An incubator is basically a box that holds eggs
while maintaining an appropriate temperature, humidity, and oxygen level. Incubators have varying capacities and adapters for eggs from different species.
Popular incubator models often include automatic turners, humidifiers, and temperature controllers.
Egg turners can usually be purchased separately for incubators that do not include them. Humidifiers
can be the type that disperses water vapor as needed or many smaller incubators use a simple water reservoir. Temperature is controlled by older wafer systems or the newer digital thermostats.
Incubators come in forced air or still air versions. The temperature and humidity in a forced air
incubator is more consistent. They also return to desired temperature and humidity more quickly after being opened.
Still air incubators can give inaccurate humidity and temperature readings and the temperature in
them can vary considerably. Whenever possible, use a forced air incubator. Regardless of incubator type, for a successful hatch you must turn the eggs and monitor the temperature, humidity, and ventilation.
The incubator should be in a room that has no drafts or direct sunlight; the temperature and
humidity should be controlled and stable. The incubator and hatcher should also be isolated from the growing facilities. Newly hatched chicks can be contaminated by older birds and the dust created by growing birds. Take biosecurity measures to insure the incubator area is not contaminated by older birds.
Chicks may be hatched in the incubator depending on what type it is; however, hatching creates
large amounts of dust and down. Hatching in a separate unit will keep dust and down from contaminating the incubator. Temperature and humidity can also be controlled more easily if you use separate units for incubating and hatching. Regardless of method, you must properly clean and disinfect the incubator and hatcher between
batches.
Two to three days before incubation
Sanitize the incubator and run it for several days before setting the eggs. This will ensure that the
incubator is maintaining the proper temperature and relative humidity before the eggs are set. Adjusting the temperature and humidity after the eggs are set can decrease hatchability. If you are using an automatic turner, test it completely before setting the eggs. The temperature and humidity of the incubation room should be correct and stable when you set the eggs. Do not set the eggs until the temperature and humidity in the incubators and the room are correct and stable.
Cleaning and fumigation
Microbes in an incubator can significantly reduce hatchability. Cleaning and disinfecting equipment
must be standard operating procedures. Disinfect, incubators, hatchers and their racks with quaternary ammonia or a commercial disinfectant after each hatch.
The day eggs are set
Let stored eggs warm to room temperature for 4 hours to 8 hours before setting them in the incubator. If you place cold eggs in a warm, humid incubator, condensation will form on them and lead to possible contamination or suffocation.
The temperature or humidity for a few hours, unless the temperature exceeds 102°F. After 4
hours, make proper adjustments. The final temperature should vary only .5 degree above or below 99.5°F. The temperature of incubators without circulating fans fluctuates more than incubators with circulating fans. If the temperature does not exceed 102°F, the hatch should not be harmed.
Set the small end of the egg lower than the large end in the incubator. A developing embryo orients
so that the head develops toward the air cell, which is in the large end of the egg. If the small end is higher than the large end during incubation, a chick’s head can orient away from the air cell of the egg and not hatch.
Set stage
The set stage refers to incubation period up until 2 or 3 days before a hatch. Different species have
different incubation periods . Incubating different species together in the same incubator is not recommended, especially if the incubator is also used as hatcher.
Turning the eggs during incubation prevents embryo death and unhealthy hatches. Eggs must be turned at least five times every 24 hours. Turning more frequently is better and once per hour is best. Keep accurate records to ensure the eggs are turned three to five times each 24-hour period. Failure to turn eggs appropriately results in embryo death.
Turning must continue even through weekends. An automatic turner simplifies this task and decreases human error during the incubation process.
Temperature, humidity, and ventilation of incubator
During the set stage, temperature in the incubator should be 99.5°F to 100°F for chickens. Other species have different requirements (Table 1). If the temperature deviates more than 1/2 degree from 100°F, a poor hatch is likely. Check the temperature at least twice a day.
Relative humidity should be set at 55 to 60 percent. If the incubator uses a passive humidity control system, add water to the pan or trough daily to maintain correct humidity levels. If the humidity in the incubator is too low or too high, the hatch will fail.
Insufficient humidity causes:
◆ The air cell to be too large at the time of hatch
◆ The contents of the egg be too viscous for the chick to turn
◆ The membranes to be too tough to break
◆ The navel to not close properly
Excess humidity will cause:
◆ Too little water to evaporate from the egg
◆ The air cell to be too small for the chick to reach during the hatching process
◆ The chick to drown or be too swollen with water to turn in the egg
◆ The yolk sac to be too large for the navel to close completely
The air cell of the egg should become larger as incubation progresses because of the balance between temperature and humidity during incubation. Chicken eggs lose 12 percent to 14 percent of their total weight to evaporation during incubation. You can weigh racks of eggs during incubation to detect problems with humidity and evaporative loss before a hatch is destroyed.
The chick embryo uses oxygen and produces carbon dioxide. This gas exchange is insignificant during early incubation or when a small number of eggs are incubated; however, follow the manufacturer’s recommendations to assure that developing chicks have adequate oxygen available. Near the end of the incubation period, the shell nearly filled with the embryo and a full incubator requires large amounts of oxygen. Ensure adequate ventilation and monitor wet and dry bulb temperatures very carefully during the last third of incubation.
Incubation Reminders
• Place the incubator in a room with a constant temperature, no drafts or direct sunlight.
• Sanitize the incubator.
• Wash hands before touching eggs. Keep germs, dirt and oil away from incubating eggs.
• Only incubate eggs together from species with similar incubation periods.
• Keep the small end of the egg lower than the large end.
• Record of incubator data daily.
• Ensure that the humidifier is working or that the water pan is filled.
• Verify humidity levels are between 55 to 60 percent.
• Check temperature daily and keep it at 99.5°F to 100°F.
• Turn eggs at least 5 times a day until 3 days before hatch.
• Increase ventilation during the last third of incubation.
• Do not turn for the final 3 days. Provide a cloth or rough paper for the chicks to walk on.
• Increase humidity to 65 to 70 percent at hatch stage.