In these articles, I take you through the hatch patterns on all twenty-one days of the incubation cycle.
So you'll know exactly what should be happening and what you need to look out for at every stage.
Do you feel like this?
Are you excited - and at the same time terrified?
I'll let you into a secret - I was more nervous hatching chicken eggs for the first time than at almost any other time of my life. I fussed about like the proverbial mother hen, worrying about anything and everything that could go wrong.
Occasionally, when I thought I'd done everything wrong, I cried.
If you feel a bit like that, you need to know - it doesn't have to be that way!
There are very definite patterns from the start of incubation right through to hatch day. Recognising them, and knowing something about the different stages of hatching will help you identify whether your eggs are following the right path.
Even if you're not hatching eggs yourself, it's a fascinating journey to see.
Once you've done it you'll feel eupohric, satisfied, elated, proud - and confident enough to do it all over again. You'll be hooked - I guarantee!
So join with me here and let the journey begin!
Hatch patterns follow a fairly predictable path over the 21 days of incubation. You'll find a lot of information here, and a lot of real life pictures to help you see in detail what goes on at each stage.
I've split this topic into several pages, each one covering a different part of the process.
Click on any of the links or pictures to go to that page.
The most popular, frequently asked questions from the basics of what incubating is to the technicalities of temperature and humidity levels, using broody hens and the equipment you'll need.
Whether you're intending to incubate and hatch your own chicks, or you've already started, these questions are bound to be those you'd want to ask, too.
If you're thinking of hatching your own chicks you might like to join my more detailed 28-day "hatching club". It's a day-by-day guide to how to plan and what to expect. It explains the process with text, videos, images - and there's a private Facebook group where you can ask questions and post pics of your own brood. |