Chook Me!

a few questions about Hatching chicken eggs?

I'm planning to buy a small incubator to hatch some of my bantam eggs. But I have never done it before... this is they type of thing I want. (I refuse to spend nearly £100 extra for an automatic turner!) http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Novital-7-Egg-Incubator-/400227843774?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Poultry&hash=item5d2f703ebe#ht_528wt_905 1. How do you control Humidity? 2. What temperature should they be kept at? (In C. and F.) 3. When they hatch, how long before I should take them from the incubator? Should I keep a heat lamp where I put them? Any other pointers would be wonderful :) I am willing to turn them, I am only looking at a small one, I only plan to hatch one lot, that way I can make sure I can give them a home. Then I will sell it second hand. I know I will lose money from it so I don't want it to be too expensive :)

Public Comments

1. your making a huge mistake. that is very small and you will regret it later. you'll have to remember to turn the eggs at the right time all the time which will get annoying. trust me, get a good one. dont think about it being expensive!!! once you've done egg hatching, and your not going to be using it anymore, sell it, it will sell for relitivly the same price! get one with a automatic turner. and dont forget a brooder to keep the chicks warm once hatched. you could probably make your own with a plastic strage box and a light bulb holder (which is basicaly what they are) my cousin got a good incubator (think he paid £120 for it) and he's hatched hundreds of eggs, he didnt want to spend much on one, but paid £120 with much convincing and he really didnt look back or say it was too much money after all the eggs hatched and never did he have one not hatch! Edit_ just google chicken egg incubating there is loads of info and videos! you might even be able to make an incubator, i made one for my reptile eggs which iwas successful, i used a heat mat and an aquatium thermostat, and a tray of water for humidity. http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/livestocksystems/di0631.html
2. Me and my sister have made a homemade incubator before and hatched baby chicks. U have to turn it about 3 times a day...in the morning, afternoon, and before u go to bed. Yes u need to keep a heat lamp in there for them and the temp must be around 90-100 F. Wait atleast a day before taking them out of the incubator because after they hatch, they will be really exhausted and need rest. Never ever "help" it out of the egg cuz u might pull it out and a piece of the skin could be stuck to the egg and it could puncture its skin and bleed to death. It has happened before to me and it is really sad. Only help if it is stuck but be very very gentle. I made a incubator cuz they cost alot. The one in the picture u want seems really small and there is like no room for the chicks. Maybe make one out of foam...thats what i did and i still have it from like a year ago. So i hope u have fun with ur baby chicks! Hope this helps!