- Jun 15, 2013
- 85
- 33
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Hi, I have had a Brinsea Maxi II Advance for a few years & everytime I do an incubation, there are some that hatch 4-7 days before the others. I have seen people talk about "hot spots" in bators which is most likely the cause of my problem:
Last year, 3 ducklings hatched on day 27/28 as they should. By day 31, they were all fluffed up & getting too big for the machine. They were beyond ready to be under a heat lamp & out of the bator but I did not want to lift the lid because I didn't want the others, who had not yet even externally pipped, to be "shrink wrapped". I was worried that the hatched ducklings were getting too hot, too big & needed drinking water etc.
By day 31, they were pecking at one, much younger (just zipped) duckling's eye (which I know is normal but the "early birds" *harhar* were so much & bigger & older).
I was worried that something was going to go wrong. So on day 33, I decided to open the lid. I removed the big ducklings, candled the others who had not yet even pipped internally & there was still movement, so I put them back in the bator & closed the lid. They never did hatch (most likely from opening the lid but they were soooo much younger than the others! Like a week or so.). The younger one that had zipped, but had not yet kicked out of his/her egg, survived, but was so much younger than the others that he/she had to be kept separate from the others until he/she was big enough to fend for him/herself.
This year, I'm sure there will be a difference in hatching times as usual. I was wanting to know if anyone has any advice on how I should deal with this effectively so that no one dies? Is it okay to leave the large/older ones in the bator for like 8 days until all eggs have at least zipped?
They are all crested (Bali) Indian Runners. I have just now put all 14 of them all on lockdown. Thank you.
Last year, 3 ducklings hatched on day 27/28 as they should. By day 31, they were all fluffed up & getting too big for the machine. They were beyond ready to be under a heat lamp & out of the bator but I did not want to lift the lid because I didn't want the others, who had not yet even externally pipped, to be "shrink wrapped". I was worried that the hatched ducklings were getting too hot, too big & needed drinking water etc.
By day 31, they were pecking at one, much younger (just zipped) duckling's eye (which I know is normal but the "early birds" *harhar* were so much & bigger & older).
I was worried that something was going to go wrong. So on day 33, I decided to open the lid. I removed the big ducklings, candled the others who had not yet even pipped internally & there was still movement, so I put them back in the bator & closed the lid. They never did hatch (most likely from opening the lid but they were soooo much younger than the others! Like a week or so.). The younger one that had zipped, but had not yet kicked out of his/her egg, survived, but was so much younger than the others that he/she had to be kept separate from the others until he/she was big enough to fend for him/herself.
This year, I'm sure there will be a difference in hatching times as usual. I was wanting to know if anyone has any advice on how I should deal with this effectively so that no one dies? Is it okay to leave the large/older ones in the bator for like 8 days until all eggs have at least zipped?
They are all crested (Bali) Indian Runners. I have just now put all 14 of them all on lockdown. Thank you.
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