If your incubator has a smooth bottom, on day 18 put a sheet of fine sandpaper in, this helps the chicks legs and you dont get sprayed legs not a easy thing to cure.
I also use my garden propergator which is the same temp as inc. first few days vents closed then open them. after a week I prop open the back of the top for more air.
I use saucers for water and chick crumbs sprinkle a few chick crumbs in the water this learns them to drink.
Kitchen roll is handy as your forever changing it, when the chicks leave the propergator I have a large hamster cage and line it with newspaper as my chicks are in the conservoty wood shavings create a mess they get it everywhere.
Hatching is wonderfull and doing it yourself so hands on you get to know the chicks so well they see you as mother hen watch out for pooy bums and with wet cotten wool balls are easy to clean.
fresh firtile eggs can hatch out a day or so earlier eggs not so fresh can hatch out up to four days later.
Try and get a candler to watch them grow inside the shell best thing I bought also the duds you can get rid of before they explode and damage the rest.
from the pipping to the hatch the rush it gives you just like being a mum all over again ha ha. enjoy
