Best Egg Incubator for Beginners (Buying Guide)
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Our top picks
- Best overall for a first hatchHarris Farms Nurture Right 360 Egg Incubator 22 EggsCheck price on Amazon →
- Best small starter incubatorKEBONNIXS 12 Egg Incubator with Candler and Auto TurnerCheck price on Amazon →
- Best for keeping the lid closedAPDOE 12 Egg Incubator with External Water BottleCheck price on Amazon →
Hatching your own chicks is one of the best parts of keeping hens. Kids love it. Adults do too if we are honest.
It is also a 21 day lesson in patience. The incubator does most of the work. Your job is to pick one that holds steady and then leave it alone. Here is what matters for a first hatch and which incubators make it easier.
All our picks
Best overall
- Best overall for a first hatchHarris Farms Nurture Right 360 Egg Incubator 22 EggsA popular incubator with an auto turner and a clear dome so you can watch from every side.Check price on Amazon →Details ↓
Small batches
- Best small starter incubatorKEBONNIXS 12 Egg Incubator with Candler and Auto TurnerA compact 12 egg machine with auto turning and a humidity display.Check price on Amazon →Details ↓
- Best for keeping the lid closedAPDOE 12 Egg Incubator with External Water BottleA 12 egg incubator with an outside water bottle for humidity.Check price on Amazon →Details ↓
Mid size
- Best mid size starterMATICOOPX 20 Egg Incubator with Candler and Auto TurnerA 20 egg version with auto turning and a humidity display and a candler.Check price on Amazon →Details ↓
Bigger batches
- Best for bigger batches laterFarm Innovators 2450 Circulated Air Incubator with Egg TurnerA foam incubator with a fan and an egg turner from a long running poultry brand.Check price on Amazon →Details ↓
In this guide
What eggs need for 21 days
Chicken eggs take 21 days to hatch. Maryland Extension lists 99.5 degrees F and 55 to 60 percent humidity for chicken eggs. Nebraska Extension adds that 103 degrees and over will kill the embryos. So a steady temperature matters more than anything else.
Eggs also need turning. Nebraska Extension says to turn eggs three times a day if you turn them by hand. Then stop turning on day 18 so the chicks can get into position to hatch. Keep the lid closed from then on.
Features that help a beginner
Automatic turner. This is the big one. Turning eggs by hand three times a day for 18 days is easy to forget. An auto turner does it for you.
Fan or forced air. A fan moves warm air around so every egg sits at the same temperature. Still air models have hot and cold spots and need a different setting.
Outside water fill. Adding water without lifting the lid keeps the heat and humidity steady. Every time you open the lid you lose both.
Built in candler. A small light lets you look inside an egg around day 7 to 10. You can see veins and a dark spot if it is growing. Clear eggs can come out.
A clear lid. You will want to watch. A clear top lets you see the hatch without opening it.
Start with a small batch
Not every egg hatches. Shipped eggs often do worse than eggs from a neighbor’s flock. A 12 to 22 egg machine is a good size for a first try. You learn the routine without a huge pile of chicks to brood.
Plan for the chicks before you set the eggs. You will need a brooder and a heat source ready on day 21. Our best brooder heat plate guide covers that part.
Our picks
Harris Farms Nurture Right 360 Egg Incubator 22 Eggs
A popular incubator with an auto turner and a clear dome so you can watch from every side. It holds up to 22 chicken eggs with a fan to keep the heat even.
What to like
- Auto turner included
- Clear dome to watch the hatch
- Holds up to 22 eggs
Watch out for
- Water channels need regular top ups
- Read the manual on humidity
KEBONNIXS 12 Egg Incubator with Candler and Auto Turner
A compact 12 egg machine with auto turning and a humidity display. The built in candler means you don't need a separate light.
What to like
- Small and easy to place
- Built in candler
- Shows humidity
Watch out for
- Only 12 eggs
- Thermometer checks are still a good idea
APDOE 12 Egg Incubator with External Water Bottle
A 12 egg incubator with an outside water bottle for humidity. You top it up without opening the lid. It also turns eggs and has a candler.
What to like
- Water fills from outside
- Auto turning
- Built in candler
Watch out for
- Small capacity
- Check the temperature against your own thermometer
MATICOOPX 20 Egg Incubator with Candler and Auto Turner
A 20 egg version with auto turning and a humidity display and a candler. Good if a neighbor gives you a dozen or more eggs.
What to like
- Room for 20 eggs
- Built in candler
- Auto turning
Watch out for
- Bigger footprint
- Settle it in a steady room first
Farm Innovators 2450 Circulated Air Incubator with Egg Turner
A foam incubator with a fan and an egg turner from a long running poultry brand. It holds more eggs than the small plastic models.
What to like
- Holds a big batch
- Fan for even heat
- Turner included
Watch out for
- Foam body is harder to clean
- Small viewing windows
| Pick | Best for | Main plus | Main catch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harris Farms Nurture Right 360 Egg Incubator 22 Eggs | Best overall for a first hatch | Auto turner included | Water channels need regular top ups |
| KEBONNIXS 12 Egg Incubator with Candler and Auto Turner | Best small starter incubator | Small and easy to place | Only 12 eggs |
| APDOE 12 Egg Incubator with External Water Bottle | Best for keeping the lid closed | Water fills from outside | Small capacity |
| MATICOOPX 20 Egg Incubator with Candler and Auto Turner | Best mid size starter | Room for 20 eggs | Bigger footprint |
| Farm Innovators 2450 Circulated Air Incubator with Egg Turner | Best for bigger batches later | Holds a big batch | Foam body is harder to clean |
Tips for a smooth first hatch
- Run the incubator for a full day before you set eggs. Check the temperature with a second thermometer.
- Keep it in a room that stays steady. Out of sun and away from drafts and heaters.
- Let eggs sit pointy end down at room temperature for a few hours before you set them.
- Mark each egg with an X on one side and an O on the other if you turn by hand.
- Candle once around day 7 to 10. Then leave them alone.
- Stop turning on day 18. Raise the humidity as your manual says. Then keep the lid closed.
How we chose
We started with extension advice on hatching chicken eggs at home. Then we read maker listings for egg count and turning and how water gets added. We read owner feedback on temperature drift and failed turners. We haven’t tested these incubators ourselves. Our page on how we choose products has the full process.
FAQ
What is the best incubator size for a beginner?
Somewhere from 12 to 22 eggs. It is enough to learn on and a small enough brood to raise.
Do I need an incubator with an automatic turner?
You don’t need one but it helps a lot. Hand turning works if you can be home three times a day for 18 days.
Why did my eggs not hatch?
The most common causes are a wrong temperature and eggs that were not fertile. A cheap second thermometer catches the first problem. Candling catches the second.
Can I hatch eggs from the grocery store?
Almost never. Most store eggs come from hens kept without a rooster so they are not fertile. Get hatching eggs from a local keeper or a hatchery.
What happens after the chicks hatch?
Leave them in the incubator until they are dry and fluffy. Then move them to a warm brooder with food and water. Later on they will need a coop. See our best chicken coop for 4 chickens guide.
