🐣By Joslyn Family Farm
There’s nothing quite like the moment a chick breaks through its shell — it’s the birth of new life, a quiet miracle in motion. At Joslyn Family Farm, we’ve spent years refining our incubation process, and we’re honored to share our proven methods with you. Whether you’re a backyard beginner or seasoned homesteader, this guide covers every step — from setting eggs to raising healthy chicks.
Begin with clean, unwashed eggs from healthy hens and a fertile rooster. Ideal hatching eggs should be no more than 7 days old, stored between 50–60°F, pointy end down, and free from cracks, unusual shapes, or dirt.
A well-calibrated incubator is essential for success. At Joslyn Family Farm, our settings are: temperature between 99.5°F and 100°F (ideal for forced-air incubators), humidity maintained consistently at 60% from Day 1 through hatch, and egg turning every 2 hours by most automatic incubators. If turning manually, 3–5 times per day is recommended, evenly spaced.
Most modern incubators stabilize their temperature and humidity within minutes. While older advice recommended a 24-hour warmup, today it’s sufficient to monitor your incubator for 30–60 minutes before loading eggs to ensure it’s holding steady.
From Days 1 to 17, turn eggs regularly, maintain a consistent temperature of 99.5–100°F, and hold humidity steady at 60%. Candle eggs around Days 7 and 14 to check development. You’re looking for strong veining, dark growth, and movement inside the egg.
By Day 18, your chicks are positioning themselves for hatch. This phase is often called “lockdown,” but at Joslyn Family Farm, we take a more practical, results-driven approach. With most modern incubators, automatic egg turning continues by default, and we do not disable it manually. Despite traditional guidance, we’ve consistently maintained a 90%+ hatch rate using this method. Instead of increasing humidity dramatically, we slightly open the air vent or slider to increase airflow — supporting the chick’s respiratory needs as they pip internally and externally. Avoid opening the incubator during this period unless absolutely necessary. The internal environment is delicate, and stable conditions are vital.
Chicks may take 12–24 hours to fully emerge after external pipping. Let the process unfold naturally. Only intervene if a chick is clearly in distress or excessively delayed beyond 24–30 hours post-pip. Once hatched, chicks will appear wet and dazed. Let them remain inside the incubator until completely dry and fluffy.
Transfer dry chicks into a warm brooder that is clean, safe, and enclosed. Set the brooder temperature at 95°F during the first week, lowering it by 5°F each week until the chicks are fully feathered. Use paper towels for the first few days as bedding, then switch to pine shavings (never cedar). Provide fresh water in a shallow container with marbles or stones to prevent drowning. Use non-medicated chick starter crumble with 18–20% protein, and make sure both feed and water are accessible at all times.
To prevent disease and support healthy starts, we recommend adding Ampromed for Poultry to your chicks’ drinking water for the first 5–7 days post-hatch. It helps prevent coccidiosis, a common intestinal disease in young poultry. After or alongside Ampromed, we suggest Flock Arrive Electrolytes — a poultry-specific supplement that supports hydration, immune function, and recovery from hatching stress. This simple step dramatically reduces early mortality and sets your chicks up for strong growth.
During the first week, monitor for “pasty butt” — dried feces that can block a chick’s vent. If found, clean gently with warm water and pat dry. Healthy chicks will be active, chirping, and curious. Limit handling early on to minimize stress and keep the brooder dry and draft-free.
By 6–8 weeks of age, most chicks will be fully feathered and ready to transition to the coop. Start with short supervised outdoor time. Make sure the coop is predator-proof, clean, and properly ventilated. Gradually allow the chicks to spend longer periods outdoors until they’ve fully adjusted.
Incubating and hatching chicks is more than just a process — it’s a chance to witness new life and take part in creation itself. By keeping temperature between 99.5–100°F, holding humidity at 60%, and gently increasing airflow during hatching, we’ve achieved excellent hatch rates year after year. With love, care, and attention — and a few trusted supplements — your chicks will thrive and grow into healthy, happy flock members.
For help, updates, or a peek into our latest hatch, feel free to connect with us by commenting below.
From our family to yours — happy hatching!
— The Joslyns