Can eggs touch in the incubator?

[JuNK GyPSY]

I am getting ready to set some eggs in a couple of weeks and want to get as many as I can in my new Brinsea mini. I want to hatch as many a possible and was wondering if it's ok for the eggs to touch. It seems to me it would be because under the hen they would be but I want to make sure this was ok in the incubator as well.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Yes and for the very astute reason you mentioned.
If unsure, it's always good to go with what would happen if nature takes it's course.

In other words, common sense.

 

[JuNK GyPSY]

Yes and for the very astute reason you mentioned.
If unsure, it's always good to go with what would happen if nature takes it's course.

In other words, common sense.

That was my reasoning too! Thank you

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Good luck on your hatch.

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

Just a thought, but how often will your eggs be turned? Broody hens don't have anything else to do but turn their eggs all day. So, even though they touch, they're constantly being turned which allows them to get good air flow.
If you're hand turning just 3Xs a day, they might be too crowded. If your eggs are on a turned and get moved around frequently, it probably wont be an issue. My biggest concern would be the chicks getting the proper around of air when they all start hatching.
It may not be a big deal either way though. I've seen pictures of incubators jammed full of eggs that had chicks hatching all over the place and pictures of nearly empty bators where nothing hatched.
Good luck! Let us know how it goes, please?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Chicks will play soccer with the eggs but they still hatch.
When hand turning, rather than the X O mark, I put a 1,2,3 on the eggs so they don't rest on the same 2 sides but 3 sides and I turn as many times as I can but usually 2-5 times.

 

[JuNK GyPSY]

I only work parts time so I would be able to turn them more than the normal 2-3 times a day if necessary. I guess my next biggest concern would be when they start to hatch it being to crowded it there. I have thought about getting one of those Styrofoam incubators to transfer them in to as they hatch to dry out in I think I can get one at the local feed store for around $40. I thik maybe I should have got the bigger Brinsea I see a hatching addiction come on lol...

Good Idea ChickenCanoe it will remember to mark them this way thanks.