Why Your Incubator Isn’t Hatching Eggs (And How to Fix It)

Key Takeaways

• Monitor temperature and humidity with a separate thermometer and hygrometer. Even small swings outside the recommended range can dramatically lower your hatch rate.

• Start with strong, fertile eggs and store them correctly—clean but not washed, pointy end down, and set within about a week for the best hatch results.

• If you keep seeing poor results after fixing your settings, consider upgrading to a more reliable beginner-friendly incubator that holds a stable temperature, has a fan, and turns the eggs automatically.

Diagnosing Incubator Not Hatching Eggs

Common Symptoms of Failure to Hatch

After the hatching time, you may see these problems in your incubator:

Quick Initial Checks

Try these easy checks before you look for bigger problems. They help you find the most common reasons eggs do not hatch:

Check your thermometer and hygrometer.
Make sure they show the right numbers. Even a small mistake can cause problems. If you need help, read our guide on how to calibrate an egg incubator.

Review your temperature and humidity settings.
Compare your incubator’s numbers to the best ranges for chicken eggs. You can see these in our ideal temperature and humidity for chicken eggs guide.

Look at egg storage and handling.
Keep eggs in a cool, clean spot. Set them within one week for best results. If you handle eggs roughly or keep them too long, embryos may die early.

Inspect egg turning.
Turn eggs at least three times each day. If your incubator turns eggs automatically, make sure it works right. If you do not turn eggs enough, you may see blood rings or dead embryos.

Check for ventilation issues.
Airflow is important. Make sure vents are open as the hatch date gets closer so chicks can breathe.

Temperature Problems in Hatching Eggs

Effects of Incorrect Temperature

Temperature has a big effect on chick development. Even tiny changes can cause trouble. If the temperature is too high, embryos may grow too fast or die. If it is too low, chicks may hatch late or not hatch at all.

Adjusting and Monitoring Temperature

Use a trusted thermometer to check the incubator’s temperature. Follow your incubator’s manual to adjust it. Aim for around 99.5°F (37.5°C) in forced-air incubators and slightly higher in still-air incubators. Avoid making big changes too quickly.

Tip: Place extra thermometers at different spots inside the incubator. This helps you see hot or cold areas.

Write down the temperature at the same times each day. Look for patterns. If the temperature is always wrong, adjust your incubator slowly. If it changes too often, check for drafts or sunlight in the room. For more detailed advice, see our guide on troubleshooting temperature fluctuations in an incubator.

Humidity Issues and Failure to Hatch

Signs of Incorrect Humidity

Humidity affects how much water eggs lose while chicks grow. Too little humidity and chicks may stick to the shell. Too much and chicks may drown before they hatch.

How to Set and Control Humidity

Use a hygrometer to measure humidity. Many incubators have water channels. Fill them according to the manual. Do not guess—always check the numbers.

During the main incubation period, aim for about 40–50% humidity, then increase to around 65–70% for the final days (lockdown) when you stop turning eggs.

Tip: Avoid opening the incubator during lockdown. Every time you open it, humidity drops and can harm chicks.

Egg Quality and Handling

Choosing Fertile Eggs

Good eggs are the base of a successful hatch. Use eggs from healthy parent birds. Do not use eggs that are cracked, dirty, or oddly shaped. These eggs often do not hatch well.

• Get eggs from healthy, well-fed hens and roosters.

• Avoid very small or very large eggs.

• Do not wash eggs with water. If needed, gently wipe off dirt.

Proper Storage and Gentle Handling

Store eggs in a cool, stable place before putting them in the incubator. Keeping them too warm or too cold can harm embryos.

Be gentle when you move eggs. Hard bumps can damage the embryo inside. Place eggs in the incubator with the larger end slightly up. This helps chicks breathe later.

Incubator Setup and Maintenance

Cleaning and Ventilation

Clean your incubator before each hatch. Old dirt and broken eggshells can hold bacteria that harm embryos.

• Wash the incubator parts with warm, soapy water.

• Let everything dry completely before use.

• Check vents so air can move through the incubator.

Tip: Good ventilation helps chicks breathe and keeps temperature and humidity even.

Placement and Power Stability

Where you put your incubator matters. Keep it in a quiet place with a stable room temperature.

• Avoid direct sunlight, windows, or heaters.

• Keep it away from drafts and fans.

• Use a reliable power source and surge protector if possible.

Power cuts can cause temperature drops. If you live in an area with unstable power, think about having a backup plan, such as a small generator or battery system.

Turning Eggs During Incubation

Why Turning Matters

Turning eggs keeps the embryo from sticking to the shell. It also helps chicks grow in the correct position for hatching.

• Turn eggs at least 3 times a day.

• Stop turning eggs 3 days before hatch day (lockdown).

Manual vs. Automatic Turning

You can turn eggs by hand or let an automatic turner do it.

• Manual turning: Mark eggs with “X” and “O” so you know which side is up. Turn them gently each time.

• Automatic turning: Follow the incubator instructions. Check often to make sure it works correctly.

If eggs are not turned enough, you may see blood rings, early embryo death, or chicks in the wrong position for hatching.

Troubleshooting and Diagnosing Incubation Problems

Step-by-Step Diagnostic Checklist

If your eggs are not hatching, start by matching what you see to a common situation—no chicks by day 21, many early deaths, lots of pips with no hatch, or weak chicks. Then use the checklist below to work through temperature, humidity, egg quality, and equipment step by step so you can spot the real problem instead of guessing.

Monitor Temperature Patterns
Write down the temperature at the same times each day. Use two thermometers to make sure the numbers are right.

Calibrate Equipment
Check that your thermometer and hygrometer are correct. Do this before you change any settings.

Inspect Environment
Look around your incubator for drafts or sunlight. Check for vents that might change the temperature or humidity.

Check Hardware
Clean the fan and test the heating part. Make sure all the controls work the right way.

Record Findings
Keep a notebook with your temperature and humidity numbers. This helps you see problems and fix them early.

�� Good notes make it easier to fix hatching problems. If you are teaching in a classroom, they also give students a clear record of what the class tried and what you’ll change next time.

Actionable Solutions for Common Issues

You can fix many problems with a few easy steps. Here are some ways to solve common hatching troubles:

• If your auto-turning incubator stops, check the power and wires. Look at the motor, and gears. If it still does not work, ask an expert for help.

• If the temperature keeps changing, move the incubator to a steadier room. Check the fan, heater, and temperature sensor often. If it still changes, call for help.

• If your incubator will not start or loses power, check the cord and outlet. If it still will not work, call a repair person.

• For humidity problems, check the water tank and use a hygrometer. Change the room’s air if you need to.

• If you see a low hatching rate, keep the incubator clean. Do not open it too much. Watch the room and incubator closely.

�� Most problems with an incubator not hatching eggs come from small issues that can be fixed. Careful checks and quick fixes can help you get more chicks.

When Your Incubator Is the Real Problem

Sometimes, you do everything right and still get poor hatching results. This can be a sign that your incubator itself is causing the trouble.

Signs You Need to Upgrade

With good fertile eggs and a well-tuned incubator, many backyard keepers eventually reach hatch rates somewhere in the 70–80% range. If your results stay much lower than this even after checking temperature, humidity, egg quality, and turning, your incubator itself may be holding you back and it can be worth upgrading to a more stable, beginner-friendly model.

Shop Beginner-Friendly Incubators

Do you want your next hatch to feel less stressful? Beginner-friendly incubators are designed to keep conditions stable and simple to manage, so you spend more time enjoying the process and less time fighting the settings.

• Beginner tabletop models like our automatic egg incubator with 3 trays that are simple to set up, easy to clean, and sized for small backyard or classroom hatches.

• Units with clear digital temperature control and straightforward humidity management, so it’s easier to keep eggs in the right range.

Look for these features when you shop:

A better incubator can help you hatch more chicks and enjoy the process more. Look for models that match your situation—compact units for homes and classrooms, and slightly larger ones for small farms—and focus on stable temperature, gentle airflow, and easy cleaning so each hatch builds your confidence.

You can fix most incubator not hatching eggs problems by checking just a few key areas: egg fertility and flock health, storage time, temperature, humidity, and turning. Keeping simple records turns each hatch—good or bad—into useful data you can learn from. Use this table to help you track what matters most:

If you still get low hatch rates, try a beginner incubator with the features in the table above. Everyone has hatching problems sometimes, but you can fix most of them.

FAQ

How can you tell if hatching problems come from user error or faulty equipment?

Start by checking your own steps: temperature, humidity, turning, egg quality, and storage. If you correct these and still see poor results, your incubator may be at fault. Look for signs like big temperature swings or uneven heating inside the incubator.

When should you consider replacing your incubator?

Consider replacing your incubator if it is hard to keep the temperature and humidity steady, even after calibration and careful setup. Also, if parts break often or the incubator shows uneven heating, it may be time for an upgrade.

Do cheap incubators work for beginners?

Some cheap incubators can hatch eggs, but they are harder to use. You may need to check and adjust temperature and humidity more often. For beginners, a slightly better incubator with stable controls can make the process easier and help more eggs hatch.