How to Incubate a Brown Thrasher Egg

The brown thrasher is a mockingbird that learns and reproduces up to 200 different sounds in its call. It can accurately imitate the sound of all birds, sirens, truck back-up beepers and human whistles. Thrashers lay four to five eggs, approximately the same size as a pigeon's eggs, and incubate them for 11 to 14 days. In-home incubation imitates the natural conditions of egg incubation in the wild. Successful hatching of the eggs depends on the eggs' condition, regular turning of the eggs during incubation and consistent incubation temperature.

Things You'll Need

  • Incubator
  • Water
  • Eggs
  • Pencil
  • Egg carton or pan
  • Brooder
Show More

Instructions

  1. Preparation

    • 1

      Place the incubator on a flat surface out of direct sunlight and drafts. The room containing the incubator should have a consistent temperature throughout the day and night.

    • 2

      Fill the reservoir in the incubator with water.

    • 3

      Turn on the incubator and allow it to heat to 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit.

    • 4

      Use the pencil to mark one side of each egg with an X and the other side with an O.

    • 5
      Place the eggs in a carton to warm up to room temperature.

      Place the eggs in an egg carton or pan to warm to room temperature.

    Incubation

    • 6

      When the eggs are at room temperature and the incubator is properly heated, place them evenly on the floor of the incubator with the X side facing up.

    • 7

      Leave the eggs for two to three hours, and then turn them so the O side faces up and move them to a different spot on the incubator floor.

    • 8

      Repeat this process throughout the day, gradually rotating the eggs around the floor. Prior to bedtime, turn the eggs once more. Move and turn the eggs immediately in the morning.

    • 9

      Continue this process daily for eight days. Do not turn or move them for the last three days of incubation.

    • 10

      Reduce the incubator temperature to 99 degrees Fahrenheit, and increase the humidity to 90 percent on the eighth day.

    • 11

      Place the chicks in the brooder only after all the eggs have hatched. All viable eggs should hatch within 24 hours after the first chick has hatched.