Lock down eggs, on end or side?

[dovecanyon]

I had this same question, so I did an experiment; in my last 2 hatches I put half the eggs on their sides and half in cartons. Both times, all the eggs on their sides hatched but less than half the carton eggs hatched. It may have only been coincidence, but it was enough to convince me... from now on all my eggs will go on their sides to hatch.

 

[Cowgirlgrace]

I would like to hear more about this. Just put eggs on lock down trying the carton thing for the first time but do wonder about 'nature' and how natural is the egg carton thing. They say you can't improve on Mother Nature. She always knows what she is doing. Never the less trying it anyway since I'm not sure the negative effect on the rest of the eggs getting rolled around. That probably doesn't happen under a hen.

 

[Chic Chick]

I like hatching in the egg cartons. There is less mess in the bator, and I have a good hatch percentage that way. I don't like the way the eggs are kicked around when they are laying flat, and I think that getting kicked around isn't good for the unhatched chicks either.

 

[ArizonaDesertChicks]

What about placing a clean towel under the eggs? Would that help keep them from being kicked around, while still being able to lay flat? Any reason I shouldn't try it?

 

[daps2000]

Quote:
I was thinking the same thing ... I saw a video ... where this guy made little cup size bowels out of paper towels ... I was thinking about doing that ... they would still be on their side ...and wouldn't roll around too much?

what do you all think?

 

[lexgold]

someone please reply ... we'reall dying to know the answer to this one

 

[brendapa]

I am incubating in the egg carton this time for ease of turning but I had 2 pip from the bottom last hatch.
2 sides to this, they probably wouldn't have bottom pipped if they were not tossed around so much. They were on thier sides so they did hatch OK.

I'm going to try that rubber shelf liner stuff to try to keep the eggs from sailing from one end to the other of the incubator by the hatched chicks

brenda

 

[kid-n-chickens]

I used the non-slip rubber shelf/drawer liner that is fairly thin with lots of holes in it on my last hatch and the eggs didnt roll around very much even though the bator was almost full and they was getting bumped. I am going to continue to use it plus I think it helps the chicks get there feet under them with out falling so much. P.S. I hatch on there side, glad I did due to a lot of mine pipped mid way on the egg.

 

[chkinut]

hey, i just read a good idea in another post....somebody had the idea of cupcake papers. i think i'm gonna use them!

 

[JordanFamily]

Quote:
Let us know how it turns out... I would only worry that cupcake papers are real thin paper, like tissue paper and might be a little sticky on a wet hatching chick??? Let us know how it works out.... Thanks