Agriculture Literacy Program
Kendra Cox, Coordinator
# I Industrial Park Dr; Hillsboro, IL 62049
PH: 217/532-3941  Fax: 217/532-3944
E-Mail: cox@uicu.edu
Supported by:
Montgomery County Farm Bureau
M & M Service Company
Montgomery County SWCD
Partners for Agricultural Literacy
Central IL Livestock Association
EMBRYOLOGY & INCUBATION CHECKLIST:
1. Set up the incubator in a place that is not near a furnace or air conditioner duct or right
next to a window. The temperature variations in these locations can prevent a good hatch
rate.
2. Make sure to check that the turner cord is going out the groove made for it in the
incubator and that the front of the bottom and the front of the lid match up.
3. Use only distilled water in the circulated tunnel of the incubator bottom.
4. The incubator temperature range is 99.5 F to 101.9 F before setting the eggs, the
temperature should be at 100F. Have the incubator running for a day before eggs are
brought.
5. Check that the turner is moving from one side to the next. It moves very slowly, so just
note position a few hours after first checking to see if it’s pointing in a new direction.
The big end of the egg is up, and the smaller end is in the hole of the egg turner.
6. Every three to four days use the baster to refill the circulated trough of water in the
bottom of the incubator.
7. Candling should be done between the 7th and 18th day of incubation. If you would prefer
to have me candle the eggs, give me a call to set up a time. I’ll come when you prefer –
before, during, or after school hours.
8.
At day 17 or 18 fill circulated and thermal troughs with water and use the sponge strips to
hold extra water so humidity is nice and high on the last three days of incubation. Take
out the turner and spread the cheesecloth on the wire screen then lay the eggs on the
cheesecloth. (This protects the chicks’ navel while hatching and also helps to keep the
incubator clean.)
(Don’t forget to take plugs or tape off the holes in the top of the incubator during the
hatching process or whenever you set the eggs on the cheesecloth, so the chicks get
plenty of oxygen.) If eggs are started on a Tuesday, you should count that next day as
one. The third Friday after setting eggs on a Tuesday is the 17th day. The eggs should
hatch on the 21st day, but can hatch on the 20th to the 22nd.
University of Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment.
If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this program, please contact Montgomery County Extension Unit.
9. During the last few days when the chicks are closer to hatching, it’s important not to
disturb the eggs. In nature the mother hen doesn’t get up from the nest the last few days.
10. While hatching, the chicks should be left in the incubator a few hours until they are
stronger and dry. There’s no problem if they hatch overnight because they can stay in it
up to 24 hours.
11. They can then be moved to a box with the lamp attached to add warmth. If the chicks are
cold, they will bunch up too much and may suffocate each other. Put the thermometer in
the box to check temperature.
12. Put wood chips in the bottom of the box. Also, set up waterer and feeder. Chicks need
to be shown how to start drinking by sticking their beaks into the water and letting them
drink. Just use tap water for their drinking water. The distilled water is to protect the
incubator from mineral deposits.
13. Give extra time for the remaining chicks to hatch because it can take up to 24 hours for
the whole brood to hatch. Sometimes longer.
14. Wrap all the broken shells, unhatched eggs, and the sponges from the bottom troughs in
the cheesecloth and simply throw those items away.
15. Harsh cleansers can cause Styrofoam incubators to leak. Use a diluted bleach water to
rinse out the incubators. This kills any bacteria that might have been from the previous
hatch. Incubators should be air dried then.
16. If at any time during the incubation process you have questions or concerns, call 5323941 and ask to speak to Kendra Cox or Denise Kistner. Kendra’s home number is 53344501, and she makes “school” calls if necessary.
17. Good luck! When you are ready to have me pick up the chicks, let me know.
*When setting the eggs on the turner, the big end of the egg is up with the small end
placed in the hole. The chick’s head needs to be up at the end of incubation toward
the air sac that is in the big end of the egg.