Eggs in cardboard egg carton for final hatch

[SuziQ991]

Does it need to be the cardboard cartons?

 

[dreamcatcher]

I use the carton method now, and have better hatches.

 

[CrazyWestTexasFarmGirl]

I just did a HUGe hatch in cartons... well in the carton things that go in my turner trays for my cabinet incubator. My chicks seemed to hatch so much faster and healtheir and were less tired. Plus I had some zip, pop the top and then sit in their egg until they were ready to hit the ground running. THis batch was fluffier faster too. I think my hatch rate was much much better.... I only had one that pipped and died where last two hatches I had a whole bunch that pipped and died. Less rough navels this time also... and temps and humidities were all the same. I think they dont as tired trying to zip and dont stress as much as the soccerball eggs do... AND I had 3 of 5 turkey eggs hatch this time compared to 1 of 6 last time! Its too cute to see them zip and pop the top and sit there in their egg all relaxed and recovering before popping out. And this batch is 4 days old and are the zoomingest chicks I have had... they run run run run run all over the brooder.

 

[A.T. Hagan]

Quote:
I used styrofoam and they worked well.

.....Alan.

 

[Suburban Sprouts]

Do you lay the eggs sideways in the cartons? I'm unclear how I would position the eggs in the cartons...

 

[A.T. Hagan]

Pointy end down, blunt end up, just like they would be if you bought them in a store.

.....Alan.

 

[countrychix]

I went one step further and incubated my last hatch in the carton. I only cut the top and flap off, left the bottoms in tact and had what I think was a great hatch. I loved it- no turning the eggs individually. I just propped the cartons up on a 2x4 cut-off at a 45 degree angle(length-wise), and when it was time to turn them I just turned the carton around and reset it to the original 45 degree angle. All done within a matter of seconds. 18 of 24 hatched; 22 had made it to lockdown, 2 were early quiters. These were 14 day old shipped eggs (12 of them in transit) that went straight from the shipping box into the incubator.

 

[countrychix]

Sorry, double post.

 

[Wynette]

Actually, they come in the grocery store with the pointy end UP, not DOWN, which is how you want them for incubating (large end up). Pulp is actually better to use than stryo, as it allows better air circulation, but I'm unsure if it's that big of a deal past day 18 anyway.

 

[A.T. Hagan]

The large end IS the blunt end. I've never in my life seen grocery store eggs come anyway but the pointed end down.

.....Alan.