Preparing for Poultry Season: A Guide to Chick Hatching and Keeping

The Basics of Chick Hatching

Hatching chicks successfully requires stable conditions and careful management. While hens can hatch eggs naturally, human intervention can improve hatch rates by stabilizing temperature and humidity levels, which are crucial for embryo development. Additionally, hens may accidentally harm their eggs, making an incubator a safer alternative in some cases.

Healthy hens produce healthier chicks. Ensure your flock has plenty of outdoor space and a low-stress environment, as these factors contribute to successful reproduction. If you’re starting fresh, you may need to purchase fertilized eggs from a local farmer or breeder.

Essential Tools for Chick Hatching and Keeping

Incubator

If you choose to hatch chicks with an incubator, you can either purchase one or build your own. Maintaining the right temperature and humidity is crucial:

• Temperature: Keep the incubator between 99°-102°F throughout incubation.

• Humidity: Maintain 40%-50% humidity for the first 18 days, then increase to 75% during the final three days to signal the chicks to hatch.

• Ventilation: Proper airflow is essential since embryos receive oxygen through the eggshell’s pores.

• Egg Rotation: Eggs must be rotated regularly (either manually or with an automatic turner) until day 18.

Thermometer & Hygrometer

These tools help measure temperature and humidity levels, ensuring the incubator remains within optimal conditions.

Brooder

Once chicks hatch, they need a warm and safe environment. A brooder is a heated enclosure where chicks live for their first few weeks. Ensure it is secure, well-ventilated, and equipped with food, water, and a heat source.

Poultry Netting or Coop

After a few weeks, the chicks will transition from the brooder to their permanent home. A chicken coop or electric poultry netting will provide protection from predators and keep your flock contained. Starkline’s poultry netting offers a reliable solution to safeguard your birds.

Step-by-Step Guide to Hatching Chicks

1. Ensure Fertilized Eggs: If hatching your own eggs, you need a rooster in the flock. Otherwise, purchase fertilized eggs from a reputable source.

2. Sanitize Eggs: Cleaning eggs reduces the risk of disease transmission.

3. Select Quality Eggs: Choose eggs that are normal in size, shape, color, and texture, as these have the highest fertility rates.

4. Incubate and Rotate Eggs: Place eggs in an incubator, keeping conditions stable. Rotate eggs an odd number of times daily until day 18.

5. Increase Humidity on Day 18: Raise the humidity to 75% and stop rotating eggs.

6. Wait for Hatching: Chicks will start to hatch around day 21. Allow them to dry and fluff up before transferring them to the brooder.

7. Introduce Food and Water: By day 3, chicks should have access to small amounts of food and water.

8. Transition to the Coop: After a few weeks, move the chicks to their permanent home.

With the right preparation and equipment, you can successfully hatch and raise healthy chicks this poultry season. Happy hatching!