Incubation, using the Little Giant Incubator, starting off your system. www.FredsFineFowl.com

This is just a very small portion of the incubation guide found on the DVD titled Regarding Chickens (widely available)
Showing just how to start the unit, select and place eggs, things to consider as you begin to incubate your fertile chicken eggs. Incubation takes 21 days. Stop turning the eggs, or remove the automatic turner on the 18th day.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• incubation
• incubator
• Little Giant
• incubate chicken eggs
• set-up
• Fred's Fine Fowl
• hatching eggs

[rainbowfarmsale200]

I never wash my eggs and they hatch. Also I've never seen momma hen wash her eggs and they do hatch. Why r u washing your eggs?

[HTCSWEOD]

@rainbowfarmsale200 Egg sanitizing improves hatch percentages... it you are a registered hatchery, it's "required" by the Dept. of Agriculture (this is my situation)... not only does the Dept. of Ag require sanitation of the eggs, but all associated working surfaces. Hens hatch and walk away with their brood, incubators may hatch continuously allowing pathogens to compound. Mother hens are BEST, artificial incubation benefits from cleanliness, solid science... I have to pass inspection.

[fenteng43]

Great Video ... Very Helpfull

wats the sanitizer you use?

[HTCSWEOD]

@fenteng43 I use Tek-Trol... you can get it by the gallon, pint, or even as a spray for hard to reach places... it forms a residue on the shell and continues to fight bacteria after the initial cleansing. Thank you for the comment! Using Sanitizer has definitely improved my hatch rate... you have to weigh the added cost. Hatching under a brood hen is still my first choice (">

[HTCSWEOD]

@travhal Yes, that's exactly what I do.... completely dry until the 18th day. However, if the air cell progresses too quickly, then you will have to increase humidity to slow that down, but I have never had to do that... we also run our a/c and it has no effect.

[travhal]

@HTCSWEOD Thanks for the reply, are using the dry incubation method? I live in Canada, Manitoba and we have had lots of rain so the humidity is high but in my house it is dry because of the a/c. Do you recommend trying the dry incubation method where i add no water until the 18 day?

[HTCSWEOD]

@travhal There are many factors, including egg shell quality, bloom and beginning freshness... I go by the air cell size and almost never use water during incubation until the 18th day... during pipping, I max out the humidity to prevent chicks from drying out and sticking to their shell lining. You will have to gage your own humidity practices. if the humidity is too high, the chicks cannot successfully pip out as they will be too large when the time comes. It's trial and error...

[travhal]

do you know a good humidity for incubating eggs 1-18 days because i have a hydrometer and it usually stays at about 38% is that a good humidity?

[HTCSWEOD]

@XxB0rd3rsProxX Most thermostats have the ability to be reset.... consult the owners manual for the thermostat style/design you have and see what the reset procedure is.... often it's to turn the dial all the way clockwise and then all the way down to zero... then come back to the operating temp you desire... hope that helps you out!

[XxB0rd3rsProxX]

having trouble setting the temp, it is always at 120F and i cant lower it even if i turn the knob all the way down, any suggestions to setting up the temp