Hatching your own chicks is hugely rewarding. With a basic incubator and attention to a few numbers, most beginners get a good hatch from day one.
Before you start
You need fertile eggs — that means a rooster in the flock, or hatching eggs bought from a breeder. Store eggs pointy-end down, below room temperature, and set them within about a week for the best hatch rate.
Incubator settings
- Temperature: 99.5 °F (37.5 °C) for a forced-air (fan) incubator; slightly higher for still-air.
- Humidity: about 45–50% for the first 17 days, then raised to 65%+ for the hatch.
- Let the incubator stabilize for a day before you set eggs.
Turning
Eggs must be turned to stop the embryo sticking to the shell — 3 to 5 times a day, or use an auto-turner. Stop turning on day 18 (“lockdown”) and raise the humidity.
Candling
Around day 7–10, hold a small bright light to each egg in a dark room. Developing eggs show veins and a dark embryo; clear eggs are infertile and can be removed.
The 21-day timeline
- Days 1–17: incubate at temperature, turning daily.
- Day 18 (lockdown): stop turning, raise humidity, and leave the lid closed.
- Day 21: chicks pip and hatch. Leave them in the incubator until fluffy and dry — don’t help too soon.
After the hatch
Move dry, fluffy chicks to a brooder at 95 °F. Everything you need is in raising baby chicks. Want a no-tech option? A broody hen does all of this for you.