Incubator question...

[OverWyreGrower]

We have been offered the loan of an automatic incubator (for which I am very thankful!), however it is larger than what I would have bought myself...

So, my question is, can you run a 50 egg incubator with less than 50 eggs in it?

Obviously, there will be issues around the efficiency/cost aspect of it, but other than that, can it be done?

[shirlthegirl43]

Could you use google to find the model and download instructions to read through for advice?

[chris]

If not, number dependant could you put non-fertile eggs in? Not sure if they'd be suitable for use afterwards (i.e. to be fed to your flock?) or if the heat would turn them off - but if you're 10 or so short that's probably what I'd do.

[Suechooks]

I've put 4 or 5 in a 24 egg incubator as I had 2 lots needing different humidity. As long as you keep them together (they normally have dividers) I can't see any reason why not.
The only thing it might affect is the automatic turning but again I can't see why it should.
I definitely wouldn't put infertile eggs in it - the smell after 3 weeks at 36* defies imagination! if they didn't explode first!!!

[chris]

hardboiled? blimey, didn't know they were that hot!

[RichmondHens]

As far as I am aware you can put as many or as few as you need in - just space them evenly throughout the machine. So, not knowing how it is set out, if set out say in 5 rows of 10, and you only want to set 20 eggs, you can put 4 eggs per row in spaced evenly apart.

[its hilly]

I've had 12 in my 50 egg auto inci. It didn't cause any problem. Hatched 7. But I did put them in the centre and put the humidity probe over them to be sure that humidity was ok where they were.

[its hilly]

PS. Infertile eggs would only explode if they've been infected with bacteria, or cracked or something. I've never been able to candle any dark eggs, but the infertiles have just gone to the end without hatching.