can I use an egg carton inside incubator to keep eggs large end up?

[howlingwoodsfarm]

I have had the eggs in the bottom of a cardboard carton for about 2 weeks. should be able to come to my own conclusion in about a week. I did email the lady I got the eggs from to question her about it, she has an automatic turner and just heard this method from someone. I guess shipped eggs can have damaged air pockets and this method helps shipped eggs have a better hatch rate.. so she said, anyway time will tell. if this works well I will not use any other way as it is SOOOO much easier then hand rolling all those eggs 3x a day.. PLUS I like not handling them as much to turn them. No matter how well I wash my hands prior to rolling them, just seems better for them to not be touched 3x a day everyday. I will let you know.. ohh one last thing....

Do you leave them in the carton to hatch??

this sat, I should start to see results. wish me luck.. 17 BRLW and 5 EE potentially. KEEPING MY FINGER CROSSED

 

[silkiechicken]

generally you set them on their sides to hatch, but, I've seen people do it with the eggs still in the cartons.

 

[verthandi]

I just took mine out of the cartons yesterday and laid them on the wire mesh. They are due to hatch tuesday or wednesday....duh, forgot to write date down.

 

[verthandi]

Egg carton chicks have started hatching!!!!

 

[howlingwoodsfarm]

How exciting, you will have to let us know how all goes, GOOD LUCK!!

 

[eggchel]

I have used both cardboard and Styrofoam egg cartons with success. I cut or punch a hole the size of my thumb in the bottom of each egg "cup" to let some air circulate around the bottom of the egg, too. I let the chicks hatch in the cartons, too.

chel

 

[McSpin]

I have used the styrofoam egg carton with no problems. I put a lot of small holes in the carton to increase air circulation. I also let them hatch out in the carton. It caused no problems and kept the hatched chicks from rolling the eggs all over, like they do if laying on the floor. The chicks had no problem getting out of the eggs when sitting in the carton.

 

[verthandi]

McSpin, did you find that the cartons extended the period over which the eggs hatched? I think next time I will rotate the eggs within the carton some to see if it effects the length of hatch for me. I did rotate them when candling but I have a feeling they need to be moved more.

I have never had a hatch where all the eggs hatched out over a period longer than 24 hours. Yesterdays chick was a day early which is normal in my hatches. But I have some that don't look like they are going to hatch until tomorrow

 

[McSpin]

From first chick out to last chick out, was 18 hours. I did have a fan recirculating air, so temps were pretty even throughout the incubator. I flipped the carton on a turning stand I made, 4 times each day.

 

[McSpin]

I thought I'd add another note:

The eggs in the center of the carton were the first to hatch, but only by about 12 hours. I don't know if that is coincidence or if their temperature was more moderated being in the center. Also, I didn't raise one end of the carton. I alternated raising one side.

See this thread for photos: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=7451