inside of the incubator moist all the time to prevent the eggs from sticking to the inside of the egg shells. Do this by spraying the eggs with a water bottle (1 squirt) once a day, but if your incubator has water rings, put the water in there.
Comments
Anonymous said
on 6/30/2006 Never feed chicks the eggshell that has hatched in the incubator, this can increase the spread of disease.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 Select eggs from breeders that are:
(1) Well developed, mature and healthy.
(2) Compatible with their mates and produce a high percentage of fertile eggs.
(3) Are not disturbed much during the mating season.
(4) Fed a complete breeder diet.
(5) Not directly related.
Avoid excessively large or small eggs. Large eggs hatch poorly and small eggs produce small chicks. Avoid eggs with cracked or thin shells. These eggs have difficulty retaining moisture needed for proper chick development. Penetration of disease organisms increase in cracked eggs. Do not incubate eggs that are excessively misshapen. Keep only clean eggs for hatching. Do not wash dirty eggs or wipe eggs clean with a damp cloth. This removes the egg's protective coating and exposes it to entry of disease organisms. The washing and rubbing action also serves to force disease organisms through the pores of the shell.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 Before you place the eggs in the incubator, dip them in warm water. This will give them the moisture they need to start developing. ALWAYS keep them moist. Never shake the eggs.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 Keep the inside of the incubator moist all the time to prevent the eggs from sticking to the inside of the egg shells. Do this by spraying the eggs with a water bottle (1 squirt) once a day, but if your incubator has water rings, put the water in there.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 Never shake your eggs! This will disrupt their growing stage and cause the yolk to explode inside the egg.