An internal-combustion engine needs four things to run. They need fuel, mixed with air, in a ratio of 14.7 to one. An ignition-spark lights the fuel and air mixture, creating combustion. Compression of the fuel and air mixture makes it explosive. The final necessity is proper timing, of the components.
1 The length of time it takes for eggs to hatch after incubation begins depends on the species and temperatures. 2  For bluebirds, it USUALLY takes about 12-14 days from the date the last egg was laid.3  Different species have different incubation periods, which can vary within a species due to temperature inside the nestbox. Depending on when incubation begins (on the last, or next to last egg), eggs in the same nest can hatch a day or several days apart. 2  It also takes a while for the bird to break through the shell. 3  It could be a new egg from a subsequent nesting if you didn't clean the box out immediately after the last fledging.
You can leave the chicks in the incubator for 24 hours without food and water as they will still be feeding on the feed sac from the egg. When they hatch out their down feathers are damp and it is good to let them completely dry out and fluff up.It is also good to keep them in the incubator for up to 24 hours after hatching if you have other eggs in the incubator as not all eggs hatch at the same time.I have left quail, guinea fowl and ducks in the incubator for 24 hours before transferring them to the brooder.hen they hatch out their down feathers are damp and it is good to let them completely dry out and fluff up. It is also good to keep them in the incubator for up to 24 hours after hatching if you have other eggs in the incubator as not all eggs hatch at the same time.