Hatching Tips

Hatching Tips for Shipped Eggs 🐣

Thank you for trusting us with your hatching egg order! We work hard to ensure every egg is packaged with care, but shipped eggs naturally go through a lot during transit. Because of this, hatch rates are often lower than locally sourced eggs—even with perfect incubation. These tips can help give your eggs the best possible start.

1. Prep Your Incubator
Once you know your eggs are on the way, get your incubator running at 99.5–100°F with humidity around 25–30%. I highly recommend using a secondary thermometer/hygrometer, as built-in readings are not always accurate. I personally prefer dry hatching, so I do not add water until lockdown.

2. Unpack & Inspect
Carefully unpack your eggs and candle each one, checking for cracks and detached air cells.

3. Rest the Eggs
In cooler months, place eggs in a carton pointy end down and allow them to rest until they reach room temperature.
In warmer months, I recommend placing eggs in the incubator right away.

4. Set Eggs Upright
Place eggs in the incubator pointy end down. If your incubator turns eggs on their side, use an egg carton or cut paper towel rolls to help keep them upright while the air sacs settle.

5. Turning the Eggs
Allow shipped eggs time to settle by keeping turners off for at least 4 days.
After day 4, begin turning (or plug in your turner). Handle eggs as little as possible and avoid excessive candling.

6. Lockdown (Day 19)
Increase humidity to around 50% and stop turning the eggs. Remove the eggs from the turners and place them in a carton to hatch. Try not to open the incubator unless absolutely necessary after this point.

7. Hatch Time (Days 20–23)
Chicks may hatch anytime between days 20–23. Some may arrive earlier or later depending on development.

8. Leave Chicks in the Incubator
Allow chicks to fully dry before removing them. They can safely remain in the incubator for 24–72 hours if needed.

Most importantly—be patient and give your hatch grace. Shipped eggs can be unpredictable, but seeing those first little pips is always worth the wait.

Happy Hatching! 🤍