How to choose an egg incubator

An egg incubator imitates temperature, humidity and turning, that is, the natural processes that a laying hen is responsible for in nature , and is a closed container (of different sizes, shapes and capabilities) that accordingly maintains temperature and humidity at the optimal level for hatching. At the same time, many modifications automatically turn the eggs . 

it should be remembered that before placing them in the incubator , it is best to store eggs at a temperature of 50-60°C, since lowering and raising the temperature can lead to a decrease in hatchability. Hatching eggs cannot be stored in the refrigerator because the temperature there is too cold.

Eggs that are cracked, thin shelled, ridged, excessively soiled, or abnormal in size or shape should not be used for incubation. Eggs that are too large or small are often not fertilized and do not need to be placed in the incubator.

For best results, hatching eggs should not be stored more than 10 to 14 days before being set. They should be stored in egg cartons with the narrow end down, held at an angle and turned twice a day. One simple method for turning eggs is to place one end of the carton on an object at an angle of about 35 degrees, and then simply move the raised end twice a day.

When purchasing an incubator, it is important to understand how many eggs will be incubated at one time. There are many different models to choose from, each capable of outputting different amounts.

And it's worth noting that not every egg will hatch. Some eggs may be infertile, develop incorrectly, or have a small crack, for example. Therefore, when estimating how many eggs you need to hatch, keep this in mind. Even in the most ideal conditions, about 80 percent of the eggs laid are successfully hatched with healthy chicks, on average, estimate 50 percent for good offspring, and besides, some chickens will be roosters, which in general is also not bad - roosters provide variety in the household menu. 

If you are just going to learn how to incubate eggs, it is better to buy a small incubator, but from a good brand that will fit on a wide table. And then, when the process is already familiar, you can invest in larger and more expensive equipment. 

There are four critical issues during incubation: temperature, humidity, egg turning and... curiosity. In the first two cases, any changes, especially high temperature and low humidity, can potentially lead to the death of the embryos. A difference of just 1 degree can affect the output. If the temperature rises 1 degree, there will be an early warning: chicks will tend to have splayed legs and have difficulty walking. Going 1 degree lower will result in late hatching chicks prone to crooked toes, thin legs and non-healing navels. Some egg incubators are equipped with an alarm that sounds whenever the temperature rises above or below a preset safe zone.

While modern incubators offer digital temperature and humidity monitoring, older (and cheaper) incubators have a separate thermometer and hygrometer to monitor yourself and intervene by manually adding water to channels built into the bottom of the incubator. It's easy to forget about manual topping, plus most inexpensive models require you to open the incubator to make adjustments, which isn't ideal during hatching.

During incubation, the humidity level should be maintained at 45%, but before hatching it should be increased to around 65% or higher, depending on how high or low the humidity is in the area. If this doesn't happen, the membrane through which the chick is supposed to hatch dries out, hardens, and before you know it, the chick is in very serious trouble because it can't hatch.

With modern incubators, humidity is controlled by an automatic humidification pump that adds water to the incubator when needed and provides a reading so you can check that the water level is at the correct level. It's convenient and probably worth the money spent. 

On the other hand, not all incubators come with a humidification pump, so when purchasing, be sure to double-check whether they are included or not.

Another important point. Since digital incubators also differ in cost, when buying a cheaper modification, install two hygrometers. Cheap incubators are notorious for having poorly calibrated digital displays, so using two hygrometers will give you a good night's sleep. 

Turning the eggs - in more expensive incubators it is automatic, in cheaper ones you will have to turn the eggs manually. Laying hens roll their eggs from time to time, instinctively caring for hatchability. Moving the eggs prevents the embryo from sticking to the shell, which could result in hatch failure.

Chicken eggs in the incubator must be turned in the same sequence during the first eighteen days of incubation (the total hatching period is 21 days). Ideally, this should be done 24 hours a day and stopped three days before hatching. The question is whether you want to repeat the hen's feat or whether you'd rather invest in this feature. So, you want chicken eggs in the incubator to not turn over after the 18th day - the chick needs to be able to get into the correct hatching position so that it breaks through into the air chamber at the thick end of the egg. Getting caught in the other part would mean he had no way to breathe. It is therefore important to be mindful of timing - an alternative is for the incubator to perform this operation automatically.

Finally, curiosity can also greatly harm the process. It is extremely important not to lift the incubator lid in the last days of incubation and during hatching, so some incubators - large ones - have a small window in the front through which you can see part of the egg. Others, small ones, have a plastic cover . It is logical that with a small batch it is more convenient to observe the process when the incubator has a transparent dome, which provides very good visibility.

Let us remind you that the first week of egg development is a very important period when it is important to handle the eggs very carefully and not take them out for candling. After the 8th day, the eggs can be removed and carefully and quickly enlightened. It is safer to candling between 14 and 16 days.

In conclusion, whatever price you can afford, choose a reputable brand, read reviews from poultry farmers, and stick to realistic plans. For example, to be sure to get five hens, you would need to incubate 20 eggs, taking into account hatch losses and the likelihood of getting roosters.