Hatching chicks questions?

[noobchicken]

We are building an egg incubator tomorrow. It's going to be built out of OSB. Should I go 1x1 square box or a 2x2? We have 19 chickens 5 are getting close to butcher. (Almost done laying) we want to raise more. I'm looking for information on how to build an incubator and how to candle the eggs. We are new to hatching chicks. Thanks

 

[redsoxs]

Greetings from Kansas, noobchicken, and

! Pleased you joined our flock! I know little about hatching so I'd advise you post in the forum below. Good luck to you!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/5/incubating-hatching-eggs

 

[drumstick diva]

 

[sumi]

Welcome to BYC

The size of you incubator depends on how many eggs you'd like to hatch and how often. Keep in mind in a larger incubator it will be trickier to maintain the correct temperature and humidity levels. There are some threads on how to build your own incubator here that you can look at for ideas:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=19675
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=21547
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=8510
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=19496

I would highly recommend a forced air incubator (with a fan). This would make temperature control, especially in the sides and corners of the incubator, so much easier. Candling is pretty straight forward, it's figuring out what you are seeing that's the problem sometimes! Once you are about 7 days into incubation take a nice strong flashlight, turn the lights off and hold the eggs, one by one, snug against the light of the flashlight, so it shines into the egg. By day 7 you should be able to see if the eggs are developing. Here's a wonderful photo guide showing candling pics on the different days, that you can compare your eggs with:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...g-candling-pics-progression-though-incubation

And for more on incubation, tips and tricks and pics have a look here:

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

Have fun!

 

[chiqita]

A cheap way to get your good flashlight to be a better candler is to get a plastic coupling for pipes one side the size of your flashlight ( so you can put the head with the bean inside it) and one side about 1/2 inch or so to put the egg in. That will focus the beam and make it easier to see. You can get little 400 line flashlights for candling on amazon for around 9 bucks or so.

 

[Mr MKK FARMS]

Welcome to BYC! Glad you joined us!

 

[noobchicken]

[SIZE=20pt]Welcome to BYC! [/SIZE] Glad you joined us!

I joined because this is the absolute best place I've found information on anything about chickens. From breeds to DIY's and help BYC has all I'm interested I'm