Select fertilized chicken eggs that are clean. They can be stored up to 7 days in a cool area that is 55-60F (12.7-15.5C) until you have enough for hatching.

Wash the incubator down well with a 10% bleach solution. Follow up with a second washing of hot soapy water and rinse well.

7 days before you plan to start the eggs turn the incubator on, fill it with water and add the hydrometer and thermometer.

Adjust the temperature settings until it says between 99-102F (37.2038.3C). Also, adjust the amount of water to keep the humidity between 50-55% for the first 17 days.

Once the temperature is holding steady you can add the eggs to the incubator. Using a pencil mark one side with an X and the other with an O. Place all the eggs so the same mark faces up.

From day 2-18 turn the eggs 3 times a day, a 1/3rd turn works well.

On the 18th day stop turning the eggs. This is the lockdown stage were you don’t want to open the incubator until the eggs have hatched. The chicks have developed and are getting ready to hatch. Remove the air plugs from your incubator and raise the humidity to 70%.

On day 21 your eggs should start hatching. It starts with a small chip in the eggshell, this is called pipping out. It will work it’s way around the egg cracking it open until it can push out. This can take 5 to 24 hours.

Leave the chicks in the incubator until they have fully dried off then move them to the brooder. It’s best not to remove any until all the eggs have hatched.