Egg Separation: Do or Don't?

Hi Everyone,

From what I have read, there seems to be a lot of debate about separating eggs or leaving them together. From what I gathered, it seems that the main reason for separating eggs is merely convenience for the breeder. Is there another benefit to separating eggs that I'm aware of? And I know you don't roll the eggs; so if you separate, mark the top, and (say the egg is laid and is slanted upwards) you prob the egg upwards as close to the original position as possible? I also know the eggs sometimes can fall away from the group of eggs; if they roll like this, is that extremely dangerous to them?

Thanks, I know these are probably a lot of beginner questions but I'm curious!

I think it's mostly for convenience, to make them look purty, and to make sure they fit into the egg box. I usually just leave them the way they were laid and have yet to have a problem. As long as the pile isn't touching to lid of the egg box. If there are eggs that were laid at a bit of a slant, I do tend to bury them a little bit in the incubation medium to keep them at about the same angle.

Don't know much about rolling them, other than it should try to be avoided...

I haven't seperated and haven't had any issues. I don't want to risk damaging them in the process. I guess the only reason I can think of is to help it fit in an egg box if you end up with a large clump.

i guess they should all be on the same plane, at the same height. if its stacked two layers high, the eggs on the top may get different temps or humidity compared to these on the bottom, and the ones right in the middle get less air, and so on. or, what if one of the eggs on top goes bad, it could ruin the eggs beneath. what if one egg starts to smell nasty and it needs to be removed.


but i think it all comes down to: its just more practical and most people do it that way. its just the obvious thing to do, just like how you would put a batch of small breads in the oven.

EDIT: i cannot resist....

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...nnis_baker.jpg

(wikimedia allows hotlinks)

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Originally Posted by Pythonfriend

i guess they should all be on the same plane, at the same height. if its stacked two layers high, the eggs on the top may get different temps or humidity compared to these on the bottom, and the ones right in the middle get less air, and so on. or, what if one of the eggs on top goes bad, it could ruin the eggs beneath. what if one egg starts to smell nasty and it needs to be removed.

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That's all pretty much incorrect...other than eggs going bad...which is a different topic altogether...

So, next question that I guess I never thought about; Does the egg box with the incubation medium have to have a lid? It's just for holding the humidity within the box, correct? I'm sure the incubators themselves are the greatest at holding humidity.

So basically; if they all fit in the box, don't touch the lid (or sides for that matter), leave them in a clump.

As far as eggs going bad; I've been told/read that typically, bad eggs do NOT affect the good eggs, so just leave them alone. If the bad eggs start molding, you really just leave them in attached to the others?

Whew, just want to try to get all my ducks in a row before my first clutch comes. So many things popping up that I never really thought about until one of my girls actually ovulated!

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Originally Posted by Kourtneyhk

So, next question that I guess I never thought about; Does the egg box with the incubation medium have to have a lid? It's just for holding the humidity within the box, correct? I'm sure the incubators themselves are the greatest at holding humidity. Depends on your setup, but typically yes...what kind of setup are you going to use? If it's a traditional setup then use a lid. If you are going with the submersible aquarium pump type of setup you may be able to get away with not using a lid, but I haven't done a whole lot of research on that method...

So basically; if they all fit in the box, don't touch the lid (or sides for that matter), leave them in a clump. I'd say yes...you run the risk of tearing them if you try too hard to separate them...

As far as eggs going bad; I've been told/read that typically, bad eggs do NOT affect the good eggs, so just leave them alone. Bad eggs can affect good eggs. Although eggs that are healthy from the start don't typically go bad. If you candle them when they're laid and their are no veins, keep an eye on them as they will most likely go bad... If the bad eggs start molding, you really just leave them in attached to the others? It's best to get them out of there if possible. There are ways to stop or delay the molding though if it's towards the end of incubation...

Whew, just want to try to get all my ducks in a row before my first clutch comes. So many things popping up that I never really thought about until one of my girls actually ovulated!

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If you collect the eggs fairly soon after they are all laid there is generally not an issue separating them. I have left many eggs joined together without issue though.

I had one slug egg last year attached pretty well to a good egg. I was not able to collect these eggs for about 12 hours after I saw her laying. I used a moist q-tip and rubbed it between the slug and the good egg and they came apart just fine.

So, for those that do seperate their eggs, what kind of tricks do you have to make sure you dont tear the eggs? I have a pretty small incubator at the moment and quite a few snakes lined up to breed so space needs to be used efficiently.

Thanks Corey for the moist Q-Tip idea.

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.

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?