Incubating Chicken Eggs - Tips To Ensure A Successful Hatch
Following proper procedures when incubating chicken eggs helps insure a successful hatch.
You should allow the eggs to settle for a minimum of 24 hours if the eggs were shipped in.
This lets the air cell inside the eggs to return to it's normal size.
Store eggs with the "pointy" end down while holding them for incubation.
Let your incubator run for 24 hours or more before incubating eggs.
This lets you make any adjustments that may be necessary before actual incubation begins.
Temperature and humidity are the most vital ingredients for a successful hatch With a still air incubator the temperature should be 101.
5F at the top of the egg.
Temperature in a forced air incubator should be 99.
5F anywhere in the incubator.
Humidity should be kept at 60-65% for the first 18 days and 80-85% for the last 3 days.
Accurate thermometers are important for success A good practice to follow is always check your thermometer with one that is known to be accurate.
I would suggest keeping a new thermometer on hand to use to check other thermometers with.
If you're incubating multiple hatches, you can use the first hatch to gauge the accuracy of the temperature.
If the first batch hatched early, the temperature needs to be lowered.
A late hatch indicates the need for a higher temperature.
Checking humidity Humidity is checked by using a wet bulb thermometer along with a dry bulb thermometer.
A wet bulb thermometer uses a wick attached to the bulb.
When temperature readings are taken using both thermometers you then compare the readings to a chart that translates the readings to humidity percentage.
60% humidity is about 87 degrees on a wet-bulb at 99.
5 degrees.
60% humidity is about 89 degrees on a wet-bulb at 101.
5 degrees.
80% humidity is about 93 degrees on a wet-bulb at 99.
5 degrees.
80% humidity is about 95 degrees on a wet-bulb at 101.
5 degrees.
It's important to note that getting your humidity to become as accurate as your temperature will be virtually impossible.
Small incubators make this even more difficult, so get as close to the proper humidity as possible, and your hatch should be a successful one.
More incubating tips Never hold eggs longer than 7 days before incubating If the eggs have to be stored before incubation keep them in a cool room at a temperature of 55-60 degreesF.
Remove plugs (air holes) from the top of the incubator when you see the chicks start to hatch.
The author's website contains more articles and information about hatching eggs
You should allow the eggs to settle for a minimum of 24 hours if the eggs were shipped in.
This lets the air cell inside the eggs to return to it's normal size.
Store eggs with the "pointy" end down while holding them for incubation.
Let your incubator run for 24 hours or more before incubating eggs.
This lets you make any adjustments that may be necessary before actual incubation begins.
Temperature and humidity are the most vital ingredients for a successful hatch With a still air incubator the temperature should be 101.
5F at the top of the egg.
Temperature in a forced air incubator should be 99.
5F anywhere in the incubator.
Humidity should be kept at 60-65% for the first 18 days and 80-85% for the last 3 days.
Accurate thermometers are important for success A good practice to follow is always check your thermometer with one that is known to be accurate.
I would suggest keeping a new thermometer on hand to use to check other thermometers with.
If you're incubating multiple hatches, you can use the first hatch to gauge the accuracy of the temperature.
If the first batch hatched early, the temperature needs to be lowered.
A late hatch indicates the need for a higher temperature.
Checking humidity Humidity is checked by using a wet bulb thermometer along with a dry bulb thermometer.
A wet bulb thermometer uses a wick attached to the bulb.
When temperature readings are taken using both thermometers you then compare the readings to a chart that translates the readings to humidity percentage.
60% humidity is about 87 degrees on a wet-bulb at 99.
5 degrees.
60% humidity is about 89 degrees on a wet-bulb at 101.
5 degrees.
80% humidity is about 93 degrees on a wet-bulb at 99.
5 degrees.
80% humidity is about 95 degrees on a wet-bulb at 101.
5 degrees.
It's important to note that getting your humidity to become as accurate as your temperature will be virtually impossible.
Small incubators make this even more difficult, so get as close to the proper humidity as possible, and your hatch should be a successful one.
More incubating tips Never hold eggs longer than 7 days before incubating If the eggs have to be stored before incubation keep them in a cool room at a temperature of 55-60 degreesF.
Remove plugs (air holes) from the top of the incubator when you see the chicks start to hatch.
The author's website contains more articles and information about hatching eggs