Overcompensating and increasing the temperature immediately after placing the eggs in can result in the temperature getting too high right out of the gate, which will make your eggs dead on arrival. If you’ve properly stabilized the temperature beforehand, things should even out between the eggs and the incubator after a day or two. However, allow a two-day window after first placing the eggs where you don’t increase the temperature, as the eggs need to stabilize with the temperature of the incubator, and this can make temperature reading difficult in the first 48 hours. Once you’ve got the eggs in, be sure to check the temperature and humidity levels several times a day to make sure that everything is the way it should be. It is important that you set up the incubator and set the temperature a few days before you are going to be placing your eggs in, as this will allow you to make sure that the temperature is stable and adjust for any fluctuations. Many more modern incubators will use digital controls that make temperature adjustment a lot easier.
Incubator’s control mechanisms can vary, though, so be sure to check your instruction manual. Your incubator’s temperature should be controlled by a thermostat, which often consists of a screw that will be turned either counter-clockwise to increase heat or clockwise to decrease heat.
How Do I Adjust the Temperature on my Incubator? Many incubators will also have trays included in the design where water can be added to increase humidity. Humidity can be adjusted by simply placing a container of water below the egg tray and the decreasing and increasing the ventilation until the desired humidity range is reached. This increased humidity level keeps the chicks from getting stuck on the egg membrane as they’re beginning to hatch. After 18 days, you’ll raise the humidity level to about 65% at the same time as you slightly lower the temperature. Direct sunlight is a no-go, so you will want to keep your incubator in a shady environment with a stable temperature.Īs for humidity, you should generally aim to keep the humidity level between 50% and 55% for those initial 18 days. External temperature fluctuations can greatly affect the sustainability of the temperature in your incubator. Also, be sure that your incubator is kept in an area without extreme temperature fluctuations. Otherwise, you’ll be in for a higher mortality rate when your eggs hatch.Īlways aim for the middle-of-the-road in the temperature window, and keep careful track of the temperature in case of any errors or fluctuations. Patience is required, and you need to allow the natural cycle to do its thing. It is never a good idea to aim for higher temperature levels in an attempt to get your chicks to hatch faster. The lowered temperature makes up for the increased heat that comes from the egg embryos prior to hatching. This temperature should be kept consistently, generally aiming for an average of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius, for about 18 days.Īfter 18 days, the temperature should be lowered ever so slightly to around 98.5 degrees Fahrenheit or just below 37 degrees Celsius. To start with, the temperature of your incubator should be about 99 degrees Fahrenheit to 102 degrees Fahrenheit or 37 degrees Celsius to 39 degrees Celsius.ĭepending, of course, on the unit of temperature your thermometer uses. That window changes slightly over the course of the entire incubation period, which is generally going to be about three weeks or 21 days. There is a very small window for ideal temperature and humidity when hatching chicken eggs. What Is the Ideal Temperature and Humidity for Hatching Chicken Eggs? In this article, we’ll take a look at the perfect temperature to keep your eggs at, what can happen if the temperature gets too hot or too cold, and what you can do to best ensure a high hatch rate. The window of appropriate temperatures is fairly small.Ī temperature that is too cold, or especially one that is too hot, can have significant effects on how many of your eggs hatch. There are very specific conditions you need to maintain in order to ensure the highest hatch rates for your eggs. Incubating eggs can be a tricky business for beginners.
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