Hatching chicken eggs for the first time!

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Zanlm

Zanlm

Chirping
5 Years
Sep 2, 2014
159
1
53
I made my own incubator and now I'm ready to put my eggs in. When is the best time if the day to start them?
 
I put them in whenever I have enough. I don't think the time of day makes any difference. If you aren't using a turner you will want to time it where you can turn them 4 times a day. You will have plenty of question before this hatch is over so feel free to ask for help. There's always someone on here with an answer for you.
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Thanks. I made one from a styrophome cooler so it will be me turning them. I have 6 to put in and I'm pretty sure all are ready.

How often during the day should I turn them?
 
I'm adding water and sponge. I'm just a little cinfused on how much. A lot of ppl say stay around 20 and some say different. What do I do?
 
Hello,

Congrats on your DIY incubator!
I would weigh the eggs if you can...you can read about it in the Learning Center as well as many threads and posts.
What method are you leaning towards? Dry hatching or 'normal'?
If you weigh them now, in the middle and in the end, along with marking the growth of your air cells then you will be able to adjust your humidity as the eggs dictate.
I am no expert but I am close to completing my second successful hatch (ever) and these methods have worked for me.
Good luck with your hatch!
 
I will weigh them in the morning but I think I need to learn more in this method.
 
Zanlm said:
I'm adding water and sponge. I'm just a little cinfused on how much. A lot of ppl say stay around 20 and some say different. What do I do?
Click to expand...
I would use a some-what shallow bowl/tupperware----not real big---maybe 3" square----in that area---place it in there over night and see if the humidity will get into the 30's to 40's. If so just keep adding water when needed----form you 2 screen wire cover to go over it------2 because in the last 3 days you will need to add another container about the same size and you will need the covers so the chicks do not take a swim. Good Luck in your Future hatches!!
 
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My incubator recommends 45 to 55% humidity for incubating and 55 to 65% for the final hatching. These numbers have worked for me and I hatch hundreds of babies every year. One thing that has worked for me is keeping a cool mist vaporizer going in the room during incubation and hatching. I live in a very dry climate where the outside humidity is often below 10%. If you live in an area where outside AND inside your house is humid then you may not have as much problem keeping the humidity at proper levels.
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