How To Incubate And Hatch Baby Chickens

It's time to start the next generation of chickens here on the farm. This is an easy low budget process to incubate and hatch out your own baby chicks.
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[@lincoln5310]

It's 3:17 am and mine are hatching!🤗

[@lincoln5310]

I got 8 so far from 3 dozens.🤗

[@lisalo121]

3:17

[@daisytaylor1610]

Thank you for the tip on the infrared heater bulb. I'm going to try it out!

[@litahsr.8226]

Hey give us some weekly updates so we can see it till its all grown up thanks

[@user-jc5hy7tn8w]

I showed your video to my class they were intrigued! WE are going to get our eggs tomorrow for incubation. Thanks for the INFO!

[@AKAHeatherJoy]

Great information! We have a bunch of eggs in the incubator that will be hatching in a week and this is the first time we have done this. We purchased all of our first flock already hatched. I am grateful to learn about the infrared ceramic heaters! Thanks for all the tips!

[@neildriedger637]

GREAT video,loved it Todd!!LOVE hatching out baby chick's!!

[@mosaicfarm2389]

Great video! We have never had trouble with chicks downing in the water... That said we also raise quail and switched to using the quail water base for the first couple weeks this year and the chicks seem to stay dryer. We also use a 22 watt heating plate instead of a bulb when we can since it saves so much $ on electricity.

[@Rachelatday2dayjoys]

This is super cool! We’re starting this process next week! 🥚❤️🐓

[@funnyfarmdad9997]

WOW! This video was right on time. I got my incubator in the mail today.

[@JulieMikalson]

If you get Shipped eggs - be sure to search and read several Breeder instructions - to raise hatch rates....above 0-55 percent!

[@lrmsmrls16]

Good advice. It is hard to watch a chick struggle, but it's the right advice.

[@howdyeveryone5044]

FINALLY!!! Thank you for this detail!! 6silkie eggs coming in mail soon and trying to prepare. So excited!!!! Learning

[@taylorrussell2812]

Been following for quite some time when I originally was looking into chickens some time ago. Loved your coop builds and ideas for the chickens and finally starting to consider hatching out some of my own. Love the chicken content and thankful it gave me the push to take the plunge. I truly recommend chickens to everyone who are able to keep them.

[@jerrysalgat3406]

Great job. I do mine about the same way. Always have had good results.

[@onemanband1349]

Great info! Always was curious about this process. We just get our baby chicks from tractor supply but once we have a rooster this will be the new process 👌 thank you!

[@znuke3608]

Hope it’s doing great 👍

[@sarahstevens3275]

How long do you need the chicks to be in the incubator when they are hacked

[@asherolsonawski7294]

@@sarahstevens3275 about 12 hours

[@HeritageHatchery]

It is an amazing process that's for sure

[@johncspine2787]

You can pop that thermometer out and adjust it, I believe. I have the slightly newer version of the same incubator you have. Yeah, my turner came with it and the window is one big window. I always wondered how they hatched on the same day when hens lay every 26 hours..it’s amazing the eggs can sit three weeks before incubating! I’ve read a lot about this..you can sanitize the eggs right before you put them in the incubator..dip in a 100 degree solution of correct egg sanitizer for 1-3 minutes, then let air dry, don’t scrub. The higher temp solution is so the air won’t get sucked into the egg introducing bacteria. Cooler egg, warmer solution. Sanitized eggs can have higher hatch rates. No heat lamps! Use the flat brooder heating plates from places like Rent A Coop! Heat lamps cause fires and introduce too much light. If they peck, darken the brooder, introduce some greens and then roosts and other stuff while separating any with wounds.

[@swswithallms1747]

Excellent content and commentary. Your voice is so calming and you do a great job of covering the steps to incubation process. The addition of equipment tips is so helpful. I feel confident I can move forward on hatching 🐣 my first batch of Rhode Island Blues. Thank you

[@barbarafelcan8012]

Have helped a lot of chickens out and nothing wrong with them . If they pip and not out and beak not moved in 5-6 hours I go in and slowly help them out see any red stop and let them rest couple hours start again .. Most time Maran eggs thick shelled and you have to get chicks out or they will die. Nothing wrong live happy healthy lives. Great information, like the light bulb .

[@roberthodge7802]

Excellent presentation! A bakers dozen of useful information. Thanks!

[@GunterHomestead]

Great video. Very informative. I like your alternative heat lamp. I will have to remember that one.

[@afghanchanneluk]

First of all I want to thank you for the very informative video from hen to egg n hatch then all processes to get a chick...m really glade to found your channel...all questions have answered in a very good way...including food bedding and the right temperature...once again thank you so much

[@SSLFamilyDad]

No problem! Glad you found it useful

[@owensadventures8941]

Ty so much for this video man! Day 19 is tomorrow for us and I was trying to find out how they would run around on that egg turner lol😂. U answered that completely. Ty so much! Great video

[@AlsHomestead]

Thanks for making this video! I have 13 eggs in a little incubator right now they are on day 7.

[@JulieMikalson]

I'm babysitting eggs now with 6 pips this morning! So exciting!

[@susieiacuessa4538]

Good video I’m just starting out . , it very helpful ! I’ve got 41 eggs in my incubator and on day 15 ! Thank you !

[@Buslady2007]

And in Cornwall UK, I am on Day 3 with 24 eggs. VG video, thank you.

[@ameliaorris8804]

Thanks for the tip .o have eggscin my incubator. Now I'm more educated on the process

[@bradklein9575]

Great job on how it all works. I am just start up my incubator in few days .

[@margaret4385]

this is really helpful, thanks!

[@MeMe-ur9mn]

I grew up doing this... Definitely like seeing how others do it. Awesome Video Thank you!

[@ChickenTour]

Nice, very informative !!!

[@3dentertainment301]

Good lord, finally. BEST video I have found. Thank goodness, and thank you sir

[@erikruiz5004]

best video ive seen so far thank you

[@Sewpot]

Thanks for the info, it gives a little more confidence to go ahead.👍

[@raincoast9010]

I know that Rome wasn't built in a day but have you thought about building a few different paddocks for the chickens and rotating them through to let the grass grow back?

[@SSLFamilyDad]

Yes, and also they will free range around many days in the yard also

[@conradhomestead4518]

Thanks for sharing this information 👍

[@dianne2446]

Great video! You mentioned that you had two batches of eggs in the incubator. How did you control the humidity and do you keep it at the same temperature of the ones that hatch first? Thanks.

[@Cogzed]

Great video bro. I got my first chicks coming by mail mid July. Thanks for the info.

[@afghanchanneluk]

Cogzed can u order chicks by mail ?please share the link...which website r selling n posting by mail..Iam interested to know

[@JulieMikalson]

@@afghanchanneluk There are some great Hatcheries around the country. Try to find one in your area, and consider sharing the Order with a friend to split Shipping costs and get more chicks per $. Meyer, Murray McMurry, Ideal, Cackle are among largest, with huge selection and assortment deals. Smaller local NPIP sources would be better - you may be able to pick them up without shipping. Your state Ag service will have a list.

[@hotpocket5265]

Wait every egg I've helped out has-been successful and out lived my last hens. Helping egg can be great too if you stick with it.

[@texasroyalty1566]

Thanks so much for this video new to having baby chickens so this video was very helpful

[@lisagilmore4519]

Good video..I have a hen that went broody this week. Gave her 5 eggs and let her hatch them out. Our flock is just for eggs so I don’t do many. Have a good day.

[@afghanchanneluk]

Lisa Gilmore please update us if u got any hatching..good luck

[@TMesser74]

We have little bantams that went broody. Two girls that co parent lol. They’ve hatched 3 so far.

[@davekeeping2814]

Today I had one hatch out then die so your right nature takes it way with the weak ones

[@JulieMikalson]

Yes, and fewer will be weak when we do what we can...with prep rest, sanitizing hands and equipment, even Temp, proper Humidity for developmental stage, gentle turning OR tipping, removing duds, keeping lids/doors closed, strong healthy and fertile parents from a farm with biosecurity measures, and good bloodlines. Kids and pets need to stay away unless educated/closely supervised.

[@mountainviewturning5319]

Great tips

[@gingerreid8569]

We bought a small incubator off Amazon...we are only getting about 4 eggs a day from our hens...had 4 on day 1 and collected 1 more on day 2 and marked...has an egg turner and we add water every 2'nd day...wonder if you candle your eggs or just take pot luck? We have raised cornish x chicks and were told to add about a tsp of ACV to the water container to help with pasty butt...it worked great for us...we have never hatched eggs, so your video is great!

[@johnnybear111]

great video, i should be all set up to do this by the end of the week!

[@FarmallFanatic]

Hatching Saturday 👍

[@ynuleon4485]

this video is so helpful

[@Mackenzie-smith345]

You just make it so easy I am getting chicks I now know every thing cause of you

[@claymor3846]

Great video!

[@vamountainman2512]

never thought about checking watts or anything, just bought a typical heat light and housing from tractor supply. I have to keep mine on a pulley about 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 FEET above the brooder depending on temperature or it would certainly cook the little guys. If I placed my housing anywhere near as low as yours, it would guarantee a fire. I more often see setups more similar to yours and it leaves me scratching my head.😅

[@simangadlamini5073]

Thanks for the video

[@shockerthreeone]

Thanks!

[@harleyjackson4208]

Super helpful video

[@heavenstrulove]

How often should I candle the eggs? Do you have a video that helps me see what they look like at different stages?

[@ambryacres]

I’m looking for a better thermometer for inside an incubator, any suggestions? We have had a difficult time maintaining the humidity. Thanks

[@cloud6862]

great video how cute

[@litahsr.8226]

ah oh...😈 "pop" there's a bully in there 10:24

[@litahsr.8226]

@Comment Police the yellow one is the meat (bully) the other one is for eggs

[@deanstoner432]

Great video. Have just taken the leap and put 12 duck eggs in the incubator for the first time. I have bought a heated brooder. Would this be sufficient source of heat or do you think I would need a lamp too?

[@marknaglreiter9330]

An excellent no BS vudeo, thanks.

[@205004gs]

Good job 👍

[@hustlerkushy]

As soon as you defined hierarchy standings, the older one throat punched his younger bro lol

[@missflite74]

Thank you so much for posting this video! It's great to see and better understand the process of raising baby chicks. One question: Isn't breed purity (for want of a better word) compromised when you have one breed of rooster (a Wyandotte, I think you said) mating with another breed of hen (like your buff Orpington)? Does it matter? This is the one question I've never found an answer to! Again, many thanks and please stay well!

[@SSLFamilyDad]

To us it does matter, we aren't showing these chickens we are raising them for food so as long as they let eggs and grow big I dont care what color their feathers are;)

[@santpatrick13]

Thank you so much. I'm just about to attempt my first batch. When the new chick's go.outside do you have to house them.on their own away from the adult chickens? Once again, many thanks, live your content so informative

[@fresh6993]

Nice video. Thanks

[@tan2230]

Great info and much appreciated! Can't believe someone gave you a 👎. Well, I guess one hater will keep us all humble...lol. Always look forward to your videos. Maple syrup videos were "sweet"! Take care and congrats on everything.

[@JhunDumsTVXj]

Wow amazing

[@shankapalsurendrarao2912]

Nice video,thanks

[@larrylewis3573]

Dear Family Dad, I really enjoy your sustainable living videos. I am very appreciative that you are taking us along as you sustain your family by raising chickens for eggs and meat. This is a timely topic given the time we are now going through. My purpose in writing you is to ask a few questions I hope you will address with your chickens as the season unfolds. Recently, you hatched out two settings of twenty eggs each three days apart. How many hatched from each hatch? Do you put all the chicks from the two hatches together in your one small brooder? When you move them to a bigger location please show us the size and structure of this location. How long do you keep the chicks in this location? At what point do you move them outside? When you move them outside are they kept separate from your main flock which continues to supply your family with eggs? Please go over for us the transition from the old flock to the new flock. Once the young chickens get to a certain level of maturity please let us know how many are pullets and how many cockerels. Also, please let us know when you process the young roosters. I notice you have a breeding rooster from the outside. Please tell us why this is necessary and how to obtain a breeding rooster. Do you plan to hatch out more chicks this year? If so, why and when? In one of your videos you stated that you had one Buff Orpington hen because they are good setters. Have you hatched any chicks under this hen ? If so,how did this work out? Thank you for the time and sacrifice you put into these videos. You do a great and worthwhile job in the vineyard of the Lord. Sincerely In Christ Jesus, Larry C. Lewis, London Ontario, Canada

[@SSLFamilyDad]

Hey Larry, lots of great questions here. Not sure I can answer them all in a comment but I will take you along in future videos for the process. We will take these out to our barn coop when th temps are warm enough. I will keep them inside for 2-3 weeks and yes all that hatch from this batch go together as they are only a few days apart.

[@scottwadsworth5889]

So excited! I bought our grandkids an incubator for Christmas and I am on my way to pick up fertilized eggs right now! Thank you so much much! How long do you leave them in the incubator after they hatch?

[@heatherk8931]

Suggested 2 days. They have absorbed the yolk to keep them fed.

[@missmud2053]

What is the humidity best at for hatching and incubation

[@rosamiguel6144]

Thanks for the info..really liked the video right on point..😁👌🖒

[@leonannegers7874]

Question how did you start your flock did you order from Murray Hatchery and my grandfather told me a long time ago to put marbles in the water it gives them something to Peck at the marbles that have the little specks on the inside.

[@estherwolf4354]

Thank you for the video, I think the ceramic light is a great Idea, I roasted a goose chicken once in an aquarium Just got too hot and died I felt so bad.

[@ronallens6204]

Never heard of the ceramic lamp. Will have to look that one up. Ur process never worked for me so I would put them in a temp controlled browser with the food, water, minerals and probiotics mixed together for the first 2 weeks. Then move them to a larger broader with water and food separate. I prefer a quail waterer as there is always a couple who want to take a swim and they don't put so much sawdust in the water. A couple weeks later I change over to chicken nipples. Once they are a couple months old I take them off of the minerals and put them in their own pen. I don't lose so many that way.. as for the Hatcher, I had to modify mine by putting a temp control from Ebay on it. The dial flaked out and would either let the eggs go cold or made hard boiled eggs. Always use another thermometer to make sure like you do.

[@viktoradamson]

Cool

[@Lisa54321]

Great informative video. Thank you! 🥚🐣🐥🥚🐣🐥🥚🐣🐥🥚🐣🐥🥚🐣🐥

[@davidconrady3249]

Great video but what kind of incubator are you using?

[@forced4motorsports]

FYI if not mentioned yet - That 'fleck' can be present on an egg that is not fertilized. I got them now and then without roosters.

[@jeffreyburnett3639]

What's the humidity supost to be

[@karazieglertheartcollectiv3826]

Such a great informative video. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge. Life is great 👍

[@chemaschickencoop]

Cool vid

[@deniseerskine858]

What do you keep your humidity at.

[@marcusm4271]

Yes I would appreciate to know that

[@getitright5863]

Please can you tell me the range for humidity?

[@sonigram5882]

I very much appreciate your information, have already ordered the light bulb you use. We live in Arizona where the temps get down to the 50s at night this time of year. Can I put the chick's outside on the patio, in their box with their light at night? Also, when should I place the babies in with the big girls and rooster?

[@SSLFamilyDad]

If the lows are 50 that should be fine outside with a heat lamp. Give them a month or 2 before you mix them with an established adult flock

[@livinoutdoors2065]

Hey I got a few questions about egg hatching. This is my first year doing it and I dont have much experiance. The eggs are at day 23 and none have hatched or pipped. In the beginning from day 1-18 we kept the rotator on and the humidity at 45 to 55, and the temperature from 37 to 38 degrees c. We took the rotator out at day 18. We heard some chirping as we were taking it out. We havent heard any since then. And none have pipped. At day 18 we also changed the humidity to 65 to 75 as we reached and stopped rotation. We havent had any hatch and I opened up 3 today to see what happened. (We had 23 eggs) 2 of the 3 were basically full grown (by the look of them and I guessed that's what they'd look like) they had some small furry feathers but just didnt look alive. I put the rest back into the Incubator. I was wondering if you could tell me if I did anything wrong and give me some tips. Thanks

[@oxin1099]

did any of them hatch?

[@teamjar9051]

Great video thanks ! One question I do have is how long do you wait from hatching to removing them from incubator ?

[@SSLFamilyDad]

It depends but as soon as they move around a bit and are completely detached from any egg shell I will grab them out

[@teamjar9051]

@@SSLFamilyDad Thanks !

[@Victory-mq7wz]

Baby chicks 🥰

[@lisagarcia6660]

Hi my first time having chickens an one of hen layed 17 eggs an one just had hatched today an I did leave home in the incubator for couple of house an I put him in his new home now my daughter told me he is she is shaking I don’t know if it cool or worm like I do have the red heating light on but I think I should cover a little an see

[@lonniepruitt5487]

I bought same heat bulb..👍

[@JeepGuy8686]

At what age do you get the older chickens processed for meat?

[@zoeogbugo9188]

WoW

[@bingopeeps3207]

Thank you so much! Now I can get a pet chicken from a grocery store egg

[@Dragon-ex3tz]

Thank you for the information but should I turn them three or five times because the Internet keeps on saying three and five and the humidity should be 55 to 60 or less thank you❤

[@johnvernon6328]

just got 6 eggs today, how long before i can put in the incubater? we had to give away our black polish (very nasty rooster) but would like to see if he had any kids?

[@calliepatteen]

You have a light brahma when in there too

[@David-fv7zg]

So....another follow up Q. Do you candle your eggs? I candle after about 12 days, it is quite evident by then which eggs took and will likely maintain viability and which didn’t. What are you doing with these chicks from a management perspective and how many do you have on hand routinely? They are obviously a mixed breed unless you stick with one breed. I used to keep New HAmpshire Reds, but missed the diversity of they different breeds so we went back to a mix. It’s a little more exciting when they hatch as well to see what you end up with. We use ours to replenish the stock and for meat birds. We dont need to buy new stock anymore as the first year birds are in one coop, the second are in another (this is where we get out fertilized eggs from) and at the end of that season they usually go in the freezer as the first year chicks will now be the layers for hatching as well. We do replace our Rooster every few years though, we have a small flock of no more than 18 birds so the genetic diversity is a concern otherwise. We have tried bigger flocks with multiple roosters but we had too many issues with Rooster dominance and taking it out on the hens.

[@SSLFamilyDad]

Through winter we try to keep it down to less than 10. Over summer we may have 30 or 40. We just have a bunch of mixed breeds now but eventually will have a pure barred rock flock

[@David-fv7zg]

@@SSLFamilyDad are you processing these birds yourself? Id like to hear more about your thoughts there, not the actual steps of processing but the workflow and management of the flock.

[@GreenLand-yb2mx]

I’ll make it ❤❤❤❤

[@gustavjohansson8358]

When can you let them meet the other hens? So they treat them wheel.

[@aminaschmiat6476]

I've got my eggs on 37.4 degrees is that enough to hatch chick's out & we had a blackout does that kill the babies & how long can the power be off to kill them

[@annmartinez4796]

Can I use a Tupperware container as a brooder?

[@pgkkicks]

When do you take them out of the incubator, as soon as one hatches?

[@austinswift9966]

I’ve never had a chicken drown but I have had multiple turkeys drown in the drinker