multiple hatches in bator

[ausash]

Any hints on how to handle multiple hatch times in one bator? I have two eggs from my 18 that are viable and are due on the 13th and am going to be adding more eggs next week to these eggs. I currently have a turner in but will be removing it on day 18. I do not have another bator to use as a hatchery so how would I handle it when the two start to hatch and the increase in humidity and what about when they hatch and start kicking around the other eggs as they are getting their footing will this harm my other eggs? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. I could possibly get a styrofoam cooler if anybody has any ideas on how to keep it heated to the right temp without frying them by overheating.

 

[silkiechicken]

Well, you could try this. Just raise up the humidity to 70 or so, not too high, and put the "hatchers" in one side of the bator. To keep the bator clean, place a towel or a dish under them so when they hatch, they don't get too much chick birth gunk everywhere and the shells and chicks are contained. This way you don't have to worry about rolling other eggs unnecessarily. I find that humidity usually isn't too much of an issue at the end, just don't let it drop below 50 or get into the 90's if you are not doing the dry incubation method. Good luck! Hope the little ones make it!

 

[ausash]

silkiechicken; Thank you so much what a great idea I would never have thought of that. I think that I will just roll up a hand towel and use it as a barrier and then place something like paper towel under the eggs so that I can just ball it up and then remove it after they are done. Do you think that it will be a problem taking the still incubating eggs out afterwards for just long enough to put the turner back in or should I just leave it out and hand turn the eggs for the whole time?

 

[silkiechicken]

Either way really. The eggs won't be hurt any if they are out of the bator for a few minutes as you put the turner back in. The critical times to be closed up and toasty are the last three days before hatch. Even then though, it should be just fine because the mother hen would still get up and eat. Good luck!