Staggered hatch - advice required.

[happytxchick]

I have a staggered hatch in the incubator right now. Some due 4/16, some due 4/30.

How do I go into lockdown, but still turn the other eggs and not overhumidfy them?

Advice desired from people who have successfully completed a staggered hatch.

Thanks!!

 

[gardenak]

I've asked this myself and although it got answers, they weren't real clear. So, here's a bump.

until we get an answer.

 

[jerseygirl1]

I'd like to know myself, I just did one three days apart, and I was told it couldn't be done UNLESS I had another incubator to put the second set of eggs after the firsts set went into lockdown and hatched.

 

[ChickFila]

What kind of bator do you have? It will help giving advice (cabinet type, hova-bator, brinsea, etc...)
well, I did that at the first hatch in my life.
It was just from my idea, so I don't know if I did the right thing or not.
Here I go :
I had a hova-bator 1602N with auto turner.
I set 21 eggs (14 made it to lockdown) on 3/11 and 14 eggs on 3/13
On 3/29, I took egg turner out and removed the last two rows, so it gave the space to lockdown 14 bantam eggs.
A dozen egg cart was well fit into that space. So I put egg turner back inside the bator without two rows, and put an egg carton in that space. I turned on egg turner again, so it was turned until 3/31.
By the way, my bantam eggs were hatching early, 10 chicks came out on 3/30.
On 3/31, I took out the chicks and removed egg turner, and keep those unhatched bantam eggs in the bator (just in case they hatch late) along with other 14 eggs. During April 2-3, 10 chicks were hatched.

If you don't have an automatic egg turner, I don't know how to turn the later hatching eggs...

 

[happytxchick]

ChickFila - thanks. I have the exact same set up as you. I had already been thinking along the lines you described. I've just been concerned about overly humid conditions for the ones still developing & that the turner might injure some of the hatchlings on 4/16. I suppose this will be sort of experimental.

Thanks for the reply.

 

[jodiv]

well this will be my second staggered hatch. and this is my second hatch altogether! LOL Iwas never one to follow the rules, cuz everybodies circumstances are different. All my eggs were due april 9th, except some bantam eggs, these were due april 4th, they hatched a day late....but made it thru, removed them. The my bigger eggs , due april 9th, hatched april 10th. removed those too.

Now somewhere in between those 2 staggers I set more bantams in on april 7th, they are due the 27th. LOL Not to mention, I have more eggs coming in the mail that will be going into the bator along with the bantum eggs. which will most likely be due around the week of may 3rd...or so..2 dozen to be exact..hehehehehe Im terrible, i know.

My temps were ranging from 99 to 101.9, and the humity ranged from 60 to 68, all the way thru the hatch, (and when the chicks hatched, they rolled the eggs around for me, so i didnt feel the need to open the bator, belive it or not, for the ones that were due at a later date....LOL)

so out of my hatches, which contained about 48 eggs, 3 were duds, and 2 were quitters. Not bad i'd say. However I added a fan to my still air hova bator...and boy let me tell you, it makes a world of difference for keeping a uniform temp, and humidity. Now i am satying at about 100. and the humidity is at 65 % constant. sooooooo not sure if that reassures you pr not, but, i say do whatever works for you.

 

[920utlaw]

BUMP To The Top!!! I just asked the same question!

 

[marathonmultiplesmom]

I have my goose eggs staggered right now. I started off that way and then realized there might be a "little problem" with lockdown time. So, I bought a second incubator. Now, I move the eggs over for lockdown as needed. I have 2 in lockdown now. Adding another tomorrow. I think one of the eggs in lockdown has internally pipped today so hopefully I have a gosling soon. I started setting mine once a week now, so I can move them over to the lockdown incubator... the hatcher, several at a time and clean it better between hatches.

 

[happytxchick]

Yeah - on the cleaning thing. I'm just going to pull the ones out that will hatch on the 30th and clean the 'bator super fast and stick 'em back in there. Shouldn't be very different than momma hen jumping off the nest for a quick bite to eat.
@jodiv - whew! You're wearing me out...lol