Hatching Help & Guidance

Whether you’re a first‑time incubator or have hatched eggs before, this page is designed to give you clear guidelines to improve your chance of a healthy hatch.

🥚 Before You Set Your Eggs

Rest After Shipping
Shipped eggs should sit at room temperature for 6–12 hours before placing them in the incubator — this lets them recover from the movement and temperature changes during transit.

Clean Incubator & Environment
Make sure your incubator is clean and running at proper settings before placing eggs in it. A stable room temperature helps avoid unwanted fluctuations.

Handling
Handle eggs gently and with clean hands. Avoid sudden temperature changes — eggs are sensitive to heat swings.

🔥 Incubation Settings (General Guide)

Temperature:

Day 1–17: ~99.5°F (37.5°C) — keep consistent as possible
Day 18–21 (Lockdown): Slightly lower or steady as embryos begin hatching

Humidity:

Day 1–17: ~50–55% relative humidity
Day 18–21: ~65–70% relative humidity to help chicks hatch without drying out

Turning Eggs:

Turn eggs 3–5 times per day until day 18
Stop turning at lockdown so embryos can position themselves for hatch

Always follow your incubator’s instructions when possible, and use a reliable thermometer and hygrometer. Small variations are okay, but large swings in temperature or humidity can affect development.

Chicks may hatch over several hours once pipping begins. Let them hatch naturally; opening the incubator reduces humidity and heat.

🐥 After the Chicks Hatch

Move chicks to a prepared brooder with:

Warm, draft‑free area
Appropriate heat source (e.g., brooder plate or heat lamp)
Fresh water and chick starter feed

Chicks can survive 24–48 hours without food or water after hatching, so don’t rush moving them out of the incubator until they’re dry and active.

🐣 Tips, Reminders & Support

Every hatch is unique, and many factors influence the outcome — incubator type, temperature, humidity, handling, and even shipping. To give your eggs the best start:

Keep your incubator environment stable — avoid direct sunlight, drafts, or sudden temperature changes.
During lockdown (final 3 days), keep the incubator closed to maintain proper humidity for hatching.
Candle eggs optionally around day 7–10 to check development, but handle gently.
Ensure proper airflow so embryos can breathe, but avoid over‑ventilating.
Chicks can survive 24–48 hours after hatching without food or water; move them to a brooder only when dry and active.
Eggs shipped to you should rest 6–12 hours at room temperature before setting to recover from transit.

Remember, hatching is influenced by many factors, and results can vary. This is a guide and our best help to you.

If you have questions during incubation or about shipped eggs, we’re here to help.

Contact Ileea anytime at:
Phone: (717) 315‑1555
Email: ForeverFridayFarm@yahoo.com