Oops! The 5 Mistakes We Made Hatching Our First Chicks

This summer we decided to give our toddlers a memory of a lifetime and hatch chicks! As an urban homesteading family, we were excited to try our hand at poultry farming.

Well... sort of.

We are not zoned for livestock, so we had to have a plan for where to bring them once they reached four weeks. Thankfully, our dear friend who gave us their chicken eggs was excited to return them to their flock when the time was right.

Even with the support of fellow homesteaders--there were still some big misconceptions we had about hatching chicks.

1. Water, Not Just Heat!

Even though we did a fair amount of research before hatching our chicks, we were surprised to find that our second-hand incubator also came with watch hoses.

Chicken eggs need to be between 100-102 degrees Fahrenheit to develop properly. They also need to be in an environment with 65-70% humidity.

Ensure your feathered friends have the perfect environment to hatch by keeping that water reservoir filled!

2. Insulate the Incubator

For two whole days, our incubator struggled to get up to temperature. Even in the heat of summer, it was stuck at about 92 degrees. Luckily, eggs can remain at room temperature for up to 12 days and still develop.

We put the styrofoam packaging back onto the unit and left it for another few hours. Still, it only got to about 98 degrees.

Even though it made me a little nervous, the only way we could get the incubator to 100 degrees consistently was to use a germination mat. Similar to a heating pad, a germination mat gets up to about 90 degrees and is waterproof. We then wrapped the entire unit--germination mat and styrofoam--in beach towels. It was only then that the temperature was consistently 100 degrees.

3. Stop the Spin

Our biggest mistake, and maybe the reason we only had success with 2 out of the 9 eggs, was that we never turned off the rotation features.

I know--big oops.

After 15 days, they no longer need to be rotated. Any disruption may hinder their process. While you can handle carefully to candle and check their growth, rotating in the second half of their germination is a no-no.

4. Firm Flooring Is Key

Your incubator setup might be top-notch, but have you paid attention to the flooring? One thing I wish I had known earlier is that they need firm, flat, flooring. A matt or textured surface in your incubator assists the chicks in gaining their footing (and staying dry) and ensures a smooth entrance into the world.

If your incubator does not have good flooring, add cardboard or plastic material to the bottom so that chicks can dry out and get used to their surroundings.

5. Chicks Need Other Chicks

As the eggs crack open and the chicks peep out, here's a vital piece of advice – chicks thrive in the company of other chicks. Social interaction is crucial for their development and well-being. If they are not with 4-5 other chicks, they may not learn proper chicken socialization and may never integrate into a flock.

We had only one of our chicks survive the first few days, so our little Chico needed to get some friends! We drove out to Tractor Supply Co. and brought home 4 other birds. If you find that you have to add a few more to your hatchlings, don't worry if your store-bought chicks are a few days older. They get along just fine!

Final Thoughts

While hatching chicks isn't terribly challenging or time-consuming, it does require a fair amount of research and support.

If you're looking for more information on raising chicks be sure to join a local "Chicken Chat" or Facebook group for newbies. There, you'll get quick answers to your questions and folks like myself who can help you with what not to do!

Best of luck, future farmers!