First time incubating

[fawn88]

Hi I am new to chicken egg incubation. I have always just went and bought chickens from people that already had some hens that were laying. Never started from baby chicks or anything like that though, So I decided to give egg incubation a try. I have been playing around with my egg incubator and making sure the temp and humidity was right, I finally this morning after collecting eggs over the past few days put a dozen eggs in the incubator. Does anyone have any secrets when doing this. If so, I am more than open to hear them. An not sure if it matters, but mine are all brown eggs. Thank you

 

[loanwizard]

Just follow the directions. Do you have a turner or do you turn them manually?

I usually candle around 10-14 days to avoid any bad ones which can explode.

Make sure your humidity is correct at day 18 and resist the urge to play with them after lockdown.

Other than that, read the tutorials and enjoy! You only get your first incubation once

 

[fawn88]

I didnt get instructions at all other than what I found online. The incubator was used before. What do you mean you candle them 10-14 days?

 

[loanwizard]

Oh lordy!

Hang on, there are tons of tutorials on this site. I will link you up.

Candling is simply taking the eggs out to a dark room putting a flashlight in a box with a hole in the lid so you can see through the egg and see if they are developing correctly.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/how-to-incubate-hatch-eggs-just-21-days-from-egg-to-chicken

https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/1/Learning_Center

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/...-egg-candler-using-common-household-materials

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/pictures-and-videos-of-candling-chicken-eggs

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/how-to-incubate-hatch-eggs-using-the-dry-incubation-method - I use this method.

 

[loanwizard]

You can call me if you wish (740) 502-1017 cell.

Shawn

 

[sumi]

Hello and welcome to BYC

This article will tell you everything you need to know about incubating, candling etc:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/hatching-eggs-101

Good luck and enjoy!

 

[redsoxs]

Greetings from Kanas, fawn88, and

! Great to have you aboard. Sounds like you've already received some great hatching advice so I'll just say welcome and happy hatching!!

 

[sourland]

Shawn has provided great links! Welcome to BYC and good luck with your hatch.

 

[1muttsfan]

Hi and welcome to BYC from northern Michigan

Hatching 101 is a great link

 

[DDNONIN2016]

Hello and welcome from Ohio....so glad you joined. Best of luck with your first hatch.