Collect eggs regularly. Even if it is ultimately decided to let the hen incubate the eggs, you still need to collect and select the most appropriate eggs for hatching. Collect the eggs 2 or 3 times a day to make sure they stay clean and undeveloped. If the weather is getting hotter, collect eggs more often than usual, up to 5 times a day. Use a soft basket to catch the eggs as they are collected. This method prevents the eggs from being damaged. A little hay in the handbasket is enough to fit the eggs perfectly. Handle the egg carefully so as not to damage the membrane and the liquid inside. Clean your hands before collecting eggs. This will prevent the transfer of bacteria from your hands to the eggs. Read our article below.

Keep the nest clean, Even if you always keep the cage and nest box clean, this point is even more important when mating chickens. Mud and chicken manure can increase the number of harmful bacteria that will infect the eggs and reduce the success of the hatching process. Make sure you provide a clean haystack for the chicken nest.

Select the eggs to incubate. Choosing the right eggs will increase the success of the hatching process. You need to avoid eggs that clearly appear too big or too small. Large eggs will be difficult to incubate, while small eggs will produce chicks that are also too small to survive. Do not choose eggs that are cracked. Also, avoid eggs with thin shells. Don’t choose eggs that are obviously oddly shaped. Choose clean eggs. Cleaning or wiping dirty eggs will remove the protective film. As a result, eggs become more susceptible to bacteria.

Mark your eggs. If you hatch multiple eggs or breed different types of chickens, you will find it useful to mark eggs by date or breed because you now have a historical record. You can use a pencil, marker pen, or a pen.