any one have any hatching and incubating tips

[chickenmama109]

i im going to be getting a incubator and im going to try to hatch 5 chicken eggs iv neer incubating any thing before and im trying to learn all i can https://www.amazon.com/Incubator-Di...68&sr=8-7&keywords=incubator+for+chicken+eggs this is the incubator im getting and would love some input thanks

 

[Chicken-lovebirdchihuahua]

It's addicting but NEVER NO MATTER HOW MUCH TOU WANT TO help a chick hatch unless the embryos dried once I killed a chick by helping it hatch and once I saved one it's hard but don't help them they can do it on there own it sounds like no big deal but it is also I recommend getting an egg turner if you don't have one yet!

 

[chickenmama109]

thanks

 

[Chicken-lovebirdchihuahua]

Of course

 

[UThobbyfarmer]

Start with local fresh fertile eggs. Get your incubating dialed in with a few batches of those before ever expanding to shipped eggs.

If you could spring for a used name brand incubator you'd be much better off, less heartbreak, in the long run.

 

[chickenmama109]

i got the incubator at tsc and i dont know what the humidity should be its a still air and the temp is staying around 99.3 to 98.7 is the ok

 

[junebuggena]

i got the incubator at tsc and i dont know what the humidity should be its a still air and the temp is staying around 99.3 to 98.7 f is the ok

Still air incubators need to be somewhere between 101 and 102. And you need to move the eggs are around every couple of days to different spots in the incubator to minimize the effects of cool and warm spots.

 

[Orpingtons43]

I am sure you know the simple things like.... Turn them at LEAST three times a day if you don't have a turner turn until 3 days until hatching day, temp should be at 99.5 degrees Farenheit 37.5 degrees Celsius, 45%-55% humidity until 3 days till hatch raise humidity, and NEVER wash or refrigerate fertile eggs for hatching. But as stated never help a chick hatch. And always be hopeful and if they don't hatch the day they are supposed to give at least 2 more days before giving up. Hope your hatches are wonderful!

 

[chickenmama109]

thanks what should the humidity be

 

[junebuggena]

Humidity is a learning process. You have to figure out what works best for your particular set of conditions. And that takes a lot of trial and error. Start with the humidity at about 35 to 40. Check and mark the air cells at 5 days, and again at 10 days. Then make your adjustments based on the air cell growth. If they aren't growing much, lower the humidity a bit. If the air cells are growing too much, raise the humidity a bit. You'll need to candle again at 14 days, to make sure you've got the humidity in the right range.