Can someone post "hatching in egg cartons" advice?

[FenDruadin]

What are your specific practices when hatching your eggs in cartons? Do you use cardboard, plastic, or styrofoam? Do you cut holes in the bottom for egg ventilation? Do you set the cartons at an angle in the incubator, or flat on the bottom? Do you cut off the carton lids? Have you ever had any problems I should look out for when trying this method?

I don't lock down for another couple weeks, but want to have my plan in place.

Thanks!

 

[Katy]

Quote:
There's lots of threads with info if you do a search.

I use cardboard.

No holes cut in them.

Just flat in the incubator.

I cut the lids off.

No problems. Much better hatch rates than before I started doing it this way. Clean up is easier. The chicks seem to zip much faster.

 

[Southerngirl]

I use the egg carton method also. I cut the tops off and cut a hole in the bottom of the carton also. Place the eggs large side up.Styrofoam works much better for me. I have a little giant, I do not hand turn but use a large thick book and tilt the bator from side to side 3-4 times a day. Cleanup is so easy too. Good Luck !!

 

[FenDruadin]

Thank you both! I did look up some other threads too, so between the generous advice on this thread and those threads (some with pics!), I think I've got a plan. I have an automatic turner, so I'll leave it in until Day 26. Then I'll move them to a cardboard carton with the bottoms cut out & the top cut off, and place it back in the incubator. I'm looking forward to seeing how this works for me. I have 13 eggs, so if they all make it to hatch day (they were all fertile when checked at Day 7), should I bother with a second carton, or just place the "extra" on the floor of the bator?

 

[Katy]

For the extra egg I'd just cut a section of 4 cups from a carton and use that. That's what I do when I've got more than a dozen, but less than 2 dozen.