First breeding season question

[izigg]

Would you say its best to collect and store up a bunch of eggs to set at the same time or set them as you get them? Does this make a difference in when they are hatching ?

 

[BYC910]

Would you say its best to collect and store up a bunch of eggs to set at the same time or set them as you get them? Does this make a difference in when they are hatching ?

First let me share a happing with you all . I have cabinet incubators . They sometimes spike and I open the doors to cool the incubators and eggs . Two days ago I did that and went to do something else three hours I remembered and shut the doors. It didn't kill any that I could tell when I candled and locked down tonight . But I sweated bullets about it for the past two days . I still can't believe I did that .

I'll see if any hatch on Sunday . If you only have one incubator and use a auto turner then collect for ten days and then set them all at once . Since you stop turning the eggs at 18 days and raise the humidity to 65% or higher for the hatch. That is the most common method used .

 

[KsKingBee]

Would you say its best to collect and store up a bunch of eggs to set at the same time or set them as you get them? Does this make a difference in when they are hatching ?

I set every Wednesday so the eggs only wait seven days in egg turners. Here are the six days of pea eggs I set today, 90 total.

 

[Birdrain92]

I collect a clutch of 4 or 5 eggs from one hen and then put them in the incubator.

 

[izigg]

Wow, thanks all ! thats great info and pics. So if I understand then the eggs will hatch depending on the date you set them and not the date the egg was laid ? Im not so sure this egg incubator is going to work that great as the eggs are too large for their holder tray holes in my machine. I may have jumped the gun on this a bit and should perhaps purchased a better incubator? Im interested in hearing what types others people are using and why? KsKingBee , Im guessing yours is a cabinet incubator with a huge capacity for volume but the egg holder trays fit nicely around the eggs which is what I need, a better holding tray, will look for better trays that might fit next. I think I may need something more efficient but not so large just maybe a couple dozen eggs but better at holding the eggs.

 

[Birdrain92]

My incubator is GQF Hovabotar. It can only hold 12 peafowl eggs.

 

[BYC910]

Wow, thanks all ! thats great info and pics. So if I understand then the eggs will hatch depending on the date you set them and not the date the egg was laid ? Im not so sure this egg incubator is going to work that great as the eggs are too large for their holder tray holes in my machine. I may have jumped the gun on this a bit and should perhaps purchased a better incubator? Im interested in hearing what types others people are using and why? KsKingBee , Im guessing yours is a cabinet incubator with a huge capacity for volume but the egg holder trays fit nicely around the eggs which is what I need, a better holding tray, will look for better trays that might fit next. I think I may need something more efficient but not so large just maybe a couple dozen eggs but better at holding the eggs.

I use GQF cabinets myself . I just like hatching a bunch and keeping the very best and sell the rest . Depending on what type of incubator you have you can buy larger egg trays or turning trays for most incubators . Yes you count 21 days for chicken eggs .Day one is complete 24 hours after you set them. Turkeys ducks and peafowl take longer .

 

[KsKingBee]

Brinsea are pricey but well worth it because they have a humidity pump that controls the humidity. It does not take too many lost birds to pay for a really good machine.

 

[izigg]

Unfortunately the one I got is not a good machine as the humidity setting is just a setting and has no control over it whats so ever. Im able to maintain 65-70 hunidity but anything around 55 and it runs out of water and needs more. I would spend the money on a good machine and replace this one now. I need something with no maintenance needed if I have to go away a few days and be ok until I get back or is this not possible? Im starting to think this is all just a bad idea with my scheduled out of town visits. Is running a incubator a daily operation or at some point are you able to just leave the eggs alone perhaps after you stop turning them ? Are you able to leave the eggs alone a few days safely at anytime ?

 

[BYC910]

Unfortunately the one I got is not a good machine as the humidity setting is just a setting and has no control over it whats so ever. Im able to maintain 65-70 hunidity but anything around 55 and it runs out of water and needs more. I would spend the money on a good machine and replace this one now. I need something with no maintenance needed if I have to go away a few days and be ok until I get back or is this not possible? Im starting to think this is all just a bad idea with my scheduled out of town visits. Is running a incubator a daily operation or at some point are you able to just leave the eggs alone perhaps after you stop turning them ? Are you able to leave the eggs alone a few days safely at anytime ?

I run my cabinet dry until hatch. I have and can leave them for a few days . What kind of Incubator do you have ? Honestly you can adapt things and make life better . For instance a drip water setup will help keep humidity in check and more constant .Made only with a two liter soda bottle and a short length of one eight inch vinyl tube from Home depot I for one don't want to pay four hundreds dollars for an incubator that will only hatch twenty eggs or so at a time . I prefer to buy made in the US. QGF is US made and parts are easy to get . Even for older cabinets like mine . Let me say I'm not knocking Brinsea they are the best operating small Incubator out there . Just way over priced for how they are constructed .