Hatching eggs in an egg carton

So I read that for shipped eggs it is best to hatch them I an egg carton, tilting rather than turning three times a day, so the air bubble is sure to stay at the big end which is of course up.
So...I see how this works for incubation, but it said to leave them in for hatch. How can a chick hatch out of a vertical egg in an egg carton? (the lid is cut off). But wouldn't that make hatching harder?
Has anyone ever tried this, and is it really a good thing to do for shipped eggs?

I would also like to know this as I am interested in getting so fertile hatching eggs

Hi there!! Many people hatch very successfully in egg cartons. I prefer mine to lay down, but hatching upright can help with eggs that still have excess moisture at hatch time, and some people just prefer it to laying them down. The only big drawback to hatching upright is that if you have a malepositioned it is harder to see and easier to loose them, especially if the egg is tight to the carton.

As to whether a shipped egg needs to be upright at hatch- I don't think there's proven reason that it would make a difference at hatch time unless there is excess moiture. By the time that they are supposed to hatch, or even by the time you go into "lockdown" the air cells should be firm and the chick should be turned and in position for hatching, so I don't see where there is added benefit at that point, just personal preference.

I highly recommend at day 18, candling to check air cells and mark them so that you can get an idea of where the pip should take place and an idea of what kind of air cells you are dealing with, regardless of whether you decide to hatch upright or laying them down.

Thanks Amy!

The eggs are Serama and bantam Cochin in a large egg carton, so they would have plenty of wiggle room. I like the idea that the first chicks to hatch can't kick around the still hatching eggs. I have lost chicks before because they were smashed against the side of the incubator by an early hatcher.

I think I will use my auto turner and at day 18 put them in cartons to see how it goes.

I will deffinately mark the air cells, thanks for your suggestion!

My eggs ship today and I will be setting probably Friday :-D

MadamPoofyBrow said:

Thanks Amy!

The eggs are Serama and bantam Cochin in a large egg carton, so they would have plenty of wiggle room. I like the idea that the first chicks to hatch can't kick around the still hatching eggs. I have lost chicks before because they were smashed against the side of the incubator by an early hatcher.

I think I will use my auto turner and at day 18 put them in cartons to see how it goes.

I will deffinately mark the air cells, thanks for your suggestion!

My eggs ship today and I will be setting probably Friday :-D

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Good luck!! Hope to see you had a good hatch soon!! I know what you mean about the chick football games...lol I move my chicks to the brooder as soon as they become active, that way they don't play ball and they don't scalp themselves on the stupid fan. Keep in mind that bantams often (doesn't mean they neccessarily will) hatch a day or two early, so don't be suprised if you see a pip on day 19.

I've hatched hundreds of Silkie's and bantam Cochins and they're usually all out by day twenty, and then the poor Polish and standard cochin eggs are at their mercy for the next day!
I usually take them out pretty quick as well (and flip over those pipped eggs that are against the side while I'm I there, take out the shells, etc) but the ones who hatch in the middle of the night never fail to kick around the eggs!
I'll keep you updated!

MadamPoofyBrow said:

I've hatched hundreds of Silkie's and bantam Cochins and they're usually all out by day twenty, and then the poor Polish and standard cochin eggs are at their mercy for the next day!
I usually take them out pretty quick as well (and flip over those pipped eggs that are against the side while I'm I there, take out the shells, etc) but the ones who hatch in the middle of the night never fail to kick around the eggs!
I'll keep you updated!

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LOL That's me...lol I always flip my eggs back over and pull out the shells too...lol I use an old LG and it tends to run slightly high so most of mine hatch a day to two early even the standards, but they are always healthy and grow good, so I can't complain...lol

MadamPoofyBrow said:

I've hatched hundreds of Silkie's and bantam Cochins and they're usually all out by day twenty, and then the poor Polish and standard cochin eggs are at their mercy for the next day!
I usually take them out pretty quick as well (and flip over those pipped eggs that are against the side while I'm I there, take out the shells, etc) but the ones who hatch in the middle of the night never fail to kick around the eggs!
I'll keep you updated!

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I saw this thread and i am wondering how your eggs hatched? did you leave them in the egg carton?
I am curious, because i have shipped duck eggs and i am wondering if i should leave the in the egg carton the entire incubation and hatching/lockdown time???
thanks

Due to a power outage, I had a lousy hatch rate. 1 from the shipped eggs, and three from mine. But, I was happy with the egg cartons and am doing it again with my current batch.
This is what I did:

Days 1-18, I had them in an auto turner to keep them upright since the shipped eggs air cells were unstable.
Day 19+(lockdown) I moved them into cardboard egg cartons and they hatched in there. The ones that did hatch hatched beautifully and couldn't kick the other eggs around, which I really liked :-D

Good luck with your duck eggs!

I'd at least leave them in the carton until the air cells stabilize (if they were damaged during shipping). If the air cells reset themselves, you can take them out of the carton and lay them on their sides to hatch (or not, you could leave them in there if that floats your boat).

I've done/do it both ways with great success Good luck!