Two clutches in one egg box

Is there any reason I can not or should not put two clutches together into one box, if the box is bigger?

I am building a bigger incubator for next year and with limited space I think it would be better to have two bigger boxes per level than 4 smaller ones. The small boxes width is exactly 1/2 of the big boxes length, but the other side is shorter on the big box, which usually isn't utilized as the clutches are round (I do not separate them).

I know I could confuse the babies if they hatch out the same time but what if I put clutches together only that are laid weeks apart?

I could possibly even build a divider.

I've done this before when I found myself running out of room and I didn't have any trouble. I guess it's possible for the hatchlings in one clutch to jostel around the eggs of the other clutch during a critical time if there is too much of a difference between the ages. But I personally have not had a problem.

Yes in a short answer.
Just make sure you know which is which LoL

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Originally Posted by MarkS

I've done this before when I found myself running out of room and I didn't have any trouble. I guess it's possible for the hatchlings in one clutch to jostel around the eggs of the other clutch during a critical time if there is too much of a difference between the ages. But I personally have not had a problem.

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Do you think making a divider with some old box lids would be strong enough to solve this problem?

One reason is that here, there aren't many smaller boxes with enough height. I tried to use some plastic shoe boxes that look like your iris shoe boxes. They are only 11 cm tall, and when there is an egg on top of others it doesn't fit, or seems very close to the top and any condensation there. The next size up id almost double size box.

Divider or mark the eggs?

Well he said the snakes coming out and jostling the other eggs, so I thought divider to stop the thats all.

Actually, may I ask if anyone uses.the 5L Samla boxes from IKEA for egg boxes? How well do they work out?

Actually I use the Sterilite 6L latch top clearview boxes http://www.sterilite.com/SelectProdu...=252&section=1 The boxes have about an inch of perlite on the bottom and a section of plastic egg crate (light diffuser) http://www.homedepot.com/p/Unbranded...GG-5/202653781 on top of that. It's covered by a sheet of press n seal plastic wrap https://www.glad.com/food-storage/pl.../press-n-seal/ with the latch top cover on top. If the eggs don't fit I just cut apart the clutch.

I would only do this if you are very short on space, which really is not a factor since 2 smaller tubs fit in the space of one larger tub.

The drawback on one tub for 2 clutches is that unless they are close in hatch date is that the media will not last much longer than 70 days or so without starting to mold if your humidity is 98%+ where it should be.

If one clutch pips much sooner than the first you will probably get pretty funky smelling in the tub from all the fluid when the hatchlings pip out. No matter how air tight your incubator is some bugs will find their way in there with that smell of rotting egg fluid left behind.

Out of 17 clutches last season, we only had 2 clutches where the lid would not close in a 6qt Sterilite tub with the eggs stacked. Just be careful and you can get them apart with dental floss, or a razor blade and a very steady hand ;)