Q&A for How to Hatch Chicken Eggs

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Question

How do I dry-hatch chicken eggs?

Alexandra Doss
Poultry & Livestock Expert
Alexandra Doss is a Poultry & Livestock Expert expert based in Ruskin, Florida. She owns and manages Stellar Game Birds, Poultry, Waterfowl LLC, a selective breeding operation with game birds, poultry, and waterfowl. With over 14 years of experience, she produces strong genetics and health in her hatching eggs, eating eggs, and live birds. The farm is FWC game farm licensed, FDAC licensed for quail, chicken, and duck eating eggs and meat, and NPIP certified. She is known as the Quail Lady and has published several books on raising Coturnix. Her work has been featured in Mother Earth News, Backyard Poultry, Grit, The Chicken Whisperer Magazine, and Community Chickens. She also has a career as a Workforce Management Supervisor and has a certificate in project management. She received a BS from Oregon State in Animal Sciences.

Alexandra Doss

Poultry & Livestock Expert

Expert Answer

With dry hatching, you do not add water until the very end. The incubation period will be the same 21 days. However, the next day counts as day one, and the original day counts as day zero. Do know that this method doesn't work in every single environment; for example, in Florida, where the humidity is higher, dry-hatching isn't something that works for me, while it would be easier in Oregon because it's a drier climate. Dry hatching is really climate-dependent, and the incubation process is kind of trial-and-error.

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Question

How do I make my own incubator?

Community Answer

There is an article for there here! Check out How to Make a simple Homemade Incubator for Chicks to learn how.

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Question

How can I tell if an egg isn't going to hatch?

Community Answer

When you light the batch, you will be able to see the developed embryos. Any eggs or embryos that appear discolored or distorted are unlikely to hatch.

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Question

What do you do with the chicks once hatched?

Community Answer

Dip their beaks where the water is so they will know where to find it, and feed them chick starter feed. Do not worry if they randomly fall asleep, this is normal for newborn chicks. Keep them warm with a heat lamp.

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Question

If an egg explodes in the nest, are all the eggs contaminated, or will they still hatch?

Amy Harrison

Top Answerer

The eggs are not contaminated, so they will hatch if the hen continues to sit on them. If an egg explodes, it usually means that it wasn't fertilized. To avoid this, you should check the eggs to see if they are fertilized before allowing the hen to incubate them. At this stage, you can check whether they're fertile by candling them.

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Question

Are the eggs fine if they have little bumps on them?

Community Answer

Yes. Some eggs are different, such as their shades of color and shapes. The texture of the egg doesn't affect it in any way.

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Question

If I use a brother and sister pair to mate, will it affect the egg?

Community Answer

Yes, that is called inbreeding or crossbreeding. It may cause the chick to become weak and have a low immune system. Do not inbreed any chickens you have.

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Question

Should I refrigerate the eggs before putting them under the hen?

Community Answer

No, cooling the eggs will prevent them from hatching. Try to keep the eggs warm at all times.

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Question

What are the symptoms of broody hens?

Community Answer

Two symptoms of broodiness are not leaving her nest, and being very protective of her eggs. A broody hen will act almost aggressive if you get too close.

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Question

How do I store the eggs before incubating them?

Community Answer

Fertile eggs can be simply stored in recycled egg holders that you can get from the grocery store. Keep them out of the refrigerator and/or heat. You can put them high, tucked away on your top shelf until you have a clutch to put in the incubator. Keep them for only up to a week.

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Question

Can I just keep the eggs in a warm room?

Community Answer

No. Fertile eggs need to be put in a incubator so there is a constant, accurate temperature to ensure a success in hatching.

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Question

How long do baby chicks need a heat lamp for?

Community Answer

It depends on where you live and what the climate is. Some chicks can have the heat lamp removed at 4 weeks while others need it for longer. You should generally remove the heat lamp when you get it down to room temperature. You can do this by lowering the heat lamp by 5 degrees each week with the starting point at 95 degrees, when the chicks are 1 week old.

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Question

Can I only hatch one single egg in an incubator or is that a bad idea?

Community Answer

Like most animals, chickens are social birds and form in flocks. Keeping only one chicken by itself can cause the chicken to suffer. It's best to incubate at least 10 eggs just in case some chicks don't make it through the hatch, suffer from illnesses such as splayed leg when hatched, or some may end up to be roosters.

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Question

How can I check to see if there actually is a baby chick in the egg?

Community Answer

There's an accurate method to tell - this is called candling. If you hold the eggs directly under or above a bright light (such as a lamp) you can see the figure of the chick. To see our full article on wikiHow, go here: How to Candle an Egg .

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Question

Can some market eggs still be fertile?

Community Answer

It dMost commercial eggs aren't fertile, but it is possible that some make it onto store shelves.

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Question

Do I turn eggs the same day I put them in the incubator?

Community Answer

No, let the egg sit until the next day then rotate them. They will get messed up and might die if you don't wait.

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Question

Will it stress them out if I pick them up?

Donagan

Top Answerer

Do it gently, and they'll be fine.

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Question

Can the chicks be shipped immediately after hatching?

Donagan

Top Answerer

Wait a day or two to be sure they are viable.

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Question

Do the eggs hatch by themselves, or does the hen break the egg?

Community Answer

The chick inside the egg has a little tip on its beak so it can break the egg apart when it is hatching. The hen usually doesn't intervene and neither should you - if the egg isn't hatching, it's because something's wrong with the chick.

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Question

How do I hatch an egg bought from a grocery store?

Community Answer

Eggs bought from grocery stores are not be fertile and therefore cannot be hatched. If you want to purchase some eggs to hatch, look online for fertile eggs or find a local breeder. You'll also need to purchase an incubator to hatch eggs.

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Question

After the eggs hatch, do I need to keep them under a light bulb? I was told that the hen can take care of the chicks and keep them warm. Is this true?

A Wikihowian

Community Answer

It is highly recommended you have a red light bulb.

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Question

Does the temperature have any bearing on the sex of the chicks, or is that a myth?

Community Answer

That is a myth.

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Should eggs being stored be turned daily?

A Wikihowian

Community Answer

Yes, 3 times a day, at least.

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Question

Can I hold an egg to hatch it, like in bed with me?

Community Answer

No, eggs should not be handled unless you need to do it. You could kill the chick or deform it.

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Question

What is the easiest way to hatch an egg in a refrigerator?

A Wikihowian

Community Answer

The eggs need to be heated, not cooled. The eggs in the fridge are not fertile and will not hatch, ever.

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Question

Can I use cotton for a nest?

A Wikihowian

Community Answer

No, it is advised you use wood shavings.

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Question

Do I put the water under the eggs in the incubator to hatch?

Community Answer

Yes, but store-bought incubators have a ridge already made for water to sit in. If homemade incubator is used, place a small bowl with small sponge in it in the corner for humidity. Don't get the eggs directly wet.

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Question

After the eggs hatch in the incubator, how long can the chicks stay in it?

Community Answer

They should stay in for 24 hours, before being carefully moved out and to a heating lamp.

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Could I hatch an egg from the store that has red numbers on it?

Community Answer

No, because it has not been fertilized. Only fertilized eggs will hatch, and those are not sold at the store.

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Is it true that an egg with a large shape will be a rooster?

Community Answer

No. The size or shape of an egg does not affect the sex of the chick. You will only be able to tell after hatching.

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