Hi everyone, just discovered this thread so thought I'd share my experience of incubating/hatching eggs. Last year i successfully incubated eggs for the first time in a make-shift incubator that cost me nothing. I used a old cupboard with a glass door, put a light inside, a digital thermometer, some containers of water and a shoe box with a towel and the eggs in it. I had no humidity gauge so no idea what the readings were. I adjusted the temperature by opening and closing the door. That was kind of a pain because i had to keep checking on it day and night to make sure the eggs didn't get cooked! But it was worth it 
Out of 10 eggs 1 was infertile and 2 quit early on, the 7 others all made it successfully to hatch. I was really worried they'd not make it after reading all the problems people have with incubating and getting the conditions just right. Maybe it was just luck, but i think i did well considering i didn't spend a penny and made the incubator from things i had already in the house. This year I've had a broody hen so let her do the work. The chicks have been hatching over the past few days, but now she's left the nest and is sitting with the chicks on the floor instead and I've had to adopt the last egg which i currently have in my bra! I've candled it and it's starting to break into the air cell now and i can hear it pecking inside. Fingers crossed now for the bra method! lol
Out of 10 eggs 1 was infertile and 2 quit early on, the 7 others all made it successfully to hatch. I was really worried they'd not make it after reading all the problems people have with incubating and getting the conditions just right. Maybe it was just luck, but i think i did well considering i didn't spend a penny and made the incubator from things i had already in the house. This year I've had a broody hen so let her do the work. The chicks have been hatching over the past few days, but now she's left the nest and is sitting with the chicks on the floor instead and I've had to adopt the last egg which i currently have in my bra! I've candled it and it's starting to break into the air cell now and i can hear it pecking inside. Fingers crossed now for the bra method! lol
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...and it was one of the few almost pure white ones I had...
...so I scooped all the others up and threw them back into the young flock...I will try again at 8 weeks. Die and learn I guess...
Day 21 today for her and I checked a little earlier, she fluffed up and out popped a little chick from under her!! So pleased for her that she has actually managed it. She's still on the nest so not sure on the other eggs as I don't want to disturb here too much. Will post some pics when she brings it/them off the nest. Can't believe I've got a polish that has actually managed the three weeks and something has hatched 
