What can I do?? Chicken, button, duck, and goose eggs, only 2 bators!

[shelleyd2008]

I have buttons due to hatch in 5 days in one bator, chickens with different hatch dates in the other bator. I just got my swap eggs, 10 more button eggs. In about 5 days I'm expecting some duck eggs, and possibly some goose eggs as well!

I do have a hatcher, but it is homemade. I don't really trust it to hatch the buttons that are due. I can't let the other buttons wait till then. I was going to let the buttons hatch in their bator, but now I don't know.

I was thinking I could put the duck eggs in the turner with the chicken eggs, and take out a couple trays to put the goose eggs in, but that doesn't help me with the button eggs I just got!! Can I put the button eggs in the bator with the chicken eggs? It does have a fan, and maybe I could put them on something to keep them up higher. I don't know!! Help me!!

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

Quote:
Well....

I would try to fit everything besides the "due in 5 days" eggs into the one bator. Then when those hatch, move some stuff to that bator.

Or .... If ya weren't so far away, I'd have ya bring some of em over here, and I'd stick them into my bator (I could make some room - not much, but some - after friday I'll have 28 chicken eggs in there - right now only got 14).

I would for sure have room for the button eggs. If ya want to talk your dad into driving ya over tomorrow, I ought to be home most of the day (cleaning, in prep for mom coming). I could just put them up higher in my bator (to keep em happier, temp and hum -wise).

I know, I could cut the bottoms out of a egg carton, and turn it upside down and put them in the hole in the bottom - ought to raise them up to the right level.

What's the time frame on quail eggs? Don't those hatch sooner than chicken eggs? (or is it later... can't remember). Or do they have to have dif conditions to hatch (higher humidity maybe? I don't know) ?

let me know....

meri

 

[shelleyd2008]

Well, supposedly they take the same temp/humidity as chickens, but I hatched some before and got 3 chicks out of 38 eggs. Some were scrambled by the p.o., but I had about 10 or so that quit at some time or another, and 3 dead pips. I have heard they 'like' cooler temps and higher humidity. Not really 'higher' humidity, you just can't use the dry incubation method with them. And these take 15-18 days, so yes they are quicker than chickens.
It's not that I don't have the room, but I don't really want to mess up these or the duck/goose eggs. I could care less about the chickens eggs at this point, they are from mine and dad's birds, so I can always get more. Well, kind of. Some of Gertie's eggs are from my splash roo that disappeared. So I can't get those anymore. And all of Duchess's eggs are from him too.
I was thinking of putting them all in one for now. I won't get the duck'goose eggs till the buttons are due to hatch, so they could wait till the buttons are done. And goose/duck eggs need higher humidity as well, so I don't know!

Maybe I could bring my chicken eggs over! Then I wouldn't have to worry about drowning them! I have read duck eggs need like 70% humidity during incubation, and 80%+ for hatch!! So I will probably kill the chicken eggs either way I do it!

I wonder how good the chicken eggs would do for the trip? Would probably have to put them in my shirt or something!

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

Quote:
How many chicken eggs are there?

Wow!! that is high humidity on those duck and goose eggs. How are ya gonna keep the hum that high?

Do you have anything you could put them in to keep them warm? like maybe one of those insulated casserole covers?

or eve if ya put them into a cooler (smaller one maybe) it would help them hold their temp. Maybe... wrap them in a warm towel, then put into a cooler to bring over.

What are the hatch dates on the chicken eggs? I might not get the hatcher done until sometime this next week (cause of company and hubby being obsessed with his new tractor right now.)

OR... how much would ya want for the quail eggs, maybe I'll just buy em off ya and solve part of the problem (then you could buy some more other eggs

or put it towards your BYC hoodie).

meri

 

[shelleyd2008]

Some of the eggs are due next Tuesday as well, I just noticed!

The others are at 7 days or less. I'm not even sure if I could move them right now! I wonder if I could use the hatcher as a bator? I could put them in with the quail eggs, but it may mess them up. AGH!!! I don't know!!

 

[shelleyd2008]

I only have 7 that were set about a week ago. the ones due next week would hatch around the same time as the button quail, and the same time the goose/duck eggs should be arriving. Would you have room for 3 large fowl mixes and 4 bantie eggs, due in 2 weeks?

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

Quote:
Yep, got room for those, bring em on over.

The eggs I have are gonna be bantam cochins and buff orps, so it shouldn't be a problem telling them all apart.

meri

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

Quote:
you could maybe use the hatcher as a bator on the chicken eggs - I wouldn't try it with the duck goose or button quail, though.

meri

 

[shelleyd2008]

Ok. I will let you know when I need to bring them. I might not have to. I think I might have it figured out. I will let you know for sure. And don't worry, if a good number of these quail eggs hatch, I'll probably be GIVING them away!! I have 48 due in 5 days, and just got 10 more!

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

Quote:

I'll have to figure out a place to put the snake tank for them.


Hubby will LOVE that idea - indoor "chickens" on a permanant basis

meri