In-Depth Guide to Incubating & Best Incubators

Hatching Chicks at Home: A Beginner’s Guide from Parkside Poultry

Each spring, interest in hatching chicks at home rises dramatically and in recent years, more families than ever have discovered just how rewarding poultry keeping can be. Whether you’re educating children, starting a backyard flock, or simply experiencing the magic of new life, incubating eggs is one of the most memorable ways to begin your chicken-keeping journey.

At Parkside Poultry, we’ve helped countless beginners successfully hatch and rear healthy chicks. While hatching is exciting, success depends on proper preparation, realistic expectations, and using the right equipment from the start.

Choosing the Right Egg Incubator

Successful incubation starts with temperature stability.

Fertile chicken eggs must be kept at 37.5°C continuously for 21 days. Even small temperature fluctuations can prevent embryos from developing correctly.

Many low-cost incubators available online appear attractive, but cheaper models often struggle to maintain consistent heat levels and may produce disappointing hatch rates. Investing in a reliable, well-built incubator dramatically increases success — particularly for first-time hatchers.

Buy the best you can afford. Smaller but better is way more effective than larger and cheaper. The best incubator for hatching chicken eggs in the UK in my opinion is a Brinsea https://brinsea.co.uk. I have used just about every model over the years and all are fantastic, reliable incubators which will help you to hatch chicks at home.

Where to Position Your Incubator

Location inside your home plays a bigger role than many people realise.

For best results, place your incubator:

Away from direct sunlight

Clear of radiators or heating sources

Out of drafts and doorways

In a room with stable day and night temperatures

Environmental temperature swings force incubators to work harder and often lead to failed hatches.

Always Test Your Incubator First

Before setting eggs, run your incubator for at least 24 hours.

Place a medical or calibrated thermometer at egg level and confirm the internal temperature matches the display reading. Incorrect factory calibration is one of the most common mistakes new poultry keepers encounter.

Adjust settings until the thermometer consistently reads 37.5°C.

Taking this simple step can significantly improve hatch success rates.

Sourcing High-Quality Fertile Eggs

The quality of fertile eggs directly affects hatch outcomes.

At Parkside Poultry, we strongly recommend purchasing eggs from reputable breeders, such as ourselves, who regularly monitor fertility and flock health. Eggs should be carefully packed using protective inserts to minimise damage during transport.

Even under ideal conditions, not every egg will hatch — and understanding this helps prevent disappointment.

Typical Hatch Expectations

100% hatch rate: Rare and exceptional

70–75% hatch rate: Very good

Around 50%: Acceptable for beginners

Below 50%: Usually indicates setup or egg quality issues

From six fertile eggs, hatching four or five healthy chicks is considered a successful outcome.

Planning Ahead: What About Cockerels?

When hatching eggs, approximately half of the chicks may grow into cockerels.

Before incubating, ensure you:

Are permitted to keep males where you live

Have a rehoming plan

Can responsibly manage unwanted birds

If cockerels are unsuitable for your situation, purchasing sexed female chicks may be a better option.

Caring for Newly Hatched Chicks

Once chicks emerge, they require immediate warmth and protection.

Your brooder setup should include:

A secure draft-free enclosure

Non-slip flooring to protect developing legs

Continuous access to fresh water

Chick starter feed (chick crumb)

A safe heat source

Newly hatched chicks cannot regulate body temperature, and standard room conditions are not warm enough during their first weeks of life.

Always ensure brooders are protected from household pets such as cats and dogs.

Children and Chicks: Safe Handling

Hatching chicks is an incredible educational experience for children, helping them learn responsibility and animal care.

However, chicks are delicate. Young children should always be supervised and shown how to:

Hold chicks gently

Avoid squeezing

Support the bird properly

Positive early handling helps produce calmer adult chickens.

An Alternative Method: Let a Broody Hen Raise Chicks

One of the most natural, and often easiest, ways to rear chicks is by allowing a broody hen to adopt them.

Watching a mother hen care for chicks is one of poultry keeping’s greatest pleasures.

Step 1: Select a Reliable Broody Hen

Choose a hen that has remained broody for at least two weeks, showing strong nesting behaviour.

Step 2: Introduce Chicks at Night

After dark, gently place young chicks beneath the hen while removing any eggs she has been sitting on. Darkness helps encourage acceptance.

Step 3: Monitor Behaviour

The following morning, observe carefully. Accepted chicks will be tucked under her wings while she communicates with soft clucking sounds.

Aggressive pecking means intervention may be required.

Step 4: Provide Suitable Feed

Offer chick starter feed that both hen and chicks can safely eat, along with shallow drinkers to prevent accidents.

Step 5: Allow Natural Rearing

Once bonded, the hen provides warmth, protection, and teaches natural behaviours such as foraging often producing stronger, more resilient birds than artificial brooding alone.

Why Hatching Chicks Is So Rewarding

Whether using an incubator or a broody hen, raising chicks at home creates lasting memories and builds confidence for new poultry keepers.

With the right preparation, realistic expectations, and reliable advice, hatching chicks can become the start of a thriving backyard flock.

Learn More with Parkside Poultry

Explore:

Beginner chicken keeping guides

Incubation advice

Brooding setup recommendations

Poultry care resources for families and smallholders

Start your poultry journey the right way with trusted advice from Parkside Poultry.