Egg Separation: Do or Don't?

I separate the egg if stacked up too high not allowing me to close the egg box.

Separating is tricky and must be done VERY carefully either when the eggs have just been laid or within a few days of them hatching.

I also separate eggs if one is on the top of the other to prevent the bottom hatchling to cut through his egg and end up in the one above. That I do within a few days of hatching date.


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I have left eggs together as well as separated them. I have also rolled eggs, put them upside on purpose, etc. And I have left bad eggs attached to good eggs.

My expirience...

Separating isn't necessary as far as I can tell, unless they are stacked one on top of the other, that would make me nervous. It's just easier for the breeder, I do it so I can candle them. If they don't separate easily right away I leave them stuck together, they will come apart closer to hatching time (usually).

Rolling eggs whether on purpose or by accident is not an issue in my experience. I have definitely put eggs in the incubator not knowing what side was up. I also purposely turned one upside down as soon as it was put in the incubator, and upside down once more halfway through incubation (which originally would have been right side up) and it hatched healthy and happy.

Bad eggs don't contaminate good eggs. If they go bad they were going to go bad anyhow. If I have the option to take the bad egg out, I will. They smell horrendous. But, if the bad egg is well attached to a good egg I'm not going to risk tearing the good egg.

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Originally Posted by MrLang

The benefit is that if an egg goes bad you can remove it.

The benefit to a lid on the egg tub is that you have much finer control over the humidity and after you open the incubator the eggs will return to the right temp and humidity faster if the moisture is contained.

Sure, there are plenty of different ways to incubate. Professional breeders have worked out the kinks on this over the last 50+ years. There is no real reason or need to re-invent the wheel on this one. The total cost of a DIY incubator with tubs and substrate is under 100 bucks. If you're trying to work around that cost, consider that the babies will consume that much in food and bedding in their first month or two.

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My issue isn't money, merely curiosity. I have a Nature's Spirit incubator, and with the few females I have, I don't think I will be short on room in it. I just want to have a good plan of action BEFORE I get eggs, i.e; figure out whether I want to/should separate eggs, have a lid on a bin, etc.

It sounds like, come the big day, I'll probably separate if they come apart easy and/or they are stacked. Other than that, I'll probably leave them alone; nature does it for a reason, right?