How Long Does it Take for Chicken Eggs to Hatch

“Sweetie” the Silke from our first hatch.

I remember when I started raising backyard chickens. I would've honestly never considered hatching chicks…until a couple of years ago. I decided if I were going to educate backyard chicken owners on every aspect of raising backyard chickenshatching chicks would be a fun thing to try!

I had always wanted Silkiesso I ordered a dozen hatching eggs from Alabama Silkies. I had done my research on all the things I needed for hatching chicks. SoI purchased an incubator and got all of our supplies ready. It's very important to get your incubator up and running before you place your eggs. This will ensure the proper temperature and humidity needed for the growth and hatching of your chicks. I ran our incubator for 24 hours to make sure the temperature and humidity were holding.

Get your kids involved! Our kids loved learning hatching the process.

List of Supplies for Hatching Chickens

1. Quality Incubator: In my opinionnot all incubators are created equal! This isn’t an endorsementbut I know many people have had great luck with Brinsea incubators. This isn’t the incubator I usedand I had some very stressful moments with the humidity and egg roller. If your incubator has an egg trayplace the eggs in with the pointy side down. This will keep the air sac where it needs to be.

2. Water: Keeping the proper humidity in the incubator at all times is super important! The humidity levels can honestly keep the eggs from even hatching. This was the most stressful part of hatching chicks for me. I would watch that humidity reader constantly. In the first 18 daysthe humidity should be right around 50%-55%. For the last 3 daysthe humidity should be bumped up to 65%-70%.

3. Thermometer: Most incubators have a thermometerhoweverI recommend getting a small kitchen thermometer as a backup to ensure the proper temperature. The temperature should be set to 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit and maintained.

4. Flashlight: Around days 7-10you can “candle” your eggs. In the darkyou can carefully use a flashlight to shine through the egg to see if you can see blood vessels and the embryo. This is really fun! Sadlyif you don’t see anything like blood vessels or movementyou will need to remove this egg from the incubator. Either nothing had started growingor the chick died. Use this time to inspect your eggs as well. If an egg is cracked or leakingit will need to be removed and disposed of as well. Make sure you’re washing your hands after handling the eggs.

5. Brooder: I think sometimes people underestimate the importance of a good brooder. While it doesn’t have to be fancya solid and safe brooder with the right temperature and lighting is really important! Read my simple guide on how to set up a brooder. I make sure I have the Baby Chick Care Kit ready to use as well. Strong Animals has made it so easy to ensure our baby chicks get everything their little systems need to grow strong and healthy!

   
   

This was “Sid,” the roosterright after he made it out of the egg.

How Long Does it Take for Chickens to Hatch

Chicks take approximately 21 days to hatch. The eggs need to be turned once a day for the first 18 days and then left alone for the last 3 days. Turning the eggs during the first 18 days (3-5 times a day) will prevent the chick from sticking to the side of the shell. Most of the newer incubators have an egg-turner that does this for you. Having an egg turner also helps eliminate the need to open the incubatorletting valuable heat and humidity out. If you have an egg turnerthe only thing you have to monitor then is the temperature and humidity.

After the 18 days of turning are overyou stop the turning for the last 3 days and up the humidity to be between 65-70 degrees Fahrenheit. Chicks will likely hatch on Day 21but they can go a couple more days. If your eggs haven’t started to hatch by Day 23they likely won’t.

What is an Egg Pip

When the chicks start to hatchthey will make a “pip” in the shell. Every chick is born with an “egg tooth” at the tip of their beak. This is to crack the shell for hatching. Creation is amazingisn’t it!? This egg tooth will fall off in the first day or so.

The egg pip.

When Chicks HatchHere's What to Do

When your chick successfully hatchesit will come out wet. Keep the chick in the incubator until it’s fully dry. Yesit will be somewhat loud and clumsybut it’s best to keep them in there to start. The other reason for this is to keep the incubator in “lockdown” so the other chicks can keep the proper temp and humidity for hatching.

Once the chick is drygo ahead and place them in the already prepared brooder. Chicks will eat the yolk sac before they hatch so they likely won’t eat much for the first day or two! That’s how chicks can be sent in the mail. They are good for up to 3 days without food or water. I usually give mine the first 24 hours out of the incubator before I introduce food and water. ButI won’t wait 3 days.

One of the wonderful things about ordering chicks from a hatchery is that they come sexed. When you hatch eggsthere’s obviously a chance you could get some roosters. I ended up with 4 roosters out of my dozen hatching eggs and rehomed a couple of them. You will need to know your city’s ordinances or guidelines on roosters.

Either wayit’s such a fun experience to hatch chicks! Get your kids involved. We had such a wonderful day meeting all of our new little flock members.

Until next time,

–The Wing Lady

Baby Chick Care Kit

Whether you are a first-time chicken owner or a seasoned veteranthe Baby Chick Care Kit is the easy and natural way to get your baby chicks off to the best start. Kit includes - First PeepChick E-lixirCoop Recuperate and baby chick success guide.