wiked bad idea?

[Lenka]

So Is it possible/ or a terrible idea to move the eggs from the incubator to another incubator/brooder type thing on day 18, when they don't need to be turned anyways? I would be setting up something like a plastic bin, with appropriate heat and humidity, and that way i can watch the babies hatch and also not have to worry about babies falling in the incubator. My incubator is an old mini fridge that was converted into a (reptile) incubator- it doesnt have any windows and the eggs are like 10 inches up on a shelf. I was thinking of setting up a rubber maid container, maybe with heat bulb and a water/sponge bowl for humidity and then move them just before lockdown.

super bad idea? or worth a try?

 

[Ridgerunner]

It's a great idea if it works and horrible if it doesn’t. Using one as an incubator then moving them to another incubator at lockdown as a hatcher is pretty standard. It’s the standard way things are done commercially and a lot of us backyard hatchers do it too. It’s the best way to manage a staggered hatch.

Can you build something that stays at the right temperature and humidity, plus provides air movement so they have fresh air to breathe? If they can’t get fresh air they will suffocate. Since you can’t see in the other one to know what is going on with the hatch, it sounds like you need a separate hatcher anyway. Good luck on building it. The idea is good, it’s just whether or not you can execute the plan.

 

[HickoryHollow]

So Is it possible/ or a terrible idea to move the eggs from the incubator to another incubator/brooder type thing on day 18, when they don't need to be turned anyways? I would be setting up something like a plastic bin, with appropriate heat and humidity, and that way i can watch the babies hatch and also not have to worry about babies falling in the incubator. My incubator is an old mini fridge that was converted into a (reptile) incubator- it doesnt have any windows and the eggs are like 10 inches up on a shelf. I was thinking of setting up a rubber maid container, maybe with heat bulb and a water/sponge bowl for humidity and then move them just before lockdown.

super bad idea? or worth a try?

That is what most people who have been doing this a while do. I have just started doing it too. Large hatcheries have what they call "setters" and "hatchers. They incubate for the first 21 days in a "setter" that has the turners in it. Then on day 18 they move them to a "hatcher" which has higher humidity and no turners. The "hatcher" just has baskets the eggs go into and contain the chicks as they hatch. It is extremely important though that your "hatcher" has the ability to maintain temperature right at or very near 99 degrees and 60% humidity though. If the temp and/or humidity can't be regulated and kept constant you can kill them in the last 3 days.

 

[Lenka]

OK I have another questions- I set up my broody hen in a cat carrier, which is then fenced in, with a piece of wood over it, as well as fencing. During the night I usually close the cat carrier, but do I really need to? She is outside in my (precariously) fenced in yard. There have been coyotes in the area, but i don't know if they would try to get to her. The reason that I don't want to close the carrier is because im not sure when she gets up for her walk around and food intake (I havent seen any evidence of her being out,- no poop in the fenced yard). I usually open up the carrier at around 530am and close it at 830pm when I close in my other girls. would it be ok leaving the carrier open at night, or should I just trust the fact that shes not stupid and probably gets up during the day? ( she also spent several hours monday out and about, before fencing over the top was installed.. freaked me out, but I think it was wiked hot out so I just panicked for no reason. )