BackYard Chickens › BYC Forum › Raising BackYard Chickens › Incubating & Hatching Eggs › Hatching eggs while in egg cartons? Anyone done it?
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Hatching eggs while in egg cartons? Anyone done it?

post #1 of 7
4/28/12 at 8:34am
Thread Starter 

I've heard that you can hatch your eggs in an egg carton, big side up when you stop turning them.  This is suppose to stop newly hatched chicks from rolling the not yet hatched eggs around.  I was just wondering if  there are any drawbacks and if there are any modifications that need to be done to the cartons.  Any advice welcome.

 

Thanks!

Reply
Reply

Featured Stories on BackYard Chickens

Join Our 4th Annual BYC Easter Hatch-A-Long
Raising Chickens on a Shoestring
Why Join BackYard Chickens?
post #2 of 7
4/28/12 at 7:56pm

Ive done it. No modifications to the carton. However if you have a chick that decides to pip in the middle of the egg or somewhere weird, it won't be able to come out. Mine all had a hard time coming out when i used a carton. I think the rolling motion of the eggs when they are free to move helps the chicks get out. Try it though. 

I became interested in hatching and raising chickens during a genetics class where we manipulated the genetic code of chicken embryos. One year later, I have many chickens, mostly Ameraucanas and Easter Eggers. I believe in order to truly respect and appreciate chickens, you must hatch them on your own. I still attend college and live with my parents, who graciously accepted my chicken habit on...

Reply

I became interested in hatching and raising chickens during a genetics class where we manipulated the genetic code of chicken embryos. One year later, I have many chickens, mostly Ameraucanas and Easter Eggers. I believe in order to truly respect and appreciate chickens, you must hatch them on your own. I still attend college and live with my parents, who graciously accepted my chicken habit on...

Reply
post #3 of 7
4/28/12 at 9:27pm
Thread Starter 

 I think you're right about them rolling around to help them get out.  I was thinking of maybe putting up some sort of divider inside the incubator and putting the hatchlings on one side until they're dry enough to go into the brooder.  Thank you for your input,I appreciate it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tec27 View Post

Ive done it. No modifications to the carton. However if you have a chick that decides to pip in the middle of the egg or somewhere weird, it won't be able to come out. Mine all had a hard time coming out when i used a carton. I think the rolling motion of the eggs when they are free to move helps the chicks get out. Try it though. 

 

 

Reply
Reply
post #4 of 7
4/28/12 at 9:30pm

Do a search on hatching in egg cartons. I use them. I cut the top off. I poke holes in the bottom. I also tilt them up against the side of incubator.


Edited by phoenix912 - 4/28/12 at 9:32pm
Reply
Reply
post #5 of 7
4/28/12 at 9:30pm
I like the cartons because the chicks don't play chicken soccer with the eggs. All of mine have done well in the cartons.
Is there such a thing as too many chickens?

Its better to have loved and lost...but loosing does stink
RIP little buddy
Reply
Is there such a thing as too many chickens?

Its better to have loved and lost...but loosing does stink
RIP little buddy
Reply
post #6 of 7
4/28/12 at 9:35pm

I have hatched ducks several times in the carton.  I cut the sides down and cut the bottoms out, so mostly I have a frame to put them in.  It works great.  It keeps the incubator much neater without the empty egg shells on the bottom.
 

1 Son, 1 Border Collie, 1 Kitty, 7 Runner Ducks, and two Anconas

Reply

1 Son, 1 Border Collie, 1 Kitty, 7 Runner Ducks, and two Anconas

Reply
post #7 of 7
4/28/12 at 9:52pm

The main advantage to hatching in cartons is holding the egg up right. Chick death just before or during hatching, is usually due to drowning or suffocation. With the egg in a upright position, the chicks head is now more likely to be surrounded by air instead of water. Notice every newly hatched chick is wet?  Hatching in cartons or even unplugged egg turners, is the norm among the game bird breeders I know.  Good luck with your hatch...
.

 

An Indian says you search in vain for what you cannot find. He says you've found a thousand ways of runnin' down your time. An Indian didn't scream it; he said it in a song. And he's never been know to be wrong..   Jeremiah Johnson

 

Butler Bobs, Chukar, Albino Chukar, Blue slate turkey, Black Copper Marans, Buff Orpingtons, LF Gold Laced Cochins, Gambel's Quail, Blue scale Quail, New...

Reply

 

An Indian says you search in vain for what you cannot find. He says you've found a thousand ways of runnin' down your time. An Indian didn't scream it; he said it in a song. And he's never been know to be wrong..   Jeremiah Johnson

 

Butler Bobs, Chukar, Albino Chukar, Blue slate turkey, Black Copper Marans, Buff Orpingtons, LF Gold Laced Cochins, Gambel's Quail, Blue scale Quail, New...

Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Incubating & Hatching Eggs

Featured Stories on BackYard Chickens

Join Our 4th Annual BYC Easter Hatch-A-Long
Raising Chickens on a Shoestring
Why Join BackYard Chickens?
BackYard Chickens › BYC Forum › Raising BackYard Chickens › Incubating & Hatching Eggs › Hatching eggs while in egg cartons? Anyone done it?