How to Raise Eggs From Incubators

Whether you have a full-scale farm operation or are adding livestock to your backyard, hatching eggs yourself in an incubator gives you a more direct connection to the animals you will care for. Incubators come in two types: still-air machines and forced draft incubators. Still-air machines use vents to periodically adjust air temperature. Forced draft incubators use fans to keep the air moving. No matter what incubator you're using or what eggs you're raising, the techniques and maintenance are the same.

Things You'll Need

  • Incubator
  • Eggs
  • Thermometer
  • Candling box
  • Marker
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Instructions

    • 1

      Select a location for the incubator. It should not be in direct sunlight as sunlight can raise the temperature inside the incubator. Conversely, cold locations can cause your incubator to overwork and may malfunction. Cool, dark, dry locations are best.

    • 2

      Start the incubator a day before placing your eggs inside. Make sure to set the temperature and relative humidity to the conditions most suitable for your eggs.

    • 3

      Use the candling box to inspect eggs before placing them in the incubator. The candling box contains a bright light that will allow you to see what is happening inside the shell as the egg develops. Do not use eggs that are cracked, double-yolked, irregularly sized or misshapen.

    • 4

      Mark each egg with the date. Set each egg in the incubator, small end down.

    • 5

      Turn the eggs periodically each day during incubation, this will ensure even heating and simulate the turning mothers do to eggs while nesting. The type of bird you're hatching will determine the number of times each egg will be turned.

    • 6

      Inspect the eggs by using the candling box once a day. Developing eggs have a reddish spider-like body inside. Eggs that have a solid yolk floating inside or a bloody loop attached to the yolk and the top of the shell are infertile and should be discarded.

    • 7

      Move the eggs to the hatching tray three days before their scheduled hatching. Consult an incubation chart to determine the approximate number of days it will take your eggs to hatch. Chickens typically take 21 days to hatch. Ducks and turkeys take approximately 28 days.

    • 8

      Remove chicks from the incubator when they are dry and fluffy. Discard shells and clean the incubating tray with soap and water.