How to Help Hatch a Baby Bird From Its Shell

Baby animals of any type can be especially adorable and birds are no exception. Any time a baby bird needs hatching, it is best if the mother takes care of the job and humans simply stay away. However, if you ever find yourself with the daunting task of helping to hatch a baby bird, there are some steps you can follow that, hopefully, will result in a successful outcome.

Things You'll Need

  • Fertile eggs
  • Incubator
  • Marker
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Instructions

    • 1

      Purchase an incubator. The incubator will hold the eggs and ensure the baby birds are at a healthy temperature for growth, development and hatching.

    • 2

      Place the incubator in a safe, quiet spot away from varying temperatures and windows and plug it into an outlet.

    • 3

      Adjust the incubator's temperature to stay between 99 and 102 degrees Fahrenheit. Monitor the temperature for a day to make sure it is stable and consistent.

    • 4

      Put the egg in the incubator on its side, or with the smaller part of the egg pointing down. Rotate the egg three times a day, but don't flip it over. Use a marker to indicate each time you rotate the egg so that you won't forget. Each time you rotate the egg, move it to a different area of the incubator.

    • 5

      Look at the calendar to figure out when the egg should be hatching. Three days before the approximate hatch date, stop rotating the egg. The incubation period ranges from 21 to 35 days, depending on the type of bird. Chicks take the shortest amount of time. Ducks, geese and pheasants take the longest to hatch. Charts can be located online to determine hatching time.

    • 6

      Avoid poking holes in the egg to help the baby bird to hatch, even if it seems as though the bird is struggling. Cracking the shell can cause crucial blood loss or other damage.

    • 7

      Allow the hatched baby bird to remain in the incubator until dry and fluffy.