These guidelines are offered by Dr. Mary Muchunguh, a livestock expert.

Using an incubator to hatch eggs needs planning, which starts with good quality eggs. There are basic things farmers must do to get healthy chicks.

EGG SELECTION

Before starting incubation, the eggs must be evaluated and meet the parameters threshold should be selected.

Good quality eggs should have a blunt side and a markedly sharper pointed end. Irregularly shaped or abnormal eggs should not be used.

The egg shell should also be smooth and not be pimpled. The pimples arise from small lumps of calcified material.

The egg shell should also not be thin as often this is an indication of diseases.

Internally, it must have a yellow yolk without any blood spots. The albumen should be viscous and thick.

EGG STORAGE

Farmers should ensure that the eggs are labelled by date of production and stored in a well-aerated place.

Clear labelling comes in handy during selection of the eggs as the recommended egg age should not exceed 10 days.

The hatchability rate drops drastically after 10 days and by the third week, the hatchability rate is at 0 per cent.

The eggs should be stored with the sharp end pointing upwards with periodic position shifts before incubation.

That means that between day one to eight, one should shift the egg position on a daily basis.

Do not attempt to clean your eggs with damp clothing since this clogs the egg pores and removes the natural protective coating making eggs prone to infections.

SETTING OF EGGS

Before setting the eggs in the incubator, it is important to pre-warm them to room temperature for six to eight hours.

Depending on the incubator, the eggs need to be turned manually. The eggs could be marked on either ends so that on incubation when turning the eggs, this is done uniformly.

Eggs must be turned regularly during the 21-day period of incubation to aid movements in the egg which mimics the natural actions of the mother hen.

However, one should not turn the eggs in the last three days before hatching as the embryos are moving into hatching position and any disturbance would affect them.

It is important to ensure that the eggs are set in the incubator with the broad end facing upwards or slightly tilted.

INCUBATOR CONDITIONS

Ensure the incubator conditions are well regulated. Improper control of humidity and temperature will often disrupt the development of the embryo and may result to poor results.

Poor hygiene or sanitation, lack of egg turning and bad ventilation affects the development of the embryo. Maintain the temperatures at 37 to 38 degrees Celsius.

Relative humidity can be set at 60 per cent but with adjustments during incubation. Proper ventilation is necessary in successful incubation.

HATCHING TIME

Once the chicks begin to hatch, do not attempt to assist them out of their shells. This could cripple or infect the chick; allow the natural process of hatching to take its course.