Egg incubation is already a delicate process, but doing it during the rainy or cold seasons presents unique challenges. From temperature fluctuations to excess humidity and mold, farmers must prepare differently than during dry, warm periods.
This guide breaks down every key aspect of egg incubation in cold or wet climates, helping both beginner and seasoned poultry farmers improve hatchability and reduce embryo loss.
🥚 Why Rainy and Cold Seasons Are Risky for Egg Incubation
1. ❄️ Fluctuating Temperatures
In colder seasons, especially during the night, ambient temperatures can drop rapidly. This directly affects incubator performance, especially if it’s non-digital or has poor insulation.
- Risk: Embryos may experience chilling.
- Impact: Slower growth, higher mortality in mid-incubation.
- Solution: Use digital incubators with automatic temperature compensation and double insulation.
2. 🌫️ Excess Humidity Levels
Rainy weather means more ambient moisture, even inside closed spaces.
- Risk: High humidity can prevent moisture loss from the egg, resulting in large, wet chicks that struggle to hatch.
- Symptoms: Sticky chicks, poor air cell development.
- Solution: Monitor and manually reduce humidity during the first 18 days of incubation using ventilation controls or desiccant pouches.
3. 🦠 Mold and Bacterial Growth
Cold, damp environments are ideal for mold spores and bacteria.
- Risk: Contaminated eggs and incubator trays.
- Impact: Embryo death due to infections or rotting.
- Solution: Disinfect the incubator thoroughly using hydrogen peroxide or iodine-based solutions before starting a batch. Avoid handling eggs with dirty hands.
🧊 Best Temperature Settings for Cold Weather Incubation
- Optimal Range: 99.5°F (37.5°C) for forced-air incubators, 101–102°F for still-air models.
- Cold Climates Tip: Keep the incubator in a draft-free, insulated room. Use a room heater to maintain ambient temperature above 20°C (68°F).
- Power Backup: Use uninterrupted power supplies (UPS) or a battery inverter system to handle outages.
💧 Ideal Humidity Settings During Rainy Seasons
- Days 1–18: 40–45% relative humidity.
- Days 19–21 (hatching period): 65–70%.
Tips:
- Use a digital hygrometer instead of relying on analog dials.
- Open ventilation holes for airflow, especially if the incubator fogs up.
- Avoid adding water trays if ambient humidity is already high.
🏠 Where to Place the Incubator During Wet or Cold Weather
- Avoid near windows or doors where rain and cold air might cause temperature drops.
- Choose a dry, sealed room with stable temperatures.
- Place the incubator on a wooden table or insulated surface—avoid placing directly on cold concrete floors.
🔄 Adjusting Turning and Ventilation in Moist Conditions
- Egg Turning: Stick to 3–5 times per day, but in cold weather, make turns fast to avoid cooling the eggs.
Ventilation:
- Rainy season = High humidity = More ventilation required.
- Cold season = Watch for internal condensation, ventilate gradually.
- Clean vents weekly to prevent mold buildup.
🐣 Monitoring Development in Rainy/Cold Incubation
Candling Schedule:
- Day 7: Check for blood vessels.
- Day 14: Confirm embryo size and air cell.
- Day 18: Stop turning and prepare for hatch.
Adjust Based on Signs:
- Too small air cell = Decrease humidity.
- Weak movement = Consider temperature too low.
🔌 Emergency Tips for Cold Weather
Power Outage:
- Wrap incubator with blankets to retain heat.
- Use a hot water bottle (not touching eggs) inside incubator during outages under supervision.
Sudden Humidity Drop:
- Add damp sponge or increase water tray surface area.
Heavy Rainfall and Room Flood Risk:
- Elevate incubator on bricks or wooden planks.
- Use a dehumidifier in extremely wet rooms.
🌍 Real-World Farmer Tips by Region
- India & Pakistan: Avoid placing incubators near open verandas; use clay rooms with better insulation.
- US & Canada: Use garage or basement with thermal insulation and space heaters.
- Kenya & Nigeria: Use solar backup for power outages during storms.
- Brazil & Malaysia: Tropical humidity needs active dehumidifiers during peak rainy season.
🧪 Extra Tip: Use a Calibration Test
Calibrate your incubator before rainy or cold season begins:
- Place 3–4 water glasses with thermometers inside.
- Measure internal temp across 24 hours and record variance.
- Adjust incubator controls accordingly before inserting eggs.
✅ Final Checklist for Cold/Rainy Season Incubation
- ✅ Digital incubator with auto controls
- ✅ Hygrometer & thermometer calibration
- ✅ Mold-free, disinfected environment
- ✅ Stable power or UPS backup
- ✅ Adjusted humidity (lower at first)
- ✅ Strategic placement away from wind/rain
🐣 Choosing the Right Incubator for Challenging Seasons
Not all incubators perform well in unstable climates. Here’s what to look for:
| Feature | Why It's Important |
|---|---|
| Dual Sensor Thermostat | Keeps temperatures balanced |
| Automatic Humidity Control | Handles excess moisture from rainy conditions |
| Insulated Shell | Reduces heat loss during cold spells |
| Built-in Ventilation Fans | Maintains airflow in high humidity |
Top Brands to Consider: Brinsea, Hova-Bator, Nurture Right 360, Borotto Real.
🍃 Natural Hacks: When You Don't Have High-Tech Equipment
🛖 Use a Blanket Tent Around Incubator
If you're incubating in a drafty room, create a tented cover using:
- Blankets
- Cardboard box enclosure
- Bubble wrap (but allow ventilation)
- Do not block all airflow — oxygen exchange is vital.
🪵 Place Incubator on a Wooden Table
Avoid placing incubators directly on cold floors. Cold surfaces draw heat away. Use:
- Wooden table
- Styrofoam pad
- Thick cloth layer
🧪 Bonus Tip: Calibrate Instruments Before Starting
Always recalibrate thermometers and hygrometers before starting a new batch during stormy months.
Why? Even minor errors in readings can cause significant deviations over 21 days.
📅 Seasonal Egg Rotation Plan
If you operate year-round, consider a seasonal rotation:
- Spring/Summer: Hatch common breeds
- Monsoon/Winter: Hatch hardy, local breeds with better cold resilience
Examples:
In South Asia: Asil, Kadaknath
In U.S.: Rhode Island Red, Barred Rock
In EU: Bresse, Marans
🐤 Final Thoughts
Incubating during rainy or cold seasons isn’t impossible — but it requires planning and precision. By managing temperature, humidity, mold, and ventilation carefully, farmers can achieve excellent hatch rates even when the weather doesn’t cooperate.
Success lies in preparation: understanding the biology of the egg and matching that to your environmental conditions. With the above steps, you'll not only prevent embryo loss, but also hatch strong, healthy chicks regardless of the season.
🔍 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Can I incubate eggs during thunderstorms?
A: Yes, but ensure your incubator is plugged into a surge protector or UPS, as voltage fluctuations can damage the thermostat.
Q2. Should I increase humidity during rain?
A: No. Ambient air is already humid; increasing incubator humidity may cause sticky chicks. Monitor with a hygrometer.
Q3. How do I know if humidity is too high?
A: Candling on Day 14: if the air cell is too small, humidity has been too high. Adjust down and increase ventilation.
Q4. Can mold kill developing embryos?
A: Absolutely. Mold produces toxins that can penetrate porous eggshells. Clean your incubator with anti-fungal agents before use.
Q5. What’s the best incubator for cold seasons?
A: A digital forced-air incubator with thermostat control, automatic turning, and good insulation works best.
Q6: Should I stop incubating during the monsoon season?
A: Not necessarily. With good humidity control and power planning, you can hatch safely year-round.
Q7: What’s the best incubator brand for humid regions?
A: Brinsea and Borotto incubators are top-rated for wet climates due to their automatic humidity control.
Q8: Can I open the incubator more often in cold weather?
A: No. Opening it frequently causes heat loss. Only open when necessary and quickly.
Q9: Do all eggs require the same temperature in winter?
A: Yes. The internal temperature target remains 99.5°F (37.5°C), but external controls must be adjusted more frequently in winter.