How to incubate chicken eggs

Mother hens hatch their eggs by sitting on them, because the embryonic chicks need warmth to grow and develop. By supplying the warmth artificially, you can hatch chicken eggs yourself. You need an incubator for this project. Because the temperature and humidity levels the eggs need are specific, it is easiest to start with a commercial incubator rather than a homemade one. Incubators are widely available from agricultural suppliers.

Things You'll Need

  • Fertile eggs
  • Incubator
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Instructions

    • 1

      Obtain a supply of fertile chicken eggs. If your hens live with a rooster, many of their eggs are likely to be fertile. You can also order eggs of the desired breed of chicken from a hatchery. Fertile eggs can survive for up to a week before incubation commences, therefore transporting them is not a problem.

    • 2

      Set up the incubator as per the instructions. Humidity and heat are necessary to incubate chicken eggs. Fill up the water compartment (humidity pan) to the stated level to provide this humidity. Position the incubator in a warm location out of direct sunlight.

    • 3

      Monitor the temperature and humidity before adding the eggs. The temperature of the incubator should be 100 degrees Fahrenheit with 55 percent humidity. Keep the incubator in a warm room. If the room temperature drops much below 70 F, this will reduce the temperature in the incubator as well.

    • 4

      Place the eggs in the incubator.

    • 5

      Turn the eggs two or three times a day for the first 18 days. First thing in the morning, mid afternoon and last thing at night are convenient turning times for most people.

    • 6

      Monitor the eggs closely after 18 days of incubation and increase the humidity to about 65 percent by adding more water to the humidity pan or introducing a wet sponge to the incubator. Do not turn the eggs during this time. The chicks will hatch within the next three to four days so be ready to transfer them to a brooder