Staggered Hatch - What do I need to do differently?

[Harmony Fowl]

Background: We just bought a new home on 13 acres, allowing us to expand our flock of six to whatever we want. I ordered eggs to ship the week after closing, this week, never imagining that an assortment of eggs from so many different breeds listed would take until the end of the week to fulfill. Yet that is what’s happened. As of today, the eggs still haven’t shipped. They may ship today, but then we have Sunday and a holiday Monday with no mail . . . shipped egg hatch rates are low enough, I’m not feeling hopeful about them.
The twist: On Wednesday, I chaperoned a field trip to an orchard and picked up two dozen backyard eggs. I have space for all of them, but of course I wanted to start them all together so they would all hatch together. Now that I won’t be receiving my shipped eggs until Tuesday, I want to start the backyard group now. By Tuesday, those eggs will be 6-7 days old. I don’t see any point in delaying incubation and risking hatchability for new, not shipped eggs for the small chance of getting a couple more chicks out of shipped, days old eggs.

The incubator is running and ready to go. My plan is to start the two dozen backyard eggs today. My question is: when I do receive the shipped set, of course I’ll hope for the best and set them. Even if they arrive Tuesday, it will likely be even longer before I set them if I give them a chance to settle. I’m thinking there will be a minimum of four days and possibly more in between the two sets. What have proven to be best practices for those of you who have done this before? I have an automatic turner; how do I handle turning? How do I handle lockdown? What other considerations am I not thinking of?

 

[feedman77]

Congrats on your new farm.

I would take the chance and let the fresh eggs wait on the shipped eggs. If stores cool and turned daily they will be good til at least 10 days old sometimes longer before viability goes down.

When shipped eggs come in set them stabil for 24 hours. Then place in incubator but don't start Turner for 2 to 3 days.

Staggered hatch is better with 2 incubators. But do them in a cabinet all the time. Raise humidity for the eggs about to hatch. As soon as hatch is over clean incubator. Replace the later eggs. 3 days of higher humidity shouldn't hurt them.

 

[HeyHey]

I kinda have the same issue.
I finally got my silkie to go broody, only problem is my rr keeps laying eggs while she is in there, and then she sit on them!
I tried ti get the rr eggs out from under her but she wont even let me get close. snapping and hissing, whatdo i do

 

[feedman77]

Generally she she should get up and eat poop and drink. If you can catch her off nest remove the rr eggs.

Try at night to get your hand under and remove eggs while she sleeps

Can you block the nest off from the other chickens?

 

[HeyHey]

I tried and the others started laying where i cant find them, all but rr
will a flashlight bother her?

 

[HeyHey]

and now its like an easter egg hunt every morning

 

[Harmony Fowl]

Congrats on your new farm.

I would take the chance and let the fresh eggs wait on the shipped eggs. If stores cool and turned daily they will be good til at least 10 days old sometimes longer before viability goes down.

When shipped eggs come in set them stabil for 24 hours. Then place in incubator but don't start Turner for 2 to 3 days.

Staggered hatch is better with 2 incubators. But do them in a cabinet all the time. Raise humidity for the eggs about to hatch. As soon as hatch is over clean incubator. Replace the later eggs. 3 days of higher humidity shouldn't hurt them.

Thank you. I did start the fresh set today. I'm glad I did. I should have gotten an email that the others had shipped, but I didn't. For all I know, they wont be shipped until Tuesday, or at all. If they haven't shipped, and they're willing to delay shipping, I'll wait until this set is done. If they do arrive, maybe a second incubator is a good idea. The turner will be the issue. I've turned eggs by hand, but turning some and not others, then having to open the incubator during lockdown to turn the younger set . . . that doesn't sound like such a good idea. I might get a little one, just as a back up.

Thanks again for the advice.

 

[Redhead Rae]

I kinda have the same issue.
I finally got my silkie to go broody, only problem is my rr keeps laying eggs while she is in there, and then she sit on them!
I tried ti get the rr eggs out from under her but she wont even let me get close. snapping and hissing, whatdo i do

When I have a hen go broody, I separate her for a few days into my broody housing set-up with fake eggs, wait a few days to see if she is indeed broody, and then give her eggs. After reading all the horror stories about brooding with the flock, I decided that putting a 5'x5' PVC run inside my poultry paddock with a tote with a door on it is the best way to go. It has worked VERY well for me. I can send pictures to you if you like.

 

[JaeG]

Background: We just bought a new home on 13 acres, allowing us to expand our flock of six to whatever we want. I ordered eggs to ship the week after closing, this week, never imagining that an assortment of eggs from so many different breeds listed would take until the end of the week to fulfill. Yet that is what’s happened. As of today, the eggs still haven’t shipped. They may ship today, but then we have Sunday and a holiday Monday with no mail . . . shipped egg hatch rates are low enough, I’m not feeling hopeful about them.
The twist: On Wednesday, I chaperoned a field trip to an orchard and picked up two dozen backyard eggs. I have space for all of them, but of course I wanted to start them all together so they would all hatch together. Now that I won’t be receiving my shipped eggs until Tuesday, I want to start the backyard group now. By Tuesday, those eggs will be 6-7 days old. I don’t see any point in delaying incubation and risking hatchability for new, not shipped eggs for the small chance of getting a couple more chicks out of shipped, days old eggs.

The incubator is running and ready to go. My plan is to start the two dozen backyard eggs today. My question is: when I do receive the shipped set, of course I’ll hope for the best and set them. Even if they arrive Tuesday, it will likely be even longer before I set them if I give them a chance to settle. I’m thinking there will be a minimum of four days and possibly more in between the two sets. What have proven to be best practices for those of you who have done this before? I have an automatic turner; how do I handle turning? How do I handle lockdown? What other considerations am I not thinking of?

I've done staggered hatches of Button quail eggs many times. I'd ditch the automatic turner in favour of putting them in something so they are all together and you can quickly remove them from the incubator all at once, turn them manually, then return them to the incubator - a plastic container or one of those disposable foil baking tins. Aim for a higher humidity during lockdown of your first eggs to cope with you opening it the few times you'll be turning the later eggs daily and if any of the earlier eggs are pipping skip the turning of the other eggs. Candle the later eggs at regular intervals (but not too much seeing as they are shipped) to make sure they are on track with their air cells and if they are looking a little small try and get the humidity right down low once your first batch has hatched. There are lots of diagrams online to compare them to. Just search Google Images for 'egg air cell size'.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Please remember that Easter is the time to hunt eggs or hens' nests. As my first attempt to hatch eggs I would definitely not attempt to hatch them in October or November. If for no other reason than the brood fowl are weaker, more worn down, and with fewer vitamins and minerals to deposit in the egg at the end of the laying year.