Maximum eggs

Eggb · **Joined:** Sun Oct 28, 2012 8:38 pm **Posts:** 2

Is it a wise move to set less eggs in the incubator that the maximum it can take. Mine can take 20 eggs but when I did a test I can fit 24 eggs but would that risk them not hatching and also should I set say 18 rather than the maximum?

doggo · **Posted:** Mon Oct 29, 2012 10:40 am

I can't see any reason to set fewer eggs. I tend to fill my incubators to the maximum with no apparent ill effect. In any event a few gaps will probably become available when you candle.

Eggb · **Joined:** Sun Oct 28, 2012 8:38 pm **Posts:** 2

Good thinking about the candling I did not think of that so if I start with a full house its unlikely I will have that after the first 7 days when I check them hey?

Raf · **Posted:** Mon Oct 29, 2012 5:24 pm

At least 10% will come out at day 7 so start off with the maximum it can hold

Raf

Neoegg · **Joined:** Tue Oct 30, 2012 9:37 am **Posts:** 1

So is 10% fail the normal considered for an incubator? its hard to find out the average loss to success with an incubator so not sure I want to buy one???

doggo · **Posted:** Tue Oct 30, 2012 1:24 pm

10% is probably a pretty good rule of thumb.Because fertility and hatchability are so variable and dependent on a multitude of factors it would be interesting to see if any well designed experiments have tested the results of natural brooding compared to artificial incubation.
I like to start the hatching season as early as possible and also have mostly non-broody type breeds so I rely on incubators.

mymenagery · **Joined:** Wed Sep 05, 2012 4:16 pm **Posts:** 2

I start early too and usually end up with the number I was hoping for never more funny enough

Coop&Pen · **Joined:** Tue Oct 30, 2012 6:37 pm **Posts:** 1

Would the maximum number of eggs the manufacture sets be conservative do you think? I found mine could hold 8 more egg than the book said and most hatched with about 5% that did not

doggo · **Posted:** Wed Oct 31, 2012 7:51 am

Probably, because of the variation in size of eggs.
Many incubators such are designed with individual spaces for each egg but I think that a well designed incubator should be fine if filled to capacity but without double stacking or restricting any turning function. In some lower quality machines the air flow may be restricted by a full batch of eggs and create different temperature zones in the hatching area.
Use of an accurate digital thermometer is a good way to check whether the temperature is even throughout the machine.

MrsBrown · **Joined:** Tue Nov 06, 2012 12:53 pm **Posts:** 1

With my incubator it comes with cups but you can't mix different eggs because of the settings so that annoying

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