Hatching in egg carton ?

[maureen9962]

I hatched on the floor of my incubator last time and I think the poults had a more difficult time hatching as the others played soccer with the eggs. I see that many people hatch in cartons. Do you use regular cardboard ones? I am worried they will get soggy. What if I cut down Dixie cups, think that would work?

 

[longranger]

I use styrofoam cartons cut down to allow maximal ventilation. Have done this with chickens for a while. Just trying it with turkeys myself.

 

[A.T. Hagan]

Come this Sunday I'll be trying it with styrofoam egg cartons with my turkey and chicken eggs both. I'll cut holes in the bottom of each cup but will other wise use the carton bottom as is.

.....Alan.

 

[ColbyNTX]

I have never hatched turkeys until next Friday. 32 of the 35 eggs I got look great. I have always left my chick in the hatching tray and always worried about the other kicking the eggs around for a day or two until the hatch was done but I have always had reall good hatches! 90-100%. If it is different for turkeys, I would like to know also before next friday.

 

[turkey guru]

my eggs hatch the best, on there side!!! tom!

 

[maureen9962]

I think turkey guru once said something about dividers to keep poults from rolling hatching eggs around. Is this something you make or fabricate from materials you have at home?

 

[longranger]

For what it is worth I just tried my first turkey egg in an egg carton and it hatched well. This was in a Brinsea 20 so he got 3/4 out and kept on hitting the top of the bator. Had to open and put on side. Was hobbling free of the shell in 15 seconds. That was a particularly big egg. Probably won't have that problem with more average size turkey eggs. Obviously not a factor in a taller hatcher. Will try 2 more for this weekend.

 

[longranger]

Now 6 for 6 on eggs going to lockdown hatching out of cartons. Am 10/12 on eggs resting on their sides. I am becoming a believer in egg carton hatching for turkeys.

 

[medan]

I cut egg shaped holes in card board they seem to keep the eggs from rolling around in the hatch frenzy

 

[A.T. Hagan]

As of a little while ago I had 29 out of 34 turkey eggs in cartons have successfully hatched and a couple more that had pipped. Styrofoam cartons with the bottoms cut out.

.....Alan.