Hatching Chicks at Home
Where to Start
So you want to hatch chicks, but how do you know where to start? Start backwards. When thinking about hatching chicks, think about where they will end up. After, consider what supplies you will need to acquire and what you will need to prepare. Lastly, make sure you are familiar with the steps to take to ensure a successful hatch. If you have successfully hatched chicks at your home, leave us a note on our CONTACT US page to be quoted on this website.
What you need to know before starting
Start from the end– where will your sweet baby chicks go after you hatch them? Do you plan to keep them as pets? Do you know of a farmer or friend who is planning on taking them? Before you start hatching ensure you have a safe, reliable place for the chicks to go once they’ve outgrown your home.
Supplies You Will Need
It can be overwhelming to think about the supplies you might need to have a successful hatch at home. Click below to see the supplies we recommend for home use.
Steps to have a Successful Hatch
You’ve acquired all of your supplies and now what? Follow these steps to have a successful hatch:
1. Find a good place: The first step to a successful hatch it to find a good place to set up your incubator. Make sure your incubator is in a safe place (out of reach of little hands and paws), not too sunny, and a place with little draft. Ensure a working outlet is nearby.
2. Gather, Inspect, and Clean your Supplies: Once you’ve found a good, stable place for your incubator, clean it following the directions provided and test it. If you are planning on keeping the chicks, double check that you have all of the brooder supplies you will need.
3. Label your Eggs: By this time, you will have your supplies, you will know they work, and you will be about ready to start your hatching process! Before starting, make sure to gently label your eggs. Use a pencil to label your eggs with large letters. This helps when you candle and observe your eggs.
4. Get Started!: Read your incubator’s instructions carefully. Usually, incubators need to be plugged to get to the appropriate temperature and humidity hours (and sometimes days) before eggs can be placed inside. Make sure that your incubator is ready for eggs. Gently place your eggs into the incubator and close the top. Ensure the top is sealed tightly. No air should be seeping through the sides.
5. Check on your Incubator: After a few hours do a quick check on your incubator and eggs. If our incubator has an automatic egg turner, you should notice your eggs have turned (observe where you wrote the letters). Check the humidity and temperature also.
6. Observe: Throughout the 21-day process, check on your eggs. The eggs should continue to turn through day 18. After about day 6, you can start candling the eggs.
7. Prepare for Hatch: On day 18, some things will need to change. Consult the incubator manual for exact instructions on removing any pieces and altering the humidity. One day 21, prepare to be amazed at the little lives that hatch right infront of your eyes! Remember, chicks can take as long as 24 hours to hatch once they’ve started pipping.
Have you Completed a Successful Hatch at Home?
Leave a comment to tell others about your experience.