[Declan]

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

[ballingall]

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

[Declan]

Beth,

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

Declan

[ballingall]

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

[Declan]

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

[jameslindsay]

Isn't it a bit cruel to just remove eggs from the incubator once they have started developing?

[Daisys Mum]

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.

[whitby_sam]

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.

[shetlandpaul]

would agree and two weeks is not long to wait