Hatcher question

[abritton77]

How much space do you need per egg in the hatcher? I built one that has 3 trays that are wide enough for 2 egg cartons. Would that be packing them too tight? Right now as long as I can put 12 eggs in each rack I will be fine, but I may out grow it if I keep at it.

 

[SamuelMcF]

They can be pretty crammed in there. In Commercial operations it's pretty much as many you can fit.

 

[abritton77]

I was just wondering if the chicks would need more space when they hatch out.

 

[silkiechicken]

You can pack them in as long as it's one layer. The chicks take up less space after they hatch and the shells will end up just nesting into each other with little tired fluff balls rolling all over the place. Of course, they can't stay in there that way for more than a day or so, but the hatch should be over by that time an you can pull them all out and plop them into their brooder.

 

[abritton77]

I don know if it matters, but I have them in an egg carton.

 

[PandoraTaylor]

Nope, I hatch in egg cartons all the time, it makes cleanup alittle easier.