Hatching in egg cartons - Yes or NO

[Henny Chesney]

We're new to incubating and have incubated 3 batches so far. We have an egg turner, but when we take it out around day 17 we put the eggs in cartons pointed side down. My husband was told this was a good way to do it. Is this okay? Our first hatch was great. About 90% hatch. Second hatch wasn't as good, and had to help a few chicks out. Last batch wasn't great at all, but our electricity went out for almost 12 hours on day 10, so we didn't expect it to be perfect. I'm wondering if putting them in cartons helps or hinders.

 

[R2elk]

We're new to incubating and have incubated 3 batches so far. We have an egg turner, but when we take it out around day 17 we put the eggs in cartons pointed side down. My husband was told this was a good way to do it. Is this okay? Our first hatch was great. About 90% hatch. Second hatch wasn't as good, and had to help a few chicks out. Last batch wasn't great at all, but our electricity went out for almost 12 hours on day 10, so we didn't expect it to be perfect. I'm wondering if putting them in cartons helps or hinders.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/egg-carton-method.1294790/#post-21055460

 

[Mosey2003]

It's a no from me. Someone just posted not long ago that they've now done a study and it shows no difference between standing up and laying down, as far as how well they hatch.

Myself, I won't put anything in an incubator that's going to block the eggs from airflow, so cartons are always a no.

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

Another "no" here on using egg cartons to hatch - I lay the eggs on their sides at lockdown, if they're not already in that position. My hatches (hand-turning and using an autoturner) have generally been very satisfactory...and it's already such a monumental effort for the hatchlings to get out of the shell that I wouldn't want to risk making it more difficult.

 

[ColtHandorf]

Here are a few of the older posts I remember that include photos...

Baby Orpingtons hatching:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/36-orp-eggs-in-the-bator-photos.41462/page-7#post-482961

Discussion of using egg cartons in Dickey Incubator:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/so-you-wanna-see-the-fuzzies-hatch-done-pg-10.134432/page-6

Popular breeders discussing egg carton method:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/questions-about-egg-carton-method.46819/#post-486387

Egg Carton hatching method:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ethod-feedback-update-tried-it-relults.43576/