The Simple Art of Hatching Chickens Eggs

Eggs are part of one’s healthy diet in the dairy products category. But it may be difficult to secure good quality eggs nowadays with the global warming and pollution as well as the technological changes which affect the rearing of chickens and hatching chickens eggs, even in egg farms.

Hence, it might be more advantageous to consider hatching chickens eggs personally to ensure the quality and quantity required in your diet and that of your family.  This process is easier than one might think; it brings with it a few other benefits such as a lower expense on chicken and egg purchases, the convenience of getting poultry meat and eggs at your backyard and even an educational experience is in store.

Steps to Hatching Chickens Eggs For Success 

The first step in hatching chickens eggs calls for the right selection of fertilized eggs, before selecting an incubator for hatching the eggs. You can visit a poultry farm for good quality eggs which are usually medium-sized and without any breaks or cracks.

Once you have the choice eggs, a choice incubator is crucial. There are 2 types of incubator: forced-air and still-air. The former holds more eggs than the latter which is not equipped with a fan. Incubators for hatching chickens eggs can be of various sizes holding a minimum of 2 eggs to a maximum of dozens depending on the budget and preferred number for hatching at any one time.

>>How to Guide: DIY Incubator for Chickens<<

You will need to consider an automatic turner unless you plan to turn your eggs manually. A forced-air incubator is usually equipped with an automatic turner for turning the eggs but the still-air incubators are less expensive with this feature.

It is essential to set up the incubator properly a few days prior to the placement of eggs inside the incubator to ensure that the optimum temperature is achievable. It will be difficult to tweak the temperature to the desired degree if the eggs are already placed in the incubator.  The incubator needs to be tested to ensure a constant optimum temperature is maintained. The incubator is preferred at room temperature with proper ventilation to avoid stuffiness.

>>Choosing and Setting Up Hatching Incubators for Chicken<<

Once the eggs are placed into the incubator, the temperature should remain constant for 48 hours or more. When hatching chickens eggs, the inside temperature automatically decreases during incubation which takes around 21 days. Ensure that the water level inside the incubator is sufficient to maintain the moisture level within.

The temperature in a forced-air incubator is preferred at 100 degrees Fahrenheit but the temperature in a still-air incubator should stay at 102 degrees Fahrenheit. It is best to place the eggs flat in the incubator and turn them for 3-6 times every day during the first eighteen days of incubation. The turning should stop 3 days prior to the hatching schedule in the process of hatching chickens eggs, so that the chicks can develop well. Once the shells start to crack, do not open the incubator or assist the chicks to come out of their shells; this is something innate which they will do to ensure a proper maturing later on. The eggs may not hatch altogether but it should be within a 2-3 day period.

The last part of this hatching chickens eggs process is to place the chicks at a dry and clean area as the next process is maturing. Handle these new born chicks with care as they are still weak and fragile. Cleanliness must be maintained at all times during the hatching process to avoid bacteria and other possible disease infection which are harmful to the eggs or chicks.

>>Read More on Hatching a Chicken Egg<<

Clean the incubator well before your next batch of hatching chickens eggs.