in lock down on side or pointed end down in carton?

[amarilloteacher]

I saw picture of quail hatching in the turner racks. Seems like it would be less stressful straight up and not rolling around? About to put some in lock down and was thinking about trying it.

 

[Mvan42]

I have only done on the side, but IMO if you do I would put them in egg cartons and not the turner. Less risk of injury, the turner has spaces they could hurt themselves in when learning to walk.

 

[brickwall524]

I’ve been wondering the same thing. I have 2 incubators and have only done one hatch in each. The larger one I used egg cartons for the first hatch and didn’t have a great success rate but I think it had more to do with the temp than anything. I left them on their sides in the smaller incubator and had 5 out of 6 hatch and the last one pipped but I think hit one of the veins or something (there was blood dripping from the pip) and never made it out. I have to put my next set into lockdown today and I’ve been trying to decide whether to use the cartons again or put them on their sides. I have to decide quick though! Lol

 

[igorsMistress]

On their sides not in the racks. If one pips at the wrong end or in the middle of the egg it could die.

 

[Chickassan]

On their sides, always. The way a chick hatches, turning almost the entire diameter of the shell having small involuntary neck spasms to pip and zip is nearly impossible in a vertical position.

 

[007Sean]

I use to put them in a hatcher, horizontal hatching. Now, I just leave them in the turner. I don't notice any difference in the hatchibility, in fact they may have a better chance of getting out of the shell because their not rolling around. That's the way I do it but I'm not going to say someone else should do it that way...there's more than one way to skin a cat!

 

[brickwall524]

On their sides not in the racks. If one pips at the wrong end or in the middle of the egg it could die.

Ok, that makes sense...Thank you!

 

[igorsMistress]

Ok, that makes sense...Thank you!

YVW. As Sean said there's more than one way to do it. I've had pips at the wrong end and I worry so that's me. Good luck!

 

[rjohns39]

I like them on their sides in hatching trays. That way I can put them on shelves and not worry about them falling through. I lost two poults last year that hatched early while the turner was still moving. They got caught up in the moving hardware.