Novice gamebird and poultry producers usually become interested in artificial incubation of their own chicks. The success of this type project depends on proper care and incubation of the hatching eggs so healthy, vigorous chicks are produced. The following topics discussed in this publication will help improve the producer's success.

• Selection of Hatching Eggs
• Egg Care and Storage
• Incubators
• Incubating Conditions
• Sanitation

Selection of Hatching Eggs

Most producers set as many eggs as their breeders produce. If incubator space is the limiting factor, it is more profitable to select the better quality eggs for incubating.

A few tips to follow when selecting hatching eggs are:

 Select eggs from breeders that are (1) well developed, mature and healthy (2) compatible with their mates and produce a high percentage of fertile eggs; (3) are not disturbed much during the mating season; (4) fed a complete breeder diet; and (5) not directly related [brother, sister, mother, father, etc.].
 Avoid excessively large or small eggs. Large eggs hatch poorly and small eggs produce small chicks.
• Avoid eggs with cracked or thin shells. These eggs have difficulty retaining moisture needed for proper chick development. Penetration of disease organisms increase in cracked eggs.
• Do not incubate eggs that are excessively misshapen.
• Keep only clean eggs for hatching. Wash dirty eggs or wipe eggs clean with a damp cloth. This sanitizes the egg and prevents entry of disease organisms. Be sure to use something such as a soft paper towel as to not force any disease organisms through the pores of the shell. Use a cleaner such as diluted Clorox and water. We use a Shaklee product called Basic G. It is a anti-bacterial cleaner.

Egg Care and Storage
Many times a producer carefully attends to the incubation process but disregards the care of the eggs before they are placed in the incubator. Even before incubation starts the embryo is developing and needs proper care. Hatching eggs suffer from reduced hatchability if the eggs are not cared for properly. Listed below are tips to help maintain hatching egg quality.

1. Collect eggs at least three times daily. When daily high temperatures exceed 85 degrees F. increase egg collection to five times daily. Collect two or three times in the morning and one or two times in the afternoon.
2. Always use clean eggs for hatching purposes . If eggs are excessively dirty discard them. Do not set dirty eggs.
3. Store eggs in a cool-humid storage area. Ideal storage conditions include a 55 degree F. temperature and 75% relative humidity. Store the eggs with the small end pointed downward.

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