My little experiment worked!?!!!??

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Curious on your view of egg cartons for hatching.. in this example you provide humidity as an example of what could be wrong. As far as I know incubation is something that requires the ENTIRE period (all 21 days) to be going well... do you REALLY think that adding a carton on the last 3 days "improved" the incubation conditions any? If there were unstable conditions or problems in the first 18 days I don't understand how it could matter what you put in there in addiiton to the eggs at the end of the period.. they wouldn't hatch healthy or at all. Low humidity on day 12 isn't going to be corrected by upright hatching or egg cartons on the last 3 days.

I think the carton improves your chances IF you use turner racks. I don't expect there is any micro-climate, at least I haven't noticed any changes in temp or humidity with the addition of an egg carton at hatching time.

Thanks for those facts twigg , I'll always keep them in mind

red rosecomb,
You got talent!

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Curious on your view of egg cartons for hatching.. in this example you provide humidity as an example of what could be wrong. As far as I know incubation is something that requires the ENTIRE period (all 21 days) to be going well... do you REALLY think that adding a carton on the last 3 days "improved" the incubation conditions any? If there were unstable conditions or problems in the first 18 days I don't understand how it could matter what you put in there in addiiton to the eggs at the end of the period.. they wouldn't hatch healthy or at all. Low humidity on day 12 isn't going to be corrected by upright hatching or egg cartons on the last 3 days.

I think the carton improves your chances IF you use turner racks. I don't expect there is any micro-climate, at least I haven't noticed any changes in temp or humidity with the addition of an egg carton at hatching time.

Ok .... I'll do this all again

The reasons for RH levels are different in the first 18 days. The RH required is that level necessary to ensure the correct weight loss by day 18. From this point onwards, weight loss is irrelevant, the chicks need a moist atmosphere to hatch.

Chicken eggs will hit maximum hatch rates without egg cartons. Period. There is no debate or dispute about this. There are people who argue with facts tho ....

Here is why I said what I said above.

The point of my remarks above was simply to remind those reading that the basics matter the most. I used the carton example simply to describe a common scenario where people depart from the standard practise. My point wasn't to say that people shouldn't use them (even though they are quite unnecessary), but rather that people need to be careful not to be mislead.

In that particular example I quite specifically stated that hatch rates should not improve by using egg cartons in a hatcher. If they do, then something is wrong.

The most likely thing that is wrong would be a humidity issue. Placing eggs in cartons disrupts the air flow, and creates a micro-climate around the egg. A consequence of this could be a change in RH.

I have a basic position that if something is not needed, then it shouldn't be done. Mainly because it just adds one more unknown factor that could be avoided.

So yes ..... providing the incorrect conditions during the last three days can have a devastating effect on hatch rates. Low humidity is, most likely, the single biggest cause of Dead In Shell.

You are right to point out that the correct conditions are required for the whole of the 21 day period, but my post wasn't suggesting anything different.

If that doesn't clarify, post again I'm happy to debate the points

Funny you mention your experiment. My DH's brother says he recalls his grandmother in South GA hatching eggs in a box with a light bulb. He said there was no water for humidity and some hatched and some didn't. If his memory is correct, and often they are a bit fuzzy, I would guess she just relied on the natural high humidity of her locale. Good job!

Gotta go people I need to monitor the little guy

<Thank you all . But i now have a problem, I never hand reared a chick without a broody hens help and our only broody's eggs are due to hatch 3 days from now, but this time I really want to do this on my own.

So tell me, how do you guys raise your chickies without mama hens help? I want to raise a lap chicken too

Any suggestions greatly appreciated.>..............

Keep the baby warm 95 I think for the first week and give him/her a sourch of fresh water and starter feed. a box full of hay , pine shaveings, , ect with a light for heat , newspaper can cause leg problems and sometimes theyll eat shaveings, and occaionally the really young ones drown so keep a shollow dish and maybe put marbles in it.
Im new so thats about all I know so far.

WOW! Great job! That is too cool!

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Yes Mississippi Grandmother hatched them in a shoe box in the closet then could pick them up and sex them after hatching. No extras just a shoe box and calender. I wish I had that talent...
Good for you on your hatching! I pray my children will be the way you are, experimenting with chickens... oh who would have guessed? Good work keep trying maybe you'll invent a incubator thats human error proof for all us!!!