Staggered hatched...

[IggiMom]

WHY AM I DOING THIS TO MYSELF?

I already have too many chicks, and I am a bit handicapped. I can hardly keep up with everything.

Ok, back to my question...

How do you all handle cleaning out the incubator when you have staggered hatched?

For instance, one batch hatched, and the others were on day 18, and I didn't want them to have to come out and get cold while I cleaned the incubator, so now they are hatching in a dirty incubator. It is pretty bad, too, those chicks all hatched pooping, so far as I could tell.

It was a GREAT hatch, bunch of little BO's from Green Family Farms, and they just all popped out happily and ruuning around (and pooping).

What should I have done? And am i certifiable?

Catherine

 

[SarahFair]

I did a "staggered hatch" this time around. What I did was add the guinea eggs (takes 28 days) in a week earlier then the chicken eggs (takes 21 days) so they hatch on the same day.
Honestly I dont know what to tell you to do. I would fear leaving them in the incubator with poop baking it might infect them but having bleach or whatever you use to clean lingering in there might infect them as well.
What I would probly do is just leave them.

Hope someone comes along with a better answer~

 

[saladin]

What kind of incubator are you using? saladin

 

[Red Maple Farms]

A separate hatcher may help for staggered batches.

 

[IggiMom]

Quote:
These are in a Genesis.

Catherine

 

[saladin]

I should have been more specific in my question. Is the incubator a cabinet type or table top model?