eggs in one container

[chanceychelsey]

Due to quantity of eggs and lack of time I have decided to change up my routine. I have seen somewhere on here several eggs in one container. I am wondering how fast I have to removed newly hatched cats from the container with the remaining eggs. Will the "newly" hatch cat attempt to eat the other eggs?
Thanks

Waystation 927
Tottenham, Ontario

[Mona Miller]

Yes, the new hatchlings may crawl over and eat another egg. I usually check several times a day and then move the hatchlings over to another container. If you have a larger enough container, you can separate the leaves so they are not so close together. That helps a little bit.

[alletahg]

I put all the eggs in one container and just check on them throughout the day. The container sits on the kitchen counter, so I just take a peek at it each time I'm over there. My kids are also good at spotting new caterpillars. Also, sometimes I put the eggs into another container with fresh leaves when I see that dark spot on top (meaning it will soon hatch). Once I woke up to find several had hatched overnight. They'd crawled up the side of the container and luckily left the other eggs alone. So far, no casualties!

As another tip (which is something I read here last year and decided to implement this year) is to use a hole punch to easily cut out the part of the leaf with the egg on it. I then line up all the little leaf circles on a paper towel in the bottom of a plastic container. It's easy to see and keep track of the eggs, and the rest of the leaf gets fed to my other cats. Thanks to whoever suggested that here! It's my new favorite rearing trick!

[Mona Miller]

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2377&p=11598&hilit=hole+punch#p11598
I think this is the hole punch creator.

[chanceychelsey]

New problem!!!
I had one monarch lay two eggs at one time, which means that one is on top of the other. (I guess that means two came out at the same time). Can I somehow separate them in case the first to emerge tries to eat the second? How should I go about this?
Thanks
Waystation 927
Tottenham, Ontario

[Mona Miller]

Definitely wait until they dry. At least two days. Do you know when they were laid? After they have dried, you should just be able to roll them right off each other with the tip of your finger nail--carefully.

Eggs usually take 3-5 days to hatch.

[chanceychelsey]

I've been checking daily (secretly hoping to not find anymore as I'm stressed to the max with them!), and I believe they were laid today, they looked fairly new and not dried yet. I'll give them till tomorrow night and then try to separate them.
Thanks

Waystation 927
Tottenham, Ontario

[Mona Miller]

I just went through raising over 130, which isn't a ton, but enough. I'm not taking in any more eggs or caterpillars. I want to go visit my grandson. I can't take them to NJ, I don't have a permit for NJ.

[chanceychelsey]

I've got over 100 inside in different stages and about 15 outside in my cages and well as waiting for 10 chrysalis' to hatch. I am a shift worker (doing 14 hr nights) and find it difficult to change their containers during my few hours between shifts. We are also in the process of building our retirement home, so we are back and forth doing that. So far my husband hasn't complained in my taking two bins full of containers with me to be changed every night. Although I do not want to find anymore, I can't help myself in checking my plants, and I can't leave anyone I find knowing what will happen to them. I do not know how Dwayne in Salem does it!

Waystation 927
Tottenham, Ontario

[Mona Miller]

Even in my tent, I have a difficult time raising what I raised this summer. But, it gets to the point that you have to let nature take care of its self. I didn't think any were making it outside and then early one morning, this is when you will see them up eating, I saw a third instar munching away. They go down during the day and many will go off the milkweed.

[dandjtaylor]

I do have difficulty at times when they aren't staged out very well. This season has been pretty steady though, about 20-30 pupating ech day. If we want to go away for the weekend, I make sure they are put in very large containers with lots of leaves and high spots to keep the leaves out of the frass. Moisture can be a problem when we do this, but with a mesh on the cover for ventilation, it has worked so far this year.

I cannot pass a milkweed patch and not think, "I wonder how many cats and eggs are in there". Call me obsessed but Iove these little guys.

[chanceychelsey]

I have about 4 hours of gathering milkweed and cleaning today.(I'm on my days off, so it isn't too bad) My milkweed now is disgusting, so I have to go out and get some. I am the same though, I can't pass by and not check, especially when I see signs of newely hatched munching, but know something bad has found them before I have. I cannot however imagine 600+ !!

Waystation 927
Tottenham, Ontario

[Mona Miller]

I think I've raised upwards of 500 in years past. I had to drive around with a tub of water in the back of my van and wrangle milkweed off the side of the road. I'll be lucky if I raise 200 this year, which is hard work, too. But, if you are just raising a few don't feel bad. A few butterflies are just as important as many butterflies. They all add up in the end.

[chanceychelsey]

My highest was last year, 225 of which 150 were tagged. I think my numbers will be around the same this year, but most are later, so more should be tagged.
I am doing the same thing as you. I put a tub of water in the back of my car last week and that is where it will stay until I am done in the fall! I carry my snips with me too!

Waystation 927
Tottenham, Ontario

[Mona Miller]

Be careful. I wear boots because the snakes like those areas, too.