Incubating a week apart in same incubator?

[SunnyDay123]

My daughter and I are incubating eggs that she got from her Lil Farmer class. She got 8 eggs and 6 appear to be developing (on day 14 now). Well, I got eggs from my parents who thought for sure their eggs weren't fertilized, but wanted to double check...just in case. We put them in the incubator and now all 12 are fertilized and developing (on day 8 now).

I have been doing research and realize that staggered hatches don't appear to be the best thing. My daughter told me that it looks like we need to get another incubator. Is that our only option or is it possible to incubate and hatch a week apart? I'm thinking it isn't likely since they will have to go on lockdown and we won't be able to turn the other eggs. I don't want to sacrifice any chicks. Just checking to see if there are any other options.

 

[mill-j]

What incubator are you using? I stagger batches all the time in my cabinet incubator.
If you have such a small still air with removable turner, you could remove both batches and manually turn the second batch until the others hatch.

Even if you got another incubator, you wouldn't need turners right away, since your using it as Hatcher.

Let us know how this works out.

 

[SunnyDay123]

It is a Farm Innovators Still Air Incubator. It doesn't have an automatic turner. We turn them manually.

 

[mill-j]

I don't think that should be a problem, just keep them separate somehow, maybe mark them. And the humidity bump when you go into lockdown shouldn't harm the later batch.

Good Luck!

 

[SunnyDay123]

So, will the second batch be okay not turning them? We can separate them on different sides somehow. Once hatched, do we take them out after a couple of hours? Will it be a problem opening it with the others if they haven't hatched? I've read that hatching eggs can spread bacteria on the other eggs??? And, if they poop in the water in there. Also, I did read something about putting them in some sort of cup to hatch. I just know lockdown will be coming soon, so I need to figure things out.

 

[mill-j]

Go ahead and keep turning the second batch. But do not open the incubator more than you have to. Chicks are alright in an incubator for 24hrs, I recommend removing them once a day, preferably when you turn the second batch.

I wouldn't be to worried about bacteria, I mean I'd remove the shells as much as possible, just make sure you clean the incubator good after the second batch hatches.

 

[Fairview01]

On lock down for the first batch place them in an egg carton air cell up. Bump the humidity up. Continue turning the second batch 3-4x a day. When the first batch hatches they will play pin ball with the later hatch turning them for you - probably more aggressively than you want. After the first hatch is removed drop the humidity again until lock down when you transfer them to the egg carton for hatching.

Eggs under the broody cool when she is off the nest. Some get jostled lot some just a little. The eggs further from the center are cooler than the ones right beneath her. She may poo in the nest so the environment is very contaminated. And through it all hens consistently somehow manage to hatch a lot of chicks successfully.

 

[lazy gardener]

I see 3 issues here:

#1: Eggs in lock down need a lot of humidity. That may prevent the later group from loosing enough moisture, resulting in air cells being too small when they go into lock down. If egg is too "wet" the chicks run the risk of drowning in the excess fluid when they pip. They may also grow bigger than they should, resulting in a difficult hatch.

#2: If you run the bator dryer at lock down to prevent #1 problem, the first group may have dry membranes and be unable to hatch.

#3: Hatching is a messy procedure. The chicks are wet, and they will be tracking through their meconium, and smearing it all over the later clutch of eggs. They loose a lot of dander, even during that first 24 hours when you may be waiting for the last egg of that first clutch to hatch. In other words, they create a bacterial soup that could jeopardize the lives of the second clutch.

To that end, you can easily make a still air incubator for about $20 - 25.00. Most likely, the only thing you'll need to buy is a thermostat (check out Incubator Warehouse, I recommend the digital.) All other materials can easily be scavenged. If you could wire a lamp with instructions, you could build an incubator. If you want to put just a little bit of extra time and effort into the build, you could make a forced air. Sally Sunshine and Rush Lane Poultry have some excellent resources/tutorials/instructions.

 

[tjb]

So, will the second batch be okay not turning them? We can separate them on different sides somehow. Once hatched, do we take them out after a couple of hours? Will it be a problem opening it with the others if they haven't hatched? I've read that hatching eggs can spread bacteria on the other eggs??? And, if they poop in the water in there. Also, I did read something about putting them in some sort of cup to hatch. I just know lockdown will be coming soon, so I need to figure things out.

I have had a staggered batch... yes, turn you second batch. As it was suggested, mark them, maybe with a star. put them on one side of your incubator. I take mine out, very quickly, after about 3-4 hours and put them in the brooder box. Your temp/humidity shouldn't fall but just a bit and come right back up. Since you are manually turning them, you should be fine.

 

[SunnyDay123]

Oh, I am so torn. I could buy another incubator for about $45. Is it worth it to not worry about losing any from doing a staggered hatch?

All of the eggs are marked already, so we know which are in the different ones.