INCUBATORS            The hatching takes 21 days. If you are going to raise your own chicken and the hen is not laying on the egg, you will need an incubator. An incubator keeps the eggs warm. Before the eggs are in the incubator, it needs to be warmed up to the temperature of 99.5 degrees F. Eggs need warmth, but be careful to not overheat them. Temperature should not be more than 103 degreed F. Another thing you will need is hygrometer. This is a measurement tool that measures humidity. This is extremely important because chicken eggs should be in 50% humidity until the day 18. Then, it should increase to almost 80% until the chick is born. One of the ways to keep moisture in incubator is to put a small paper cup of water in it. When water evaporates it will keep the moisture up. When you buy an incubator it should come with directions and you should definitely read them carefully. But, incubators can also be made. Here is the external link to some homemade incubators.

CANDLING THE EGG          Candling the egg is done to see if the chicken is developing in the egg. This can only be done with white shells with even colors. The reason people candle eggs is because not all eggs will produce chicken. Candling is done on days two or three.

TURNING EGGS      Eggs should be marked before you put them in the incubator, because you need to know which side is which. Eggs need to be turned at least three times a day.  Hens do this on their own. If eggs are not turned embryo inside could stick to the shell membrane and this can cause problems in development. It also allows embryo to move inside the egg. Eggs should be turned the first 18 days. Last three days they should be left alone to hatch.

JUST HATCHED       Leave the chicks in the incubator for 24 hours. They need time to get used to new environment, just like every baby. Before the chicken hatched, they got fed by the yolk. Therefore, they do not need to be fed for 24 hours.