Category: Chicken Health

Top Ten Tips for Chicken Egg Incubation

Newly hatched chick

Are you thinking of hatching your own chicks this year? Make every egg count with the following steps:

  1. In a perfect world, set your eggs vertically in the incubator (like they sit in an egg carton) with the blunt end up.
  2. Maintain steady temperatures throughout the incubation period. Set the thermostat at 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit (37.5 Celsius) for a forced-air model or 102 degrees Fahrenheit (38.9 Celsius) for a still-air model.
  3. Although instructions that come with your incubator may recommend keeping internal humidity between 40% and 50% during the early incubation period, followers of dry incubation prefer a much lower humidity (between 25% and 35%). Dry incubation has been the most successful for me.
  4. Monitor egg weight loss and use that data to tweak humidity levels.
  5. Keep those eggs moving! An automatic egg-turner is best.
  6. Minimize egg touching and time outside the incubator. While candling can give you some clues about what’s happening inside, the best hatch rates will be achieved by keeping the incubator closed at all times. Don’t mess with your eggs once they’re in place.
  7. Ensure adequate airflow by keeping the vents wide open. Even in the shell, chicks have to breathe.
  8. Plan ahead for hot days and power outages. You’ll need a way to keep chicks at the right temperature even if the electricity flickers out.
  9. Incubating and Hatching Homegrown ChicksAll the rules change on day 18. Turn off automatic egg turners. Lay eggs flat. Increase the humidity.
  10. Maintain cleanliness of the incubator and equipment between batches.

Follow those simple rules and you’ll soon have cute fuzzballs bursting out of your incubator. For more hands-on information, check out my book Incubating and Hatching Homegrown Chicks.

How to Choose and Store the Best Eggs for Incubation

Selecting Eggs for Incubation

The first step when incubating eggs is selecting the very best ones. Not all eggs will hatch out healthy chicks, and there are several factors that stack the deck in favor of success.

First up is your eggs’ parentage, which will have an impact on fertility rates. A flock consisting of young birds out on lush pasture will result in better eggs than a flock of old birds stuck in the coop 24/7. Inbreeding can also be an issue in small flocks — this might be a reason to swap eggs with a chicken-keeping friend every once in a while.

Porous eggs

Next, you can tell a lot by looking at each individual egg. You probably already know that huge eggs can be double-yolkers, so you’ve likely guessed that average-sized eggs are best. You’ll also want to skip, cracked, dirty, and porous eggs. Take a look at the image above to get an idea for what I mean by the last point if you’ve not already aware.

 

Storing Eggs

In a perfect world, you’d go out to your coop, collect the exact number of perfect eggs you need, then pop them in the incubator that day. But most of us don’t have flocks big enough to make that happen. If you have a small flock, you’ll need to store eggs for a few days until you accumulate enough to fill the incubator.

Whatever you do, don’t put these eggs in the refrigerator since cold can harm embryos and make the eggs much less likely to hatch. Instead, cut the top off an egg carton and put each egg in pointed-side down. Place the stored eggs in a cool (55 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit; 13 to 20 degrees Celsius) place out of direct sunlight.

Storing eggs for incubation

To ensure that the embryos don’t stick to the shell, put a thick book or a block of wood under one end of the egg carton and swap the carton end-to-end twice a day, tilting all of the eggs at once without touching them. The less you touch your eggs, the more likely they are to hatch.

Each day an egg waits to go in the incubator, it becomes slightly less viable. The aging process accelerates drastically after day seven. In addition, high heat during the storage period can age eggs prematurely. For these reasons, try to get your eggs into the incubator within a week after they’re laid and store them at or below room temperature.

 

Incubating and Hatching Homegrown ChicksFind out more in my book!

Do you want more tips for increasing your hatch rate? Incubating and Hatching Homegrown Chicks will level you up so you’re confident you can hatch healthy homegrown chicks every time!

A Feathered Friend’s Dream: The Perfect Gift for Chicken Keepers

Introduction

Selecting the ideal gift for a chicken enthusiast can be a delightful yet challenging task. To truly make a difference in their feathered flock’s quality of life, consider the gift of convenience, security, and peace of mind – an Automatic Chicken Coop Door. In this article, we’ll explore why this innovative device stands as the ultimate present for someone devoted to the welfare of their feathered companions.

 

  1. The Gift of Unparalleled Convenience

One of the primary advantages of an automatic chicken coop door is the unparalleled convenience it brings to a chicken keeper’s daily routine. No longer will they need to rush home at dusk to manually secure their coop. The automatic door takes care of this task effortlessly, allowing for more flexibility in their schedule and less worry about the safety of their beloved chickens.

 

  1. Enhanced Safety and Security

Predators pose a significant threat to chickens, especially during the vulnerable hours of dawn and dusk. An automatic coop door provides an added layer of security by ensuring that the coop is sealed tight when it’s most crucial. This gift not only safeguards the feathered friends but also offers the keeper peace of mind, knowing their chickens are protected around the clock.

 

III. Customizable Timings for a Well-Regulated Routine

An automatic chicken coop door can be easily programmed to open and close at specific times. This feature allows for a regulated routine, providing chickens with the structure they need for optimal health and egg production. Additionally, some models offer the flexibility to adjust timings based on seasonal changes, ensuring that the coop door aligns with natural light patterns.

 

  1. Weather Resilience

Harsh weather conditions can pose a threat to the well-being of chickens. An automatic coop door, equipped with sensors, can detect adverse weather and adjust its operation accordingly. It ensures that chickens are not exposed to extreme temperatures, rain, or snow, contributing to their overall comfort and health.

 

  1. A Gift that Keeps on Giving

The gift of an automatic chicken coop door not only benefits the chickens but also enhances the keeper’s overall chicken-keeping experience. Its energy-efficient design minimizes power consumption, aligning with sustainable practices. This eco-conscious approach ensures that the coop remains an environmentally-friendly haven for the flock.

 

Conclusion

For the dedicated chicken keeper, an Automatic Chicken Coop Door is a gift that speaks volumes about your consideration for their passion and the well-being of their feathered companions. Its convenience, security, and weather resilience make it an invaluable addition to any coop. By choosing this thoughtful present, you not only contribute to the safety and happiness of the flock but also enhance the keeper’s experience, allowing them to enjoy their feathered friends to the fullest.

 

See The Top Selling Automatic Chicken Coop Doors Here : https://www.automaticchickencoopdoor.com/shop?category=Automatic+Chicken+Doors