Question about adding eggs after initial incubation?

[CabritaChicks]

Due to the ongoing bird flu panic—or at least what I assume is panic—people have started culling their flocks out of fear, especially since we lack decent healthcare on the island. Because I’m the only avian specialist around and run a bird rescue, folks have been leaving eggs at my gate—clearly from good stock, like Orpingtons and Plymouth Rocks, according to the notes left behind.

Ive already placed my new special order eggs in the incubator 6 days ago (candled today, have some definite progress, and a couple question marks- 6 eggs total in an incubator that holds 18).

The incubator is not nearly as high-end as what we used to have—but I’m now considering a multi-egg date- incubation approach. I want to add in a few more eggs that seem viable that have been 'gifted' to me.

The room I’m using stays at a steady 75°F-85% and 60% humidity and I can set up a secondary self incubation system when MY eggs go into lockdown- and transfer the 'alien eggs' to a self incubator for a few days...similar to the one I used back in Sharjah (middle east). My only concern is whether adding more eggs at this stage— might mess with the development of the current batch or cause issues with this admittedly mediocre incubator I have now (which is finicky).

I cant buy another incubator- they dont ship often, or reliably to the island. So I was hoping to try and save a few?
Thoughts?
Here is the incubator I was able to get shipped to me: https://www.walmart.com/orders/200013012369564?groupId=6c106fc16b5dcd777dc845d3838e149a

 

[Ridgerunner]

My only concern is whether adding more eggs at this stage— might mess with the development of the current batch or cause issues with this admittedly mediocre incubator I have now (which is finicky).

I cannot open that link, it wants me to log in. Nope, not going to try that.

In a normal incubator I would not be concerned about messing up the original eggs by adding more. The only concern would be if they were really dirty and could be introducing bacteria into the incubator. But I have those concerns when I first put any eggs in to start with, not just when adding more.

The temperature will drop momentarily but mine does that when I open it to add water or candle eggs. That is not a problem.

Some people regularly plan a staggered hatch. Typically they gather eggs for a week and add those to be incubated. When it is time to lock down they move the eggs to be locked down to a different incubator. You are planning on using a homemade hatcher (good luck, there are examples on this forum) but I don't see that you are doing anything substantially different from common practice.

It sounds like a solid plan, I wish you good luck with it. Let us know how it goes.

 

[CabritaChicks]

I cannot open that link, it wants me to log in. Nope, not going to try that.

Unfortunately, that’s the only incubator brand that delivers to this island—which some will understand is a real limitation. The humidity is constantly too high, and I absolutely hate the thing. It sets off an alarm every time the humidity drops below 40%, which is exactly where I want it to be.

Back in other countries, we built our own incubators, turning eggs by hand until I eventually had a lab setup—completely different ballgame. Now I’m on an island again, and eggs are showing up at all hours, day and night. I can’t displace the rescue parrots to make room for chickens, but I still want to treat these eggs with care and integrity.

No offense to the jungle fowl—but you can usually tell they’re pure by the shape and size of the eggs (I know, sounds a little egg-racist). Hubby wants me to hatch EVERYTHING, including taking in BVI ducks... ugh. Still, I added three to the incubator anyway.