Okay, so I only have three out of their shells so far, but that's how many I hatched total last time, so I thought it would be an appropriate time to compare the standard "on their sides on the wire" method with the "large end up in an egg carton" method. And the winner is... egg carton hatching!
Benefits I've noticed:
1. I can arrange the eggs in such a fashion that I am almost guaranteed to see the pip when it occurs.
2. Hatchlings can't kick the other eggs around so much, preventing damage as well as ensuring I can still watch the pip & zip process
3. Ducklings actually seem to push the cap open faster
4. It's tidier--less mess all over the incubator, and the eggs stay lined up neatly, and the egg shells stay in one place instead of getting tracked all over the incubator
5. The ducklings seem stronger when they get out of the shell. I suspect the reason for that lies in the fact that it takes them a little longer between pushing off the cap and actually exiting the shell. Because of the upright position of the eggs, they have to work pretty hard to get out of the "bowl" of the bottom part of the shell. I suspect that by working hard to do that, and also taking a little longer, by the time they are all the way out, they have simply built up more strength. As a result, they don't seem to go shooting spastically all over the incubator making messes, hurting each other, and rolling over onto their backs and getting into predicaments like they do when they are hatched on their sides.
Did I miss any benefits?
Disadvantages:
1. It takes a little longer for the duckling to exit the shell after popping the cap off. But, as already stated, I don't think this is necessarily a bad thing.
2. Ummmmm.... I can't really think of anything else...
Okay, so I do NOT have a scientific sampling here--six eggs total is hardly a sample at all. But combined with everyone else's experience, I hope it's at least a little helpful.
Now, mind you, the ducklings *do* still get on top of the eggs. It is Harry's favorite place to sleep, as a matter of fact. But it doesn't seem to negatively affect the hatching eggs--certainly it's no worse and probably better than the eggs getting kicked all over the incubator.
So, I like it. How about you?
Benefits I've noticed:
1. I can arrange the eggs in such a fashion that I am almost guaranteed to see the pip when it occurs.
2. Hatchlings can't kick the other eggs around so much, preventing damage as well as ensuring I can still watch the pip & zip process
3. Ducklings actually seem to push the cap open faster
4. It's tidier--less mess all over the incubator, and the eggs stay lined up neatly, and the egg shells stay in one place instead of getting tracked all over the incubator
5. The ducklings seem stronger when they get out of the shell. I suspect the reason for that lies in the fact that it takes them a little longer between pushing off the cap and actually exiting the shell. Because of the upright position of the eggs, they have to work pretty hard to get out of the "bowl" of the bottom part of the shell. I suspect that by working hard to do that, and also taking a little longer, by the time they are all the way out, they have simply built up more strength. As a result, they don't seem to go shooting spastically all over the incubator making messes, hurting each other, and rolling over onto their backs and getting into predicaments like they do when they are hatched on their sides.
Did I miss any benefits?
Disadvantages:
1. It takes a little longer for the duckling to exit the shell after popping the cap off. But, as already stated, I don't think this is necessarily a bad thing.
2. Ummmmm.... I can't really think of anything else...
Okay, so I do NOT have a scientific sampling here--six eggs total is hardly a sample at all. But combined with everyone else's experience, I hope it's at least a little helpful.
Now, mind you, the ducklings *do* still get on top of the eggs. It is Harry's favorite place to sleep, as a matter of fact. But it doesn't seem to negatively affect the hatching eggs--certainly it's no worse and probably better than the eggs getting kicked all over the incubator.
So, I like it. How about you?
