Incubating Eggs question

Okay, so I have heard of staggered hatches. I was wondering if this was a good idea or poosible or a horrible idea:


I am collecting eggs from my bantam hen, she lays around 1 a day or every other day. I was wondering if each time I collected one of hers I could just put it right in the bator (pretty much adding 1 egg a day) Or is this a bad idea? Or is it possible/okay to do?

That's not the way to do it. You need to collect and put them in every 4 or 5 days.
If they hatched daily, you'd cause a problem with those hatching or pipping when you take the dry chicks out.

ChickenCanoe said:

That's not the way to do it. You need to collect and put them in every 4 or 5 days.
If they hatched daily, you'd cause a problem with those hatching or pipping when you take the dry chicks out.

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Okay.. So I'll wait till I have 4-5 eggs and put them in then put another 4-5 eggs in when I get them and then leave it alone for the most part (egg adding I mean)

Right. Just stop turning the ones that reach day 18.
Another slightly tricky issue is humidity. You'll have to fluctuate that from time to time. It will have to go up by day 19 for each set.
For that reason, I think it's better to stagger the settings farther apart.

ChickenCanoe said:

Right. Just stop turning the ones that reach day 18.
Another slightly tricky issue is humidity. You'll have to fluctuate that from time to time. It will have to go up by day 19 for each set.
For that reason, I think it's better to stagger the settings farther apart.

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Maybe I'll just wait and get all the eggs Im gonna hatch and put them in at once

Hello, yes that's the best way, the amount of eggs that fit in your incubator wait till you have that many eggs and put them in all at once, that way you have no headache or worries and they will hatch at the same time! Good luck

Aseel-lover said:

Hello, yes that's the best way, the amount of eggs that fit in your incubator wait till you have that many eggs and put them in all at once, that way you have no headache or worries and they will hatch at the same time! Good luck

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Ookay! I have one egg so far....and I am gonna collect maybe a week's worth...or just give up and buy eggs lol

7 days is about as long as you'll want to wait to get them cooking. I've found a huge decrease in hatch rate after 4 days on the shelf. When I started incubating I got 2 cheap bators and used one just at lockdown/hatch so I could stagger my eggs. For $50 it's not a bad idea, you won't need turners or anything. I added new eggs every 3 days so that each set would have 3 days of lockdown without the top being opened. Just make sure and mark set dates on the eggs and keep them organized!

frillydishes said:

7 days is about as long as you'll want to wait to get them cooking. I've found a huge decrease in hatch rate after 4 days on the shelf. When I started incubating I got 2 cheap bators and used one just at lockdown/hatch so I could stagger my eggs. For $50 it's not a bad idea, you won't need turners or anything. I added new eggs every 3 days so that each set would have 3 days of lockdown without the top being opened. Just make sure and mark set dates on the eggs and keep them organized!

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I love that idea...but I am a young girl and only have $30 and am spending $20 on rabbits tommorow..Mmaybe in the future.

I have heard people have high hatch rates with month old eggs, that is what someone said. I hope my other bantam starts laying soon so egg collection will be faster.

Thanks for the help!

I wouldn't believe that about the 30 day old eggs. 10 days is about max.

You can extend the time if you wrap the eggs in plastic wrap after you collect to retain moisture. Also, a short pre-incubation period can extend the viable life of hatching eggs.
Turning in storage and ideal storage temperature are also important. 55-65F is best.

Good luck to you young'un.

Pullet eggs are best not incubated because they're too small. Not enough room or nutrition for healthy chicks. Best to sit on your hands until the eggs are bigger.