bribe chicks from a hatchery is easy , but it ’s not the only option , and “ easy ” is n’t the only attribute to consider . There ’s sustainability . There ’s economy . There ’s flexibility , enjoyment and a mother wit of accomplishment . All of these take center point when you decide to incubate eggs from your own flock .
Set Up the Incubator
choose an incubator is an article in its own right , so let ’s just simulate you ’ve got one . footfall 1 ? “ Disinfect incubator with 10 - percentage bleaching agent answer , then wash with affectionate soapy water and rinse good , ” urge the University of Illinois Extension .
Then pick out a locating that ’s both constant in temperature and draught - free . Garages and barn are not idealistic , particularly in parky atmospheric condition , because the orchis must stay between 99 and 102 degrees F , with target range of 100 to 101 degrees . Wrapping the incubator in a thick mantle and placing it inside a large box insulates for better heat saving and stableness .
lay out up your incubator two or three days in approach to make certain it is operate correctly and that you realize how to wield the target area temperature and humidity . If those eggs were under a mother hen , they ’d be receiving the perfect amount of moisture from contact with her skin . Substitute a pan of water — some incubators come with built - in water reservoirs — to have got humidity at 50 to 55 percent , and increase to 65 percentage humidity for the last three day . check that to try your thermometer for accuracy .
Gather Eggs
While readying your brooder , stockpile ballock . They must be fertilise , of course , so if your flock miss a rooster , receive eggs from someone who has one . Alternatively , fertile eggs can be purchased online , though this is n’t as stinting as gathering from your own coop .
Eggs you plan to incubate should be less than 10 days erstwhile . The University of Minnesota Extension says , “ Hatchability declines rapidly when incubation is put over for more than 10 days . Until they are incubate , hatching eggs should be stored in cartons or cases — big end up — at 40 to 70 degrees F ( 50 to 60 degree F is better ) with a relative humidity of about 75 percent . ” If store for more than two to three days , change their positions day by day to reduce the propensity for the yolks to stick to the shells . Avoid oval / football game - shaped bollock , maybe double - yolked egg and any with shell abnormality , as these may interfere with successful incubation . wash egg pre - brooding is not recommend , but if to a fault dirty , Virginia Tech recommends using a moist clothwarmerthan the eggs so that dirt and bacterium are not absorb through the stoma of the shell .
Wait for Hatching
fabulously , it only have three hebdomad for eggs to twist into chicks . Once you ’ve gear up the incubator ’s temperature and humidness at the idealistic scope and you have your quota of eggs , use a graphite pencil to mark each one with an X on one side and an O on the other . These are your references , as eggs must be turned a half routine three time a solar day to keep the yolk from adhering to the side and get embryo death . Some incubators come with a go around base that turn the eggs mechanically , but it is a unspoiled idea to mark them anyway so that when you watch temperature and humidity , you may see at a coup d’oeil whether they ’re being call on correctly . Do n’t start the palpebra frequently : It takes a while for the temperature to mold again , and fertilized egg development slacken in cooler temperatures .
If all goes well , candling will unveil develop conceptus . On Day 18 , cease turn the eggs and increase the humidity to 65 pct to avoid having chick pose to their cuticle when hatching . By this clock time , you may find out the babies peeping inside their shells . For incubators with wire bottoms , add a bed of paper towel on sidereal day 18 so that midget chick feet wo n’t be damaged . At this power point , train the incubator so it ’s warm and quick to receive the fresh hatched babies .
On Day 21 , determine for the wench to “ shoot ” their shells — they peck a little yap so they can catch one’s breath . It can take hours for a chick to hatch after pipping . Be patient and do n’t “ avail ” them : Those you attend to will ordinarily die . you’re able to assume that any eggs that have n’t cover by day 24 are not viable ( hatches rarely yield 100 percentage ) . If all proceed well , you ’ll shortly have an incubator full of damp , wobbly wench . Enjoy the babies at a space while they dry out off and fluff up , then transport them to your brooder , make clean the brooder , and store it until next time .
