You've decided that you want to hatch some of your own chicks, but don't know where to start. We've got you covered.
The short of it is:
Fertilized eggs can be kept in a cool place (no lower than 55°F), point down for up to 7 days.
Chicks take 21 days to hatch (as little as 19 and as much as 23)
Days 1-18, humidity between 28-50%, turning eggs at least 3 times a day
Days 19 onward, humidity between 65-75%, stop turning the eggs, and do not open incubator until hatching occurs.
Chicks will "pip" (make a hole in the egg) and may take several hours to emerge.
Move chicks when they are dry and fluffy (usually 24 hours post hatch) to a brooder. See our Beginner’s Guide to Chick Care
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Incubator
The incubator you select will absolutely determine the level of success. While you will rarely have a 100% hatch rate, 80% is what you should shoot for. There are two main types of brooders, Forced-air (with a fan) and still-air (no fan) incubators. Set forced-air incubators to 99.5-100°F. Set still-air incubators to 101-102°F measured at the top of the eggs.
I highly recommend a incubator with an automatic turner, digital temperature control, and at least a way for you to measure humidity levels. Always make sure that you warm up (and calibrate if needed) your incubator before you put your eggs in it.
Eggs
Pick eggs that are clean, uncracked, and shaped nice and even for incubating. Skip the ones that are extra big, tiny, or funny‑shaped. Big eggs don't hatch as well, and the little ones usually make smaller chicks. Don't wash the eggs before you set them. Washing takes off the natural "bloom" that protects the egg and can let bacteria sneak in, which will hurt your hatch rate. Likewise, ensure that you aren't using eggs that have been previously wet by dew, rain, etc.
Store your eggs with the points down in egg cartons. If you jostle the eggs a bunch, ensure you let them sit still and undisturbed for 24 hours before incubating. You can store your eggs in a cool space down to 55°F. We use a wine fridge to prolong our egg life between 55-60°F where we keep them up to 7 days. 10 days is the absolute max before your hatch rate drops like a rock though. It's important that your eggs are at least room temperature before they go into the incubator.
If you want to learn more, Backyard Chickens has a very in depth article.
If you need some fertilized eggs, we always have a barn yard mix available for purchase with at least 24 hours of notice.
Allan brings solid practical solutions to the table for any level of technical complexity. He has a bachelor’s degree in computer information systems specializing in web development, and is a Zend Certified PHP Engineer and an Acquia Certified Developer. His interests lie in rabbit husbandry, chickens, and bringing technology to agriculture. Don’t be surprised if one day you catch him on his computer, developing a masterpiece, on the shore of Lake Ray Hubbard.
