Are 36 Eggs Too Many in a Still Air LG With No Turner?

[chicksgalore]

WalkingWolf, I would be interested in trying the egg carton turning--that would be MUCH quicker than hand turning 2-3 dozen eggs 3 times a day! I'm not clear on how they can lay on their sides if you cut the bottom out though. About how far up from the bottom do you cut?

You said about blocking the bator--do you mean you just prop up one end and when you turn, you then prop the opposite end?

And then I saw where you rotate 6 at a time. Do you do this every time you turn or once a day?

 

[WalkingWolf]

Quote:
If you cut out about a half dollar hole or larger in the bottom of each egg holder the egg should lean to the side at a angle, then it is a matter of moving the egg from left to right, and then right to left.

If the egg flat is full I pull 6 eggs set to the side, and then move the eggs front to back in the bator to change their position. This will give each egg more uniform incubation as still air incubators have more heat to the center.

I usually then candle these 6 eggs before returning them to the bator. If they are fertile I mark them with a F on the top of the large end. So I don't have to candle them again.

On the 19th day I remove them from the bator and move them to a hatcher where they lay on their side. When they hatch they usually do not move around until after they rest. Now this part is a NO NO for most here. When they start to bounce around the hatcher and they are usually dry by then I move them to the brooder. I have a chamber(cup) in the top of the hatcher that I fill with hot tap water after the door has been opened. This immediately restores humidity and temperature, if you decide to do this do it first with a empty hatcher as to see how high the temp will go or otherwise you may overheat your chicks. Do not do it with a LG still air, the air will be too hot in one location.

Some people use egg flats without cutting the bottom, they put a 1 inch or more block on one side of the bator(prop). And then move it to the other side 3 times a day. You should still change position of the eggs in the flat at least once a day to balance the amount of heat to each egg. Note your water channels will not work if you do this. I don't use them anyway. With the egg flats I have room for 42 eggs and 2 pint containers of damp sand with a sponge on top. Add water to sand as needed, and remove sponges if humidity gets to high.

 

[chicksgalore]

Thanks, I think I'll give this a try on my next hatch. The only difference is, I don't have a hatcher so I will just pull them out of the cartons and lay them in the bator on Day 18.