How to Incubate Chicken Eggs (Temperature Control)? 

Temperature is a most important condition for hatching eggs, farmers must follow the below

methods for temperature control.

1. Temperature range and the best temperature

Below a certain temperature, embryonic development will be inhibited, while higher than a certain

temperature, the embryo began to develop. this temperature is called "physiological zero", also 

called the critical temperature. The physiological zero for chicken is generally believed to be about 

23.9 degree centigrade; At the same time, embryo development has certain adaptability to the 

environment temperature. 

Take chicken as an example, When the temperature is between 35 and 40.5degree centigrade, 

some breeding eggs will be hatched into chickens. The optimum temperature is from of 35 to 40.5

degree centigrade, and the environment temperature should be kept between 24 and 26 degree

centigrade.

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The hatchery period will take 21 days, the best temperature for the first 18 days should be 37.8 

degree centigrade in the incubator; the hatch period for shell breaking is from 19 days to 21 

days, and the temperature is between 36.9 and 37.2 degree centigrade.

Also Read: Egg hatching: How to control the humidity during artificial hatching?

2. Environment temperature

Environment temperature has a certain impact on hatching, the Environment temperature 

mainly affects the accuracy of temperature control during hatching. In production, Environment

temperature is considered according to different regions and different seasons. Incubation 

at constant temperature or at variable temperature will be determined according to the 

environment temperature.

Incubation at constant temperature or at variable temperature can both be properly obtained

good results. Constant temperature Incubation can be done at a temperature of 1 to 19 days

during incubation, such as 37.8 degree centigrade; while at 19-21 days 37.2 degree centigrade; 

Constant temperature incubation requires a higher Environment temperature , and it should 

keep at 22 to 26 degree centigrade, also with good ventilation.

Also Read: Why Ventilation is important in Chicken Coops

For Variable temperature incubation, the temperature is provided according to the type of 

incubator, temperature in incubation chamber and day of embryonic development. If the 

environment temperature is below 20 degree centigrade, Incubation temperature can be 

0.5 to 0.7 above optimum temperature; if the Environment temperature is above 30 degree

centigrade,incubation temperature can be 0.2 to 0.6 below optimum temperature.