Can you add eggs to an incubator that already has eggs in it?

[Hennypen]

Can you add eggs to an incubator that has been incubating a batch of eggs for a week? I know the humidity level changes at the end but how does that affect the 2nd batch of eggs? Can it be done or should it be avoided?

 

[Funky Feathers]

Yes, just mark hatch dates on the eggs, and make sure the new eggs are warmed up to about 80 degrees (like set them under a light bulb) before adding them in.

 

[flgardengirl]

Lots of people have 'staggard' hatches. You can add the eggs, just mark them with a colored pencil or something so you know which is which. For real dark eggs you can use a silver colored pencil to mark them. I use two incubators. One for the hatching and one for the incubating that way I can pull out the ones that are ready to hatch and put them in the hatcher and the newer eggs can still incubate.

 

[4-H chicken mom]

It would be better if you had a second hatcher, but it has been done. But you won't be able to raise the humidity as high as it should be during the last three days because you could drown the other eggs. Good luck.

 

[kelseygirl707]

Quote:
If you do a staggered hatch, you really should have a separate hatcher, that way you can put the older eggs into the hatcher for lockdown, and the newer eggs won't be affected by the higher humidity, and the chicks playing soccer with the other eggs, oh also you may have a problem with bacteria from the mess left over after the 1st chicks hatch.