Hatching eggs is an important method for creating sustainable food systems independent of

industrial agriculture. Instead of ordering eggs from a hatchery, farmers can hatch their own eggs

at their own convenience. Another benefit of hatching eggs is the educational purpose it serves.

Youth who hatch their eggs in education settings learn how their food is produced. Hatching

eggs educates students and passes down knowledge of self sufficiency, thus young people can become

future food system practitioners.

Selecting the Eggs

When selecting eggs for incubation make sure they are from a flock where a male chicken is present. This will ensure fertility of the egg. Store fertile eggs for up to two weeks where the temperature is not below 60ºF or above 70ºF. Before setting eggs into the incubator make sure to set the incubator to the prescribed time in the incubator instruction pamphlet. Overall your incubator should be between 99ºF and 101ºF. 

Humidity 

Humidity is important to ensure that the eggs do not dry out. It is also important to maintain humidity for hatching eggs to lose weight during the hatching process. Pour water into the tray of the incubator and aim for 50 to 55 percent humidity in the incubator. Three days before the hatch, increase humidity to keep the inner membrane so that chicks can hatch out. 

Egg Turning 

The turning of eggs is a crucial step in the hatching of eggs because it ensures that the embryo does not stick to just one side of the egg. Most incubators come with an automatic egg turner. If your incubator does not have an egg turner, use a marker to mark “X” on one side of the egg and mark “O” on the other. Turn the eggs on either side every day to allow the embryo to not stay on one side. Three days before the eggs hatch egg turning is no longer needed because the embryos are preparing to hatch. 

Hatching 

Eggs can hatch before or after 21 days depending on temperature and humidity. Chicks can stay in the incubator for up to 72 hours because of the yolk absorbed before hatching. After 72 hours hatched chicks must be taken out of the incubator. Have a brooder—a warm, enclosed space used to tend to newly hatched chickens—ready with food and water along with a heat lamp. The temperature should be around 98ºF to 99ºF.