Hobbies And Interests
Incubator
Look for an incubator with slightly more holding capacity than the number of eggs you plan to hatch and get one that has reliable, accurate temperature and humidity controls.
Temperature and Humidity
The most important parameter to pay close attention to when incubating eggs is the temperature. Find out what the target parameters are for both temperature and humidity for the species of eggs you are trying to hatch. For chicken eggs, which hatch in 21 days, the temperature must be 99-101 degrees Fahrenheit inside the incubator at all times, with the humidity at about 65 percent for the first 18 days and 85 percent for the last three days.
Turning and Positioning
Turning eggs that are incubating is very important and they must always be placed with the pointy end down. Eggs should be turned three times per day and it helps to mark one side of the egg with an X and the other side with an O to keep track of when and if they have been turned appropriatel. Some egg incubator manufacturers come complete with egg turners such as the SureHatch Ova-Easy Egg Turning System.
Candling
You can check the progress of your incubating eggs by using a process known as candling. Turn off all lights within the room and hold the egg in question up to a bright light source to shine through the egg. Better results are obtained after day eight of the incubation process when the embryo has had time to develop. The embryo will appear as a dark spot towards the larger end of the egg.