First Time Hatching.. HELP!

[lux_interior]

I put 14 EE eggs in my homemade incubator last night... I'm going very simple, it is still air, no fan, no thermostat. I'm using a dimmer switch on my light to control heat, and checking heat and humidity constantly... I'm a stay at home mom so I'm here all day to watch it. I've read up almost all i need to know about incubating... I just have a cuple questions:

What is the best way to position the eggs when they are incubating? I read that they go with the bigger end up, and I have mine this way in an egg carton, is this good?

when I rotate them, does that mean just spinning them around? because I'm not supposed to flip them upside down, right?

And lastly, When it's time to hatch, do I take them out of the egg carton? How do I place them in there so they can hatch easily?

Any help is appreciated, I want the little ones to do well! Thanks!!

 

[giasmom]

Okay , yes big end up, tilt them from side to side, yes you can hatch in the cartons. When I say tilt from side to side, I don't know your bator set up, but if it a cooler bator you can put a brick under the end of the bator to do this,just make sure it is high enough to actually tilt the eggs good. Then for the next turn swap the brick to the other end of the bator & so on. This will keep you from opening the bator so much. Got any questions just ask.

 

[lux_interior]

Lifting the incubator itself with a brick instead of opening the lid is a GREAT idea! I'm definitely going to try that, thanks so much! And yes, it is a foam one

 

[giasmom]

Lux, I know you said you were doing it simple. However you did not mention ventalation, did you remember the vent holes for fresh air exchange?

Also every other day or so I swithed the ends of the carton around to reposition where the eggs set in the bator, so the heat would be more even.

 

[lux_interior]

Yes, I have holes poked on the sides and top

I have all the essentials, it's just simple because I don't plan on hatching often (I don't have the room for all those chicks, or I would!) so I didn't want to spend the money buying one or do any wiring, or what not, So I made it very cheap and basic. I have no doubts it will work, as long as I know what I'm doing

 

[giasmom]

Cool, Good luck .