Help please! Eggs

Buells · 15-09-2012, 06:58 PM

My Hermanns has just started laying eggs! She has laid 4 now and still going. She is in her greenhouse on a pile of top soil. I have no incubator and no clue what to do with them! Any advise greatly received. Thankyou

paulus · 15-09-2012, 07:19 PM

If you have a spare heat mat and thermostat you could construct your own temp incubator from a polystyrene box. Put the eggs in open boxes with vermiculite in them and some tubs if water for humidity
Well that's the start anyway

Don't turn the eggs over at all and light mark the top point with a pencil to show the top

Buells · 15-09-2012, 07:24 PM

Thanks for reply. Unfortunately i dont have any of the things i need, not even a heat mat. I can go out tomorrow and find an incubator but i am not sure what to do with them tonight. The greenhouse is unheated, any temporary suggestions?

**egyptiandan64** · 15-09-2012, 07:30 PM

You can leave them where they are for a couple of days no problem.

Well the first 24 to 48 hours you can turn the eggs, up until they start to chalk. So cleaning or washing them off is fine as long as your careful. Eggs can stay unheated for a week or so while you get or make your own incubator. Just place the eggs in a container with vermiculite, perlite or sand. Place the eggs half way into the medium you chose. You can mark the top with the date laid so you have a quick reference as to how old they are. Incubation temperatures should be 28 to 32C and humidity 70 to 80%. The lower the temperature, the more males you will get and the higher the temperature the more females you will get. Once you get or make your incubator you need to run it for 24 hours at least to make sure your temperatures are stable.

Danny

Buells · 15-09-2012, 07:40 PM

Thankyou Dan. Tomorrow i shall sort out an incubator for them. It is ok then to leave them burried tonight and then move them,etc tomorrow? Should i wash them in tepid water? Should i be doing anything with the female? Should i bath her or just leave her alone tonight? She is still covering up the eggs. Sorry for all the questions!

**egyptiandan64** · 15-09-2012, 07:45 PM

Perfectly fine to move them tomorrow or the next day. Remember you should have the incubator set up and running for 24 hours to make sure your temperatures are stable. Tepid water is fine, just be aware when you wet the eggs they will be slimey and extremely slippery so be careful.

You can give her a good soak when she is finished with the covering of the nest.

Danny

Buells · 15-09-2012, 07:52 PM

Thankyou for the advise, i`ve stopped panicking a bit now! Just hoping they are fertile

No doubt loads more questions will be coming your way, Sorry

paulus · 15-09-2012, 08:00 PM

I'm learning all the time, good to know about being able to turn first 24/48 hours I've had a hell of a job when we had eggs digging them out with out allowing them to roll at all

Hope all gets well with the eggs, keep us posted

Buells · 15-09-2012, 08:30 PM

Will certainly keep you posted, was such a surprise, didn`t expect to be playing midwife antime soon!

Buells · 16-09-2012, 09:35 AM

Qiuck update. Dug up 5 eggs this morning

Mum is doing fine. She hashad a long soak and eaten loads. She is only 5 years old, which i have just read is very young to being laying eggs!

15-09-2012, 06:58 PM	#1
Buells Member Incubating Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: northampton Posts: 115	Help please! Eggs My Hermanns has just started laying eggs! She has laid 4 now and still going. She is in her greenhouse on a pile of top soil. I have no incubator and no clue what to do with them! Any advise greatly received. Thankyou

15-09-2012, 07:19 PM	#2
paulus Member Hatched Join Date: May 2011 Location: Colchester Posts: 404	If you have a spare heat mat and thermostat you could construct your own temp incubator from a polystyrene box. Put the eggs in open boxes with vermiculite in them and some tubs if water for humidity Well that's the start anyway Don't turn the eggs over at all and light mark the top point with a pencil to show the top __________________ 1.1.4 thherc timmy, tink, Scutey and squiggle R.I.P poor Harriet, you will always be remembered 10-5-12 1.0 dog spike our border terrier 1.0.0 guinea pigs Rosie rip prince boy 0.0 rabbit baby rabbit RIP 23-9-2011

15-09-2012, 07:30 PM	#4
egyptiandan64 Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: USA Posts: 14,171	You can leave them where they are for a couple of days no problem. Well the first 24 to 48 hours you can turn the eggs, up until they start to chalk. So cleaning or washing them off is fine as long as your careful. Eggs can stay unheated for a week or so while you get or make your own incubator. Just place the eggs in a container with vermiculite, perlite or sand. Place the eggs half way into the medium you chose. You can mark the top with the date laid so you have a quick reference as to how old they are. Incubation temperatures should be 28 to 32C and humidity 70 to 80%. The lower the temperature, the more males you will get and the higher the temperature the more females you will get. Once you get or make your incubator you need to run it for 24 hours at least to make sure your temperatures are stable. Danny __________________

15-09-2012, 07:45 PM	#6
egyptiandan64 Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: USA Posts: 14,171	Perfectly fine to move them tomorrow or the next day. Remember you should have the incubator set up and running for 24 hours to make sure your temperatures are stable. Tepid water is fine, just be aware when you wet the eggs they will be slimey and extremely slippery so be careful. You can give her a good soak when she is finished with the covering of the nest. Danny __________________

15-09-2012, 08:00 PM	#8
paulus Member Hatched Join Date: May 2011 Location: Colchester Posts: 404	I'm learning all the time, good to know about being able to turn first 24/48 hours I've had a hell of a job when we had eggs digging them out with out allowing them to roll at all Hope all gets well with the eggs, keep us posted __________________ 1.1.4 thherc timmy, tink, Scutey and squiggle R.I.P poor Harriet, you will always be remembered 10-5-12 1.0 dog spike our border terrier 1.0.0 guinea pigs Rosie rip prince boy 0.0 rabbit baby rabbit RIP 23-9-2011

15-09-2012, 07:24 PM	#3
Buells Member Incubating Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: northampton Posts: 115	Thanks for reply. Unfortunately i dont have any of the things i need, not even a heat mat. I can go out tomorrow and find an incubator but i am not sure what to do with them tonight. The greenhouse is unheated, any temporary suggestions?

15-09-2012, 07:40 PM	#5
Buells Member Incubating Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: northampton Posts: 115	Thankyou Dan. Tomorrow i shall sort out an incubator for them. It is ok then to leave them burried tonight and then move them,etc tomorrow? Should i wash them in tepid water? Should i be doing anything with the female? Should i bath her or just leave her alone tonight? She is still covering up the eggs. Sorry for all the questions!

15-09-2012, 07:52 PM	#7
Buells Member Incubating Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: northampton Posts: 115	Thankyou for the advise, i`ve stopped panicking a bit now! Just hoping they are fertile No doubt loads more questions will be coming your way, Sorry

15-09-2012, 08:30 PM	#9
Buells Member Incubating Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: northampton Posts: 115	Will certainly keep you posted, was such a surprise, didn`t expect to be playing midwife antime soon!

16-09-2012, 09:35 AM	#10
Buells Member Incubating Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: northampton Posts: 115	Qiuck update. Dug up 5 eggs this morning Mum is doing fine. She hashad a long soak and eaten loads. She is only 5 years old, which i have just read is very young to being laying eggs!

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)