I had 20 out of 25 hatch... no problems! The cheesecloth worked great... I was a little worried they would get tangled in it, but they all wobbled across it just fine. I like the idea of leaving an open space next to each egg in the carton as all my chicks climbed back into the cartons after...
Oh I KNOW! Mine came upstairs this morning at 5 am and said "Is there supposed to be a DEAD chick in the incubator?"
Luckily he was wrong and my first chick was just so darned tired from hatching.....
men
I used the paper pulp type..... it's what I had and I figure it breathes more.... I added the cheescloth when I bumped up the humidity on day 18. Used it folded in half so it provides surface but still allows air and humidity to pass thru it.
BLRW = Blue Laced Red Wyandotte
I decided to put mine in cartons for hatching. I used cheesecloth on the bottom of the bator (read it in a pamphlet on incubating) I'll let you all know how well it works out.