What to do? Can eggs sit without being turned for three days?

[IggiMom]

Ok. I still don't quite understand why, but everyone certainly seems to agree that during the days 18-21 you DO NOT OPEN THE INCUBATOR.

This is my own fault for arranging, or rather not arranging, staggered hatches that don't quite work out.

Tomorrow night is Day 18 for the wee Serama eggs. Of course these are important eggs. So on the EVENING of Day 18 I close the incubator and DON'T open it again until they hatch. Right?

BUT--I have some eggs coming, hopefully today, and the incubator where the other eggs are will not have room for them all. SO the only place I have to put them is in the hatcher with the little Serama eggs.

Sheesh.

I don't quite want to get a third incubator, because of, well, money, and also that I have not found time to mention to my husband about the second incubator, much less a third.

What to do. Just put those new eggs in the hatcher with the Serama eggs, and do not turn them? For three days?

This is very worrisome.

 

[KellyHM]

Put them in with the Seramas and stop worrying! You can turn them on Day 19 and the beginning of day 20, but then I'd leave the bator closed after that...just gauge it based on your humidity and how well it holds. Once the Seramas hatch they'll be turning those other eggs for you.

 

[SeramaLife]

Many people don't start turning until day 10.

 

[KellyHM]

Here's another thought...if any of the eggs in your other bator are past day 12 you can move them into the hatcher b/c after day 12 the embryo can move around on its own and doesn't have to be turned anymore.

 

[dancingbear]

Quote:
Wow, I never knew you could stop after day 12. That's a relief to me, I have a staggered hatch coming up, with just a single 'bator. I've been concerned about the guinea eggs not getting turned while the chicken eggs hatch. I think I'll put the chicken eggs in carton bottoms, and leave the guinea eggs lying horizontal, because you're right, the hatching chicks will turn them for me.

 

[halo]

Or, I dont know what you first incubator is full of...are they in an egg turner? If so, you can double deck the new eggs on the eggs in the egg turner for a few days until the seramas hatch and you clean out the hatcher, then put the next batch to hatch in the cleaned hatcher and re-arrange your eggs in the egg turner in the first incubator. You wont hurt them by doing that; believe me, I know for a fact.

 

[IggiMom]

Thanks for the replies, folks.

Oh yes--I have some due just a couple days after the little Seramas--some Showgirl/Silkies, actually--so perhaps it would not hurt to put them in with the Seramas.

My goodness, what do people do who have a Sportsman? Do they have to get TWO Sportsmans, one to incubate and one to hatch?

I wish I had a Sportsman, but I had better not ever get one, because the only thing that is keeping this under some control is that I don't have enough room to keep hatching.

And really, I don't need any more chicks.

Catherine

 

[IggiMom]

Quote:
Yes! They are on an egg turner! I never would have thought of double-decking them!

Catherine