Tips for Incubating Eggs

It’s Chick Season at Tammy and Rich’s Funny Farm: Tips for Incubating Eggs

    It’s chick season here at Tammy and Rich’s Funny Farm in Livingston, TN, and we’re buzzing with excitement! This time of year brings new life to our farm, and we’re thrilled to share our journey with you. At Funny Farm, we choose artificial incubation to hatch our chicks, a method that allows us to carefully control the environment and maximize our hatch rates. Whether you’re a seasoned farmer or a curious beginner, incubating eggs can be a rewarding experience. Here are some practical tips to help you get started on your own hatching adventure.

1. Choose the Right Incubator

    The foundation of successful egg incubation starts with selecting the right equipment. We use a forced-air incubator with digital temperature, humidity, and days to hatch display and an automatic egg turner here at the farm. This type ensures even heat distribution, reducing the risk of hot or cold spots that could harm the eggs. For beginners, a tabletop model with features like digital displays can make monitoring easier and less intimidating.

2. Maintain Optimal Temperature

    Temperature is the heartbeat of incubation. For chicken eggs, the magic number is 99.5°F - 100.5. Even slight fluctuations can jeopardize the developing embryos, so it’s worth investing in a reliable thermometer. We double-check ours with both the incubator’s built-in thermometer and an external one to ensure accuracy. Consistency is key—keep it steady, and your chicks will thank you! During power outages we try to cover the incubator with a towel to minimize heat loss, just be sure to uncover when the power is restored. It's also a good idea to check the digital readout for days to hatch to make sure it is still correct. We also mark my calendar when we put the eggs in as an additional reminder.

3. Control Humidity Levels

    Humidity plays a starring role in the hatching process. For the first 18 days, aim for 50-60% humidity to keep the eggs from drying out. In the final three days, bump it up to 65-75% to soften the shells and help the chicks break free. We use the built in hygrometer to monitor levels and adjust by adding water to the incubator’s trays when needed. It’s a simple step that makes a big difference.

4. Turn the Eggs Regularly

    Eggs aren’t meant to sit still during incubation—turning them prevents the embryos from sticking to the shell. Our incubator came with an automatic turner, however if yours didn't you will want to turn the eggs three times a day. If you’re turning manually, mark one side of each egg with an “X” and the other with an “O” to keep track. It’s a small trick that keeps things organized.

5. Candle the Eggs

    Ever wondered how your eggs are doing inside? Candling is your window into the process. By shining a light through the egg, you can check for development. We candle ours at 7 and 14 days to spot any non-viable eggs and remove them. If in doubt we leave them in. This keeps the incubator clean and lets us focus on the healthy ones. All you need is a bright light and a dark room—give it a try!

6. Prepare for Hatching

    As hatch day nears (around day 21 for chicken eggs), it’s time to shift gears. On day 18 stop turning the eggs, increase the humidity, and if the incubator floor is smooth add a towel or mat for traction. The chicks will start pipping, breaking through the shell, usually between day 18 and day 21 and can take up to 24 hours. If the chick has pipped in the middle or at the small end of the shell it can take up to 48 hours. After pipping it will start to zip, crack the egg around its circumference, this should only take about 1 hour. Patience pays off here but, if after the allotted time the chick isn't progressing assistance may be needed. It would be best to watch a few videos on how to do this before attempting for the first time.

7. Care for the Chicks Post-Hatch

    Once the chicks emerge, they’re wet and wobbly—adorable, right? Let them dry off in the incubator for a few hours before moving them to a brooder. Our brooder has a 250 watt red heat lamp at one end, plus a feeder and waterer and is big enough that they can move away from the heat lamp if they wish. Around 3 weeks of age we trade out for a 75-125 watt bulb until the chicks are fully feathered and ready to explore the farm.

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    Incubating eggs is a delicate balance of science and care, but the reward, fluffy, peeping chicks, is worth every effort. At Tammy and Rich’s Funny Farm, artificial incubation has been a game-changer, and we love sharing what we’ve learned. If you’re curious about trying it yourself or want to see our setup in action, swing by Livingston, TN, for a visit. And don’t forget to subscribe to our blog for more farming tips and updates from the Funny Farm!

Happy hatching!