getting ready for lockdown egg carton ?

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

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The thing is that it jeopardizes the rest of the hatch when you open the 'bator.

 

[mischievouschickens]

bigdawg,

What did you finally decide to do and how did your hatch go? Please send us an update.

 

[Whitehouse Quail]

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They open their shell like a pop can, then hop out and sit somewhere else. That's why there should be a couple empty egg holes. It wont really be THAT crowded.

 

[bigdawg]

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well i am only at day 7. i am going with the egg cartons. i plan on a serious candle job on day 18 and if i still have to many eggs i will have my ole faithful homemade bator warmed up and ready for egg trays. i am trying to be ready for spring hatching. both bators at the same time. 126 eggs total...................

 

[larryj57]

I have 30 eggs in the Hovabator that will go on lock down this Friday being as this is my first hatching do you recommend using egg cartons or not, i don't even know what kind of eggs they are other than they are brown a friend gave them to me so it will be a suprise, he won't tell me where they came from.

 

[larryj57]

will an egg flat that hold 3 dozen eggs work as well as a 1 dozen carton?

 

[mischievouschickens]

bigdawg,

Thanks for the clarification. For some reason, I thought you were already past Day 21. Keep us posted!

LarryJ,

I am also incubating for the first time. I will have 14 eggs going into lockdown on Wednesday and will be using the egg-carton method. Under the egg carton I will also have shelf-liner (the foamy stuff that looks like a waffle) so that the chicks feet have something soft to walk on rather than the wire mesh. I won't bother cutting holes in the bottom of the egg-cartons either. It seems like seasoned folk have equivalent results either way.

 

[Crazy Chicken Fever]

Do you cut holes in the bottom of the carton for the bottom of the egg to be able to get air? Has anyone ever kept the eggs in cartons for the entire hatch?

 

[Dane Chick]

This is my first incubator hatch and i am learning so much. please explain "lock down". When does it occur? Are you putting the eggs in cartons near the end of the 21 days or at the beginning? Any clear advice you can give is appreciated. Thank you.

 

[bigdawg]

Quote:
larry i would go for it. what have you got to loose. i am hoping to increase my hatch rate. at least this way the first few out wont be able to knock the others around. let us know if you do use the egg flat. i have cartons ready but i am going to use the egg flat instead. if this works i will be buying the plastic ones.