2 Clutches In Incubator???

[Chassmarie83]

So, long story as short as possible, I had a broody hen and wanted her to hatch some duck eggs. She was doing great but I also wanted to try some in the incubator for a little extra insurance. Well the other day she decided she was not interested in sitting any longer and abandoned the nest. Luckily I was there to see her leave and time it and moved the eggs to the incubator. Now my question comes when it is time to hatch and my eggs are about 5 days apart in stages so what will be the best way to put the ones into lock down while the others are still developing?? I only have one incubator (which is borrowed at that) and there is an automatic egg turner in there so I know that it will need to be removed to hatch the first batch but I am concerned about the humidity increase and such on the the second batch. Any suggestions or tricks I could use???

 

[Rose Quartz]

So, long story as short as possible, I had a broody hen and wanted her to hatch some duck eggs. She was doing great but I also wanted to try some in the incubator for a little extra insurance. Well the other day she decided she was not interested in sitting any longer and abandoned the nest. Luckily I was there to see her leave and time it and moved the eggs to the incubator. Now my question comes when it is time to hatch and my eggs are about 5 days apart in stages so what will be the best way to put the ones into lock down while the others are still developing?? I only have one incubator (which is borrowed at that) and there is an automatic egg turner in there so I know that it will need to be removed to hatch the first batch but I am concerned about the humidity increase and such on the the second batch. Any suggestions or tricks I could use???

Mark the younger ones so you know which they are. On lockdown remove the turner and continue turning your younger ones as long as you can. Raise the humidity a bit but not as high as you normally would until you see pips. When you see pips or, if you hear chirping it's time to raise humidity to normal numbers for hatch and stop turning all eggs. The others should be ok with out being turned by that point. Once the first batch is out if you have any days left before the second batch goes into lockdown you can candle them to check air cell sizes and adjust your humjdity as much as you think you need to. But if it's time for them to lockdown by the time all the old eggs have hatched. Leave the humidity where it is.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

Mark the younger ones so you know which they are. On lockdown remove the turner and continue turning your younger ones as long as you can. Raise the humidity a bit but not as high as you normally would until you see pips. When you see pips or, if you hear chirping it's time to raise humidity to normal numbers for hatch and stop turning all eggs. The others should be ok with out being turned by that point. Once the first batch is out if you have any days left before the second batch goes into lockdown you can candle them to check air cell sizes and adjust your humjdity as much as you think you need to. But if it's time for them to lockdown by the time all the old eggs have hatched. Leave the humidity where it is.

What Rose Q said! My only other suggestion is to temporarily put your younger eggs in a small Tupperware or some such in the incubator for lockdown, so that the hatchling ducks won’t crash into them or get them mucky.

 

[Chassmarie83]

Mark the younger ones so you know which they are. On lockdown remove the turner and continue turning your younger ones as long as you can. Raise the humidity a bit but not as high as you normally would until you see pips. When you see pips or, if you hear chirping it's time to raise humidity to normal numbers for hatch and stop turning all eggs. The others should be ok with out being turned by that point. Once the first batch is out if you have any days left before the second batch goes into lockdown you can candle them to check air cell sizes and adjust your humjdity as much as you think you need to. But if it's time for them to lockdown by the time all the old eggs have hatched. Leave the humidity where it is.

Thank you so much!!! I was thinking that the five day difference shouldn't really be that much but didn't want to cause the younger ones to get too wet. I think this suggestion will be my best bet. It is my first time incubating so I have been candling and weighing regularly and think I will just continue to do so until I see pips.

 

[Chassmarie83]

What Rose Q said! My only other suggestion is to temporarily put your younger eggs in a small Tupperware or some such in the incubator for lockdown, so that the hatchling ducks won’t crash into them or get them mucky.

I didn't think about that. I will get them something to keep them separated. Thank you for the suggestion.