That Quail Place Forum

Raising Gamebirds => Incubation => Topic started by: Andrew S. on February 18, 2006, 11:45:10 AM

Title: Mixing Eggs
Post by: Andrew S. on February 18, 2006, 11:45:10 AM

Since I don't have a big operation, and having quail is more of a hobby, I only have one incubator.  It is a Little Giant Still Air with an automatic turner.  This spring I may want to hatch bobwhite, texas blue scale, or gambel together.  Before I did this I wondered if this process would harm the hatchability of the eggs.  I read somewhere in a book that if you have different size eggs hatching together that the bigger eggs will take all the humidity away from the smaller eggs.  Since these quail are about the same size, I thought it may be okay.  Just wanted to post to see if this was correct!

Andrew S.

Title: Re: Mixing Eggs
Post by: woodenegg on February 18, 2006, 11:57:50 AM

You've got it partly right, the larger eggs will take more water out of the air then smaller ones, but ...

The truth is, humidity is in the air, if your incubator air is circulating, and the humidity is kept at the right level, the water in the air is available as needed to all the eggs.  If any of the eggs is causing the humidity to drop, the soluction is to add more water to the air with more water surface area.  If all your water cells in the base are full and your humidity is still low, add a small dish with water and a sponge in it to increase the humidity.