Eggs in an incubator can hatch early sometimes (resulting in chicks possibly hatching with bloody navels, being too small or dry). Possible reasons for this may include;
- Small eggs.
- Improper egg storage.
- Temperature too high in the incubator.
- Humidity too low in the incubator.
Here are some handy tips to help prevent eggs hatching early;
- Choose incubation eggs carefully.
- Avoid incubating eggs that are too small.
- If keeping eggs prior to incubation then store in the correct conditions (pay particular attention to temperature and humidity conditions).
- Do not store eggs for more than 7 days before incubation.
- If storing eggs before incubation, then turn the eggs regularly.
- Regularly check the temperature in the incubator.
- Try to maintain the correct temperature in the incubator at all times.
- Check the temperature in the incubator room is not too high.
- Regularly check the humidity in the incubator.
- Try to maintain the correct humidity levels in the incubator at all time.
- Note that the required temperature and humidity levels are not the same throughout the whole of the incubation period.
- A wet bulb thermometer maybe a good purchase to help accurately measure the humidity and temperature levels in the incubator.
- Check that the incubator is working correctly and has a constant temperature throughout the whole of the incubator.