🐣 Homesteader’s Chicken Egg Incubation Checklist
A Practical Step-by-Step Guide for Hatching Chicks on the Homestead
✅ Before You Start
-
Gather fertilized eggs (under 7 days old, clean but unwashed)
-
Choose or build an incubator
-
Holds steady at 99.5°F (37.5°C)
-
Maintains humidity (start at 40–50%) (by adding/removing water from tray.)
-
Has egg turner (or plan to turn eggs manually 3–5x/day)
-
-
Select a clean, draft-free location for the incubator
-
Sanitize the incubator before use
🔁 Day 0: Setting the Incubator
-
Plug in and run incubator for 24 hours
-
Confirm stable temperature at 99.5°F
-
Confirm humidity at 40–50%
-
Place eggs with pointy end down or on their sides
-
Mark eggs with “X” and “O” if turning manually
📆 Days 1–18: Turning & Monitoring
-
Turn eggs 3–5 times daily (if not automatic)
-
Check temperature and humidity 2x daily
-
Candle eggs:
-
Day 7: Look for blood vessels & embryo
-
Day 14: Check continued development
-
-
Keep incubator closed as much as possible
🚫 Day 18: Lockdown Begins
-
Stop turning eggs
-
Increase humidity to 65–70%
-
Do NOT open incubator again unless necessary
🐣 Day 21: Hatching Day
-
Watch for pipping (small cracks & chirping)
-
Let chicks hatch naturally (12–24 hrs per chick)
-
Wait until chicks are fluffy and dry before removing
🐥 Post-Hatch: Brooder Setup
-
Prepare brooder with heat source (95°F to start)
-
Add clean bedding (pine shavings or straw)
-
Provide chick starter feed & shallow water dish
-
Move chicks to brooder once dry
💡 Ongoing Tips
-
Reduce brooder temp by 5°F each week
-
Keep food and water clean and accessible
-
Observe chicks for signs of stress or illness