[Prod]

I put 6 Nankin eggs in my incubator (Nankins are a true Bantam with no large fowl variety) and this is the first time I have used it I candled them at 8 & 10 days and discarded 2 which, even I, could see were in fertile.  I have followed the Brinsea instructions to the letter however as there are only 4 eggs in the incubator and the fact that they are tiny eggs (size of a Quail)  I am not sure if they will hatch earlier so should I just carry on and stop the auto cradle & increase humidity as it says to 2 days before the due date of  hatching i.e 21 days??  Also when (and if)  they hatch and after a couple of days would it be safe to put them in with my single Nankin hen (they are not her eggs)  or should I use my brooder   Many thanks for any advice

[splash101]

wow they must be tiny.

I've hatched a few different bantams and found the hatch times unpredictable. Some hatch early and some hatch on the usual 21 days.
I had some start hatching on day 17 when the cradle was still on and it didnt seem to affect them hatching but I turned it off straight away.

I've just googled the incubation period for Nankins and it said 21 days so stop the cradle on day 19 but keep and eye on them a day or so before in case they decide to come out early.

Im not sure about putting them with your hen. Is she broody at the moment?. I havent done it that way, others have so i'm sure someone will be able to advise you on that.

Whatever you do, no matter how tempting, do not keep taking the lid of the incubator. It takes a few hours to build up the required humidty which is lost once you lift the lid.

Good luck with your hatch.

[Sassy]

Sorry I can't help with the incubator problem. Unless your Nankin is broody she will be of no help at all. It is unlikely she will be broody at this time of year. Itis still a risk to rely on a broody so you would need to be prepared with artificial means.

Does your incubator control the humidity? If not it is going to be difficult at this time of the year

[Prod]

My incubator is an Octagon 20 with autocradle  but not auto humidity  I check daily  I do have a brooder box/heat lamp etc  Its just my little Nankin hen is so lonely, she is the tamest thing & sits on my shoulder while I lock up all the coops.  Her partner died last Friday, he looked fine in the morning but at lunchtime his wings were down and his eyes were closed.  My vets are absolutely great, it s both domestic and agricultural and one of them Rosie, specialises in Chickens, so I rushed down there  but as she was examining him his comb went blue and he just died, she was certain it was his heart as he was in lovely condition otherwise, a real little stunner, & I was hoping to breed them.......  I have found another Nankin Cockerel which I aim to pick up next week  but it is so sad to see her pacing up and down her pen.  She has her own little pen/coop  but if she ever flies of my shoulder the cockerels pounce on her so I daren't let her mix with the large fowl. Given that I will take the advice re the eggs/hatching/brooder can I ask if anyone thinks putting her in with 3 little 7 week old Buff Orpington chicks would be Ok  just so she has company?