Like I mentioned on another page, I did a lot of reading about incubating eggs, and it’s best to let them do all of the work on their own. However it’s my job to make sure that the conditions stay perfect during the process. The temperature needs to stay around 100* during the whole process and the humidity needs to stay between 58-60% for the first 18 days then adjusted to 65% until they hatch on day 21. At first this was the hardest thing to keep right. I built my own incubator and after making improvements to it, I was able to accomplish this task very easily. Also it’s best to mark the eggs because you have to turn them at least three times every day. I put them into a egg carton do to the newly hatched chick will flip and flop around until they get their footing and will crack the other eggs. You can candle the eggs until day 18, and this way you can tell if the egg has a chance to hatch. You can see the chick moving around inside of the egg. Very Neat!!

The Pafford Family

A Baby Chick Hatching

March 12, 2009

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It’s eyes are open

 

 

The time line from when we got our first peep until it came out of the egg was 54 minutes and 45 seconds. I didn’t time the event, I looked as to what time it was when I took the pictures. If you have ever wanted to do this, I highly recommend it.

Next year, I will probably do it again, verses buying more chicks.