Thinking about incubating

[ChickenGirl555]

I won't be incubating this year, but I wanted a small bit of info to see if it might be an interesting thing to do some time, is it fun? What does it take? What would I be doing?

 

[Jessica Thompson]

Do you know how to make a thread I cant remember?

 

[lazy gardener]

Learning center: hatching eggs 101

 

[Jessica Thompson]

Ok

 

[venymae]

I won't be incubating this year, but I wanted a small bit of info to see if it might be an interesting thing to do some time, is it fun? What does it take? What would I be doing?

Yes it's super fun and highly addictive. I suggest doing a lot of homework first (several articles are here at BYC) and joining a hatch-a-long when you do your first hatch for the support and community.

 

[ChickenGirl555]

Ok thank you!

 

[venymae]

Guess I didn't answer your second question. You would need a broody hen OR an incubator, a thermometer that can be calibrated, a hydrometer (I don't actually use one, but most do), flashlight, water, electricity. First you would need to calibrate your thermometers, I personally use the ice method (google it). Then you would need to turn on your incubator and temp it using your calibrated thermometers. Once you've got it at the temp you want (99.5-100.5 is ideal) you let the incubator run for 24 hours to make sure it holds the temperature steady. Once that happens you can load your fresh fertilized eggs into it. If it has an automatic turner you turn it on and just periodically check the temp. If not you will need to turn the eggs by hand at least three times a day. On day seven you candle the eggs with a flashlight to see which are growing, which have died, which are infertile, and measure the air cells. Keep the growing ones, toss the rest. Compare the size of your air cells to an air cell diagram (google it). If they are too big, increase the humidity in your incubator (add water to a chamber), if too small reduce the humidity, if just right don't change a thing! I personally (east kansas) run my incubators completely dry until day 18. Works for my eggs. After that you continue until day 18. Day 18 you up the humidity to 60% or higher (I max it out as much as possible) then you turn off the turner (a lot of people take them out and lay the eggs down) shut the incubator and don't open it again until all your eggs have hatched. (day 21) Hope this helps!