Adding additional eggs to Nurture Right 360

[PineHavenMama]

We lost our 8 month old Silver-laced Orpington to a predator a few days ago. We are terribly saddened by this and I started as many eggs as I had in the incubator last night in the hopes that I’ll hatch a rooster as nice as he was. I am curious if I can add two more tonight to fill the last two spaces. I know some folks do this, but I never have plus I’m fairly new to this particular incubator. Only used it once before and previously had a very basic Little Giant styrofoam.

I have been made aware that I can potentially get eggs fertilized by him for up to two weeks. I plan to collect during that time frame and start a second incubator. Just didn’t want to waste space in the one I just started. Thanks so much. I appreciate your help.

 

[cavemanrich]

One day later is not a bad deal. I would put in. Mark those 2 so you know that after most of your eggs hatch, you need to give those 2 a little extra time in incubator, before giving up. DO THE LOCKDOWN AS SCHEDULED ON MOST OF YOUR EGGS. THE 2 ADDITIONAL ONES SHOULD START TO PIP AS THE REST ARE HATCHED OUT.
Hens eggs are fertile for about 3 weeks after coupling with a rooster. Also, eggs up to 2 weeks old are also very capable of fertility, and hatching. After that period of time, the hatch rate starts to go downhill pretty quickly. 3 week old eggs tend to produce fewer hatching , and so forth.
Do you have an additional incubator available to you to start next batch?
Do you know, and have plans to deal with all those chicks when they arrive? You are aware that generally the hatch averages are 50%pullets,,, 50%cockerels.
Sorry to hear of your loss

WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[333113]

I do running hatches all the time, especially at this time of year when I don't get a lot of eggs at a time. I mark the date in pencil on each egg as I put it into the incubator.

Keep in mind that hens do get up from the nest at least daily to eat, drink, etc. If you open the incubator for a short time, it won't lose a lot of heat/humidity, and won't affect your hatch.

Best of luck! I once lost a roo to a predator and was able to hatch eggs laid up to twenty-three days after his demise.

 

[PineHavenMama]

One day later is not a bad deal. I would put in. Mark those 2 so you know that after most of your eggs hatch, you need to give those 2 a little extra time in incubator, before giving up. DO THE LOCKDOWN AS SCHEDULED ON MOST OF YOUR EGGS. THE 2 ADDITIONAL ONES SHOULD START TO PIP AS THE REST ARE HATCHED OUT.
Hens eggs are fertile for about 3 weeks after coupling with a rooster. Also, eggs up to 2 weeks old are also very capable of fertility, and hatching. After that period of time, the hatch rate starts to go downhill pretty quickly. 3 week old eggs tend to produce fewer hatching , and so forth.
Do you have an additional incubator available to you to start next batch?
Do you know, and have plans to deal with all those chicks when they arrive? You are aware that generally the hatch averages are 50%pullets,,, 50%cockerels.
Sorry to hear of your loss

WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Thank you for your comment. Yes, I have a second NR 360 that I will use once I gather enough eggs to start a second batch. I still have my old styrofoam incubator too that I could use in a pinch. I used to have incredible success with it years ago. I did not realize it would necessarily be a 50/50 split on hens to cockerels, but if so I will deal with it. We never had that high of a percentage before when hatching our own eggs, but maybe we were just lucky. Right now, we only have nine hens because of the shortage of available chickens last year due to Covid. I will happily welcome as many hens as I can get as well as a backup rooster or two. We had chickens years ago and have missed them for a long time so I was happy to get started again this past spring. We had 45 chickens at one point.

 

[PineHavenMama]

I do running hatches all the time, especially at this time of year when I don't get a lot of eggs at a time. I mark the date in pencil on each egg as I put it into the incubator.

Keep in mind that hens do get up from the nest at least daily to eat, drink, etc. If you open the incubator for a short time, it won't lose a lot of heat/humidity, and won't affect your hatch.

Best of luck! I once lost a roo to a predator and was able to hatch eggs laid up to twenty-three days after his demise.

Wow! Twenty-three days is a long time. One area where I need help or experience is knowing if an egg is fertile before placing it in the incubator. I’ve read online and watched videos, but just can’t seem to tell although I did try. Based on what we’ve seen, we operate under the assumption that they’re all fertile. I plan to check on the 5th day too.

 

[Ebony Rose]

I too keep a second incubator, both have automatic turners. If you also have an automatic turner in both of yours, you could store the eggs that you're saving for this secondary incubator in the powered on turner.

 

[gimmie birdies]

I am glad I don't have to do a staggered hatch this hatch. I put my fertile shipped eggs in Thursday eve.

I also have some of my own eggs in a separate incubator.

I know the shipped eggs were fertile. My eggs the roosters were young, so I wanted to set my eggs separately so I could candle and play with them. Once I know they are fertile they will go in with the shipped eggs since they are hatching the same day. (I will chose a doz or so of mine. I have 4 gray eggs I am hopeful about.) Currently day 2.

 

[Ebony Rose]

Oooooh, I like the looks of those dark green eggs too.