The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: Declan on February 19, 2010, 10:15:17 pm

Title: Can I add more eggs to my incubator
Post by: Declan on February 19, 2010, 10:15:17 pm
I have a batch of 6 light sussex eggs in for just over 1 week. I am going to a poultry fair this weekend wher i hope to pick up some RIR eggs. Can I add these to the incubator even though the others are already in there?

I am thinking that I can manually turn my new RIR eggs once my other eggs are ready to hatch. I have a 24 egg incubator with an auto turn cradle and the instructions state that i should take it out of the cradle 2-3 days before they hatch.

Advice please

Declan
Title: Re: Can I add more eggs to my incubator
Post by: ballingall on February 19, 2010, 10:20:48 pm
But don't you also need to increase the humidity when your first set of eggs are due to hatch? I wouldn't recommend adding more eggs- but then I've not tried it.

Beth
Title: Re: Can I add more eggs to my incubator
Post by: Declan on February 19, 2010, 10:25:03 pm
Beth,

I was kinda hoping that humidity wasn't just as important as temperature. I will need to look up the instructions again.

Declan
Title: Re: Can I add more eggs to my incubator
Post by: ballingall on February 19, 2010, 10:26:43 pm
As I recall (though its my other half who's deals with the incubating) the humidity needs increasing to help them break open the shells.

Beth
Title: Re: Can I add more eggs to my incubator
Post by: Declan on February 19, 2010, 10:31:27 pm
Just checked the instruction booklet- humidity needs to be high at hatching to soften the shell a little to help the bird break out. It suggests that too high humidity is worse than too low. To be honest- i would sacrifice the eggs already in as the RIR eggs are more important to me than those i have already in. I will wait and see if there are more comments from you and those more worldy in this type of thing than me.

Declan
Title: Re: Can I add more eggs to my incubator
Post by: jameslindsay on February 20, 2010, 09:56:30 am
Isn't it a bit cruel to just remove eggs from the incubator once they have started developing?
Title: Re: Can I add more eggs to my incubator
Post by: Daisys Mum on February 20, 2010, 12:23:24 pm

Declan I have had eggs start to hatch before I have stopped incubator turning or increased humidity so you may get away with it. I might add that I did not do it on purpose, i had marked the wrong date on the calander.
Title: Re: Can I add more eggs to my incubator
Post by: whitby_sam on February 20, 2010, 03:27:07 pm
Can't you wait for the RIR eggs? Maybe get them in a couple of weeks time? I wouldn't risk adding eggs after more than 1 or 2 days. The humidity levels are just as important as the temperature. I'm no expert but I would wait to get the RIR eggs.
Title: Re: Can I add more eggs to my incubator
Post by: shetlandpaul on February 20, 2010, 03:37:34 pm
would agree and two weeks is not long to wait