Am I incubating these right??

[BirdGirl2004]

I just now out my eggs in the incubator, and I do not have an automatic egg turner. I put the eggs in an egg carton, and put a X on the top, and am planning to turn them 3 times a day. They've been sitting for about a week now, but I didn't put them in there carton a special way. Can I just turn them complete around 3 times?
Btw, my room incubator is really old...lol
Thanks!

 

[BirdGirl2004]

So I took out the carton because I decided that that mother hen doesn't use a carton. Then do I just switch position three times a day, or is there more to it than that?

 

[BirdGirl2004]

Here's the pic...

 

[BirdGirl2004]

HEEEEELLLLPPPP!

 

[AlderCreekFarms]

I personally have an egg turner, but I've watched it go around a few times and it seems to turn them a quarter to a half turn each time, and it's set to go 3 times a day. I dont know about a carton or how it compares to an egg tray. I would think, based on reading, as long as it is pre warmed with the incubator it would be fine. But when it comes to lockdown, I would take them out of the carton and lay them on a paper towel in the bator so the hatchlings have room to hatch.
In case you can't tell, I am new, and hatching my first set of quail eggs myself. But I am on here regularly reading. Take what I say with a grain of salt and let the more experienced members put in their 2 cents just to be safe... happy hatching!! Keep us posted ok? We learn from eachother!

 

[BirdGirl2004]

I personally have an egg turner, but I've watched it go around a few times and it seems to turn them a quarter to a half turn each time, and it's set to go 3 times a day. I dont know about a carton or how it compares to an egg tray. I would think, based on reading, as long as it is pre warmed with the incubator it would be fine. But when it comes to lockdown, I would take them out of the carton and lay them on a paper towel in the bator so the hatchlings have room to hatch.
In case you can't tell, I am new, and hatching my first set of quail eggs myself. But I am on here regularly reading. Take what I say with a grain of salt and let the more experienced members put in their 2 cents just to be safe... happy hatching!! Keep us posted ok? We learn from eachother!

Thanks! I have done some research, and have decided to take them out of the egg cartons now, because i can turn them better. Thanks so much for replying!

 

[AlderCreekFarms]

Oh! And all I've ever read about positioning says pointy end down if you have a choice...

 

[BirdGirl2004]

Oh! And all I've ever read about positioning says pointy end down if you have a choice...

Ok, I just set them in there, and i'm rolling them every couple hours. I've heard it doesn't really matter the positioning, because mother hens don't place them a special way. Thanks!

 

[AlderCreekFarms]

Ok, I just set them in there, and i'm rolling them every couple hours. I've heard it doesn't really matter the positioning, because mother hens don't place them a special way. Thanks!

That's kind of how I see it too lol

 

[BirdGirl2004]

That's kind of how I see it too lol

Someone wrote this in a forum about positioning the eggs, and turning them:

I dont turn eggs by hand - I roll them.

We are always advised to mark them with "X's" and "O's" and turn them slavishly, this side or that one, up. Dont fail, dont miss it.
But my friend, who has hatched more birds than all of us combined, told me one day,
"David, stop wastin' your time with all that rolling stuff. There aint no hen knowns nothing about all that. So, just put your hand in there and firmly, but gently, roll them around - - and then close the incubator. Do it a couple times a day and thats it."

So I did. You know what? He was right.
It made no difference one way or another. You may wish to consider it.