Incubating eggs at home

August 14, 8:22 AMInformal Education ExaminerLisa Jo Rudy

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Sara, age 9, turns the eggs 3 times a day.

At my daughter's request, we are incubating chicken eggs at home!  

This wasn't as tricky as I'd supposed -- at least so far.  We started by going to our local 4-H and borrowing an incubator.  They were also willing to let us have a couple dozen fertile eggs for a small fee.  We picked up the eggs and incubator, brought them home...  and got set up!

When we opened the boxes, we were surprised to see that the eggs are by no means identical to one another, and most look nothing like the eggs you buy in a store.  Some are large and green; others are small and brown...

It's been a little anxious-making so far - keeping the eggs at the right temp, and being sure to turn them three times a day.  We're up to day 8 out of 21, and hoping for the best.   We're told that we should expect only about six or eight babies from our brood...  but even so, it'll be a challenge to keep the cats away!

Of course, the purpose of hatching chicks isn't pure love of fluffy little critters.  Over the course of time, it's possible to research just what's going on inside those eggs...  how the chicks grow and change...  how fertilization works...  and much more.  

In the long run, if this works out, it'll be a dry run for a "real" 4-H project in the fall.  And who knows? Maybe we'll wind up with a chicken coop in the back yard!