3 different hatching days in same incubator

Quote:

Originally Posted by StevieAnne 

Now I'm realizing that I should have started all the eggs on the same day instead of three consecutive days. Looks like four out of six from the first day are good, but my concern is that the incubator is not the best environment for the next two days of hatching. Do I need to pull the eggs out and clean it? Or just see what happens. Feel very foolish.

Wait and see what happens, it would do more harm to open the bator for a long period of time.  Good luck.

I do that regularly. My incubator is an R Com 20 so all I can hatch is 20 at a time. If the hatches are staggered then the time comes for them to hatch and the others still need to be incubated I put the ones hatching air sac up in a cut up egg carton and they just hatch in there so the other eggs can still turn regularly . I have never had three hatching days so I would label something in there. Good luck.

I just dealt with this.

I also felt like... Oops! I shouldn't have done that, because of the need for the humidity to change on different days.  But I have to say that everything worked out, but I think I will try not to do that again, it was mass hysteria in there- Ha! 

I was dealing with eggs that didn't evaporate enough moisture (sm Air Cells) because of the raised H from those eggs hatching before those last ones were due. 

I have to say what I learned is to err on the side of dryness, rather than high H when it comes down to hatching time.  As the eggs hatch they themselves raise the H so much.  I have a small table top styrofoam bator (had about 23 eggs with 3 different dates), so you may have different results than I did.  Candle your eggs on about day 10 and 14 to be sure they are losing enough weight and adjust accordingly.

But as we all know... This is ALL a learning experience and our own experiences are our very best teacher. 

I was really worried and I ended up having a very successful hatch- So Good Luck!!

To answer your specific questions - I did sneak in quick and pull out egg shells and dried chicks, it's ok-- just get in and get out quick, and try to do it before anyone is in the middle of zipping.  They'll be fine! Just remember that the hen usually hatches her eggs over a couple days, so you'll be fine, and nests are not the cleanest things in the world so no worries. You can clean and sterilize that bator after everyone's had their chance to hatch. 

Good Luck!!