You’ve heard that an incubator is needed for alive an egg to hatch. But if you don’t have any incubator what do you do? Would you buy a new one or would you make one yourself? You either buy or not it is very important to alive an egg to hatch. In the previous article, how do you know if a bird egg is alive. In this article, we will discuss how do you keep a bird egg alive without an incubator.
What is an incubator?
An incubator is a machine used to keep the temperature of the eggs at a specific level and humidity. This helps the baby birds to grow faster and stronger. It also helps them to survive better in their environment. The best way to live an egg is by using an incubator. Generally, an incubator temperature should be between 37 to 39 degrees Celsius.
How do you keep a bird egg alive without an incubator?
In the above, we have known about the incubator and its temperature. So, if we can maintain that temperature manually, we can easily keep a bird egg alive. The following tips are given below to keep birds egg alive without an incubator.
1. A broody hen/bird:
If you want to keep your bird eggs alive, then you need to find a broody hen/bird. Broody hens/birds are those who lay eggs and want to hatch eggs. They usually sit on the nest and wait for the eggs to hatch. If you get such a hen/bird, then you need to take care of the broody hen/bird properly so that it does not leave the nest.
2. Keep the eggs warm:
You must keep the eggs warm so that they stay active and healthy. To keep the eggs warm, you can use a heat lamp. You can place the lamp near the eggs and turn it on. Make sure that the heat is not too hot.
3. Keep the eggs in straw:
To keep the eggs warm you can put them in a basket made out of straw. A straw basket keeps the eggs warm and protects them from cold weather. This warm environment helps to hatch the fertile egg and makes it easier for the chicks to survive.
4. Make a DIY incubator:
If you do not have an incubator, then you can make one with some materials available around your home. All you need to do is to prepare a box with a lid. Put the eggs inside the box and cover it with a cloth. Now, you can place the box in a sunny location. The sunlight heats up the box and helps to keep the eggs warm. To hatch the egg successfully you need to be able to do the following:
- Keep the egg temperature at 37 degrees consistently
- Turn the eggs 3 to 5 times per day
- Maintain the humidity at 45 – 50% from days 1 – 18 and 60% – 65% on days 19 – 21.
5. Use a heating pad:
A heating pad is another option to keep the fertile eggs warm and alive. Place the heating pad over the eggs and set it to high heat. The heating pad warms the eggs and provides warmth.
6. Cover the eggs with a blanket:
Another method to keep the eggs warm is to cover them with a blanket. Covering the eggs with a blanket prevents the eggs from getting wet. When the eggs are covered with a blanket, they remain dry and warm.
What happens when I don’t use an incubator?
An incubator helps to hatch the fertile eggs. To hatch the eggs, it needs warmth and humidity. The incubator maintains a consistent temperature and humidity and keeps alive the fertile eggs until they hatch. If you don’t use any kind of incubator, then there will be no chance of hatching the eggs.
What is the exact humidity needed to hatch a fertile egg?
The humidity required to hatch a fertile egg depends upon the type of egg. For example, a duck egg requires more humidity than a chicken egg. It also depends upon how long the egg has been kept. If the egg is fresh, then it requires less humid conditions. However, as time passes by, the humidity increases. In general, first 1 – 18 days the egg needs 45 – 50% humidity and after days it needs to increase to 65%.
What happens if the temperature isn’t maintained?
Temperature plays a vital role in the process of hatching a fertile egg. If the temperature drops below 35°C, then the embryo dies. On the other hand, if the temperature rises above 40°C, then the shell cracks and the chick gets exposed to the outside world. Therefore, maintaining the right temperature is very important.
Is it possible to hatch a fertile egg without using an incubator?
Yes! You can hatch a fertile egg without an incubator. You need to follow the above steps that we have already discussed. However, the main difference between this method and the incubator is that controls the temperature and humidity. So, you should try to maintain these two factors.
Final thought
If you want to hatch a fertile egg, then you must choose the best method for hatching. There are many methods to hatch a fertile egg without an incubator. But, it is always better to get help from an expert or professional who knows about the process of hatching. In this article, we have discussed how to hatch a fertile egg with an incubator. We hope that our article helped you to understand the process of hatching eggs.
