Lockdown in 4 hours. need fast advice before then.

[cupman]

Hello, I have noticed on other threads that a lot of people have placed their soon-to-hatch eggs in egg cartons. I've also noticed a lot of people that just lay their eggs down on the wire above the reservoir(I'm using a 1588). What are the pros and cons to putting your hatching eggs in the egg cartons? What's the theory behind it? I have never hatched before and I really want to make sure to get everything as right as possible. I just bought a couple cheap feeders and waterers yesterday.. I'll feel real dumb if none of my 32 eggs hatch.

 

[Jed]

I have hatched out of egg cartons because it keeps the chicks that have hatched from rolling the non hatched eggs around. Put the large end of the egg up.

 

[speckledhen]

I never hatch in cartons. The reason is I try to mimic a broody hen, plus, sometimes they pip low on the egg and if they're in a carton, they can't make it out in that case. Some folks swear by it, but I just don't do it.

 

[Goblnfvr]

I incubate my eggs in egg cartons then at lockdown I take them out and put them on a soft screen [window screen] hatcher that I built. It keep the eggs at the same height in the incubator as the egg carton.

 

[Jed]

I have also heard you want to position them in lockdown similar to how they were the first 18 days. So if they were in an egg turner, put them in a carton to hatch. If they were on thier sides and you hand turned them, don't use a carton. I think it has something to do with the position they were in while developing.

I am currently incubating for my second time. The first time the eggs were on thier side and I hand turned and at lock down I put them into an egg carton to hatch. 9 of the 10 that I had at lock down hatched. Good luck what ever direction you go.

 

[cupman]

Alright cool. Thanks everyone for their input. I think I'll end up trying both methods. Might go no carton the first go around. But I'll be starting another batch of eggs in a week or two. Thanks again!