what to do when eggs get too wet?

Hello,

I am in my 3rd season of getting bp eggs. This is the first time this has happened- my eggs, about 4 out of 6, got too wet. One is competly fine, one is only a smidge wet.

At first they were too dry, so I added water. The eggs didnt get wet from that- its comming from the top. I did have a papertowel over th etop b/c of issues with condensation ( i had to move my incubator) The paper towel was working, but I am guessing it got wet and was touching the eggs- tho it wasn't soppying wet. The bottom of the eggs are dry, its just the top, but all but the 2 are looking to have the tops and sides all wet.

I dabbed the eggs with a dry papertowel, tho it didn't look to have extra moisture on them. There is white fuzz on some of them, i wiped it off, an d used the anti-fungal stuff, and wiped that off as well.

I changed lids, i put one on that has some hole sin it because I think one without holes was just making it too moist in there. I do have a glass of water in the bator to keep the humidity up in the bator.

Is there anything else I should do? any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Janet

How far along are they?

One trick I use is to prop up one end of the egg container so it sits at a slant, then the condensate will roll down to the lower end of the lid. And inch to an inch and a half should work.

Heya,

I will prop the container up just in case. I am not seeing a smuch condensation anymore, but will just in case.

Eggs are only about 10 days in, so its early.

I know I may loose the 4 of them, but hoping that maybe I can save at least the one that is not too bad. More if possible.

Janet

I'd go back to a lid without holes or you'll dry out your vermiculite faster. John's idea of propping up one end, along with the solid lid to keep the humidity in, should be your best bet. Good luck with them!

Propping up one end works, thats the way I do it.

Yeah, I am definatly going to prop them.

My only concern is perhaps the air was just way to humid? and therefore the lid with holes will add more circulation. I do have a glass of water int he bator to help that humidity.

See, my first season, I used lids with holes. The eggs were a smidge dry. Second season ditched the holes, but then had minorissues with condensation- and not the kind right before they hatched, but not nbearly so close into bating. This season, as soon as I added more water, I was having a condensation problem, and truth be told, this was the first time I got the bator completly ready b4 eggs surprised me.

So, this is why I am so baffled as to why i am having such an issue. I dont want to dry the eggs out, but clearly, they are getting too wet. However, that may have simply been caused by an error on my part....

but double check me guys...

I have a second tub set up since i am expecting another clutch. That one has megacondensation on it, and it has been in the bator just as long at the one in use... so, ia m not sure why.

My tubs are a smidge warmer than the bator air, so if I am thinking clearing, that should not cause condensation- its when the tubs ar ecooler than the bator air.

So, why am I getting condensation? I can only conclude that the air int he tubs is so saturated with moisture- which is why I switched to lids with holes...

The past 2 seasons I did not have this problem ( to this extent), and the only thing i did differenty was not open my bator too much, had the tubs ready b4 eggs, and yeah, i did move the bator to the 3rd floor. I can't quite wrap my fingers around why i am having such a condensation issue.


So, i am about to go up and look again. I can see what the second set up tub looks like since i changexd that to lid with holes as well.

I am just so leary to go back to lids with no holes since my first time it worked...

thanx for the advice peeps!

Just checke don them. The lid with holes isnt keeping heat in as good, so switched back- plus since many peeps think that would be better. If anything, if i feel it needs some more air circulation ( i see eggs looking abit worse) i can add just a few air holes.

Good news, the one egg that didnt look so bad went back to normal.

One egg seems to be squished in even more. My guess is that one isnt gonna make it.

the others dont look any better nor any worse, didnt see any white fuzz. Here's hopin' they make it all th e way, but only being on like day 11, it may take a lotta luck to not loose them.

the other tub didnt have any condensation on it since switching to the holed lid. I didnt mess with that anymore for right now, but there is no eggs on it.

If anything, was definatly a learning experience to use for the future.

If any eggs die, they were my banded lessers....:sigh:

Placing the holes on top would release more heat than holes placed on the sides of the tub.
I put 4 very tiny holes in the sides of my tubs and allow them to vent.
My first season I tried sealed tubs and had nothing but mold issues, venting the tubs has worked very well for me so far.
I have sloppy wet substrate under the light diffuser piece and my humidity stays a nice constant 90%

Ok, so if I do holes, I will place them at the side then.

thanks for the tip