How full is too full?

[MariposaMama]

I have an LG 9200 still air bator with 30 little pheasant eggs on day 4. I have already had temp ups and downs that make me question whether any of them will survive to hatch. Add to that the fact that they are next to impossible to candle and I'm afraid I'm wasting my time keeping the bator running. I'd like to add the 8 chicken eggs I collected today since I can candle them easily and within a week or so will know if there is any chance for life with the pheasants.

I think I can get the chicken eggs in there so that no eggs are actually touching any others, but they will be close together. Is there any rule about how full you can fill a bator without causing issues to all the eggs?

 

[Intheswamp]

I don't think there is an issue with the eggs touching each other as long as they're not like *squeezed* in there together. Afterall, the eggs under a broody hen tend to congregate under her and they're often touching. Now, when all those chicks start hatching there might be a little congestion!

Best wishes on your hatch!
Ed

 

[MariposaMama]

Thank you for the reply Ed.

I didn't even think about eggs under a broody hen and I've seen pics here of other people's bators that looked more crowded than mine, but I just wanted to ask someone with more hatching experience than me.

The co-worker that gave me the pheasant eggs hasn't had much luck at all hatching them out in her home made bator and I'd like to be able to present her with a dozen or so babies to increase her flock. For some reason, though, my bator is not holding the same steady temps it did when I used it last and I hate the idea of keeping it running for nothing.

 

[Intheswamp]

Glad I could help with the little knowledge that I have.

I don't have experience with incubation but I have researched and prepared so much I think I could hatch a dinosaur egg.

Truth being I'll probably have a dismal hatch when I finally crank up my incubator for my first eggs.

I wonder if the pheasant eggs are fertile. As I recall reading, the humidity for pheasant eggs is a bit higher than it is for chicken eggs. Something like 50-60% humidity. Hopefully someone experienced will comment.

Anyhow, at 50-60% for the pheasant eggs that might be a problem with the chicken eggs which should be down around 40%. I'm not sure how things will work in that regards...if you keep the humidity around 50% you might be ok.

Regarding the temp fluctuation: Remember that the LG's don't like an environment that has fluctuating temperatures. Has anything changed in regards to where the incubator is situated? Central air system running now where it wasn't running on your last hatch? Change to a different room? Sun coming in a window more now than it did last time? Look for factors that might be affecting the temperature stability of the environment.

Ed

 

[tia]

I have hatched duck eggs with a little giant and have not been too successful. The temperature spiked on me several times. My thermometers were not very reliable either. I think you have to watch it very carefully. I know that lots of people are successful with them though. I just bought a new incubator and am trying that out with a few runner duck eggs. Good luck with your hatching.

Tia