I like to set eggs under the broody & in the incubator at the same time. Although my tiny broodies can't cover too many chicks, they're small enough to just put inside the brooder. (I made a brooder out of a Pack N Play & have a home-made ecoGlow.) Mama covers what she can & the overflow goes under the fake broody. She's there to teach all the babies the secrets of chicken life. We had a hen hatch 2 eggs & then kept slipping more chicks under her as they hatched. The final total was 26. Talk about a happy hen!!! By 1 week, 21 chicks went to their new owners & then we allowed mama to free range with the flock & her remaining chicks.I did it, she now has 5 eggs and I have 5 in my bator. They are all on about day 7, and the ones I already had in my incubator are on day 17. The ones I gave her have great veining, and I expect her to do well. Mine, are not as good. I can not see any veining in the ones I took from her, so we will see how it goes. Hopefully we'll have some babies soon!![]()
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Do you have a separate hatcher & incubator? I ask because usually on day 18, you stop turning & increase humidity by adding more water or sponges. Eggs on day 7 need less humidity & turning 3xs per day. Not sure if they can be incubated together.