What a mess!

[Shelanie]

I have different groups of eggs in my bator. I just hatched some yesterday. Is it ok to open it long enough to clean it and put it back together. It can't be good to leave all the yuck from the first batch in there but I don't want to hurt the ones still cookin. Guide me oh wise bator people...

 

[Tuffoldhen]

Sorry, I've never done a staggered hatch...hope someone else can come along to help you....

 

[coffeemama]

Seems like the goo could start growing bacteria if you didn't remove it. I really have no idea though.

 

[Katy]

Well, it's a little late at this stage of the game, but I'd never do a staggered hatch in the same incubator without a hatcher to move them to. I suppose if you can remove them and get it cleaned up quickly that would be the best thing to do. What days are your other eggs on?

 

[Shelanie]

They are due in about a week. I keep having the arguement with DH, he says don't hens laying on eggs get up and eat and drink? He thinks Im rediculous. BUT you keep temps level for a reason right?

 

[twigg]

Quote:
What kind of incubator is it?

A quick wipe out with a mild Clorox solution is unlikely to take so long as to be a problem. Some incubators heat up quicker than others tho.

Next time, you might want to use a separate incubator as a hatcher. That arrangement can cope easily with eggs set every week.

 

[Harley's girl]

I have staggered mine before. I picked up the big stuff and got all the goo that I could. And things were fine.

 

[rebecca100]

It shouldn't hurt it to have a little yuck in it, but if you really want to clean it out it won't hurt the eggs to remove them for a while. After all the hen does have to leave the nest for a while everyday to eat and drink. I've had the electricity go off in mine for a day and the eggs still hatched(about a day late though).