Lockdown time do I lay eggs on side or keep upright?

[CocoPopz]

So it’s day 18 tomorrow and tonight on my night turn (I turn manually) I was going to put the grip matt down and prepare as such as I won’t have time tomorrow other than to add the water.
so my question is, it’s the first time I’ve incubated the eggs in egg cartons, they was shipped eggs with damaged air cells, all unstable air cells and saddle shaped, well if I candle tonight and some of the air cells are “normal” and now stabilised, do I remove from carton and lay on side?
Also the eggs that might still have unstable air cells, do I keep those to hatch upright? Ones with saddle shaped air cells but stable do I lay them flat? Sorry I’m so confused

 

[MGG]

So it’s day 18 tomorrow and tonight on my night turn (I turn manually) I was going to put the grip matt down and prepare as such as I won’t have time tomorrow other than to add the water.
so my question is, it’s the first time I’ve incubated the eggs in egg cartons, they was shipped eggs with damaged air cells, all unstable air cells and saddle shaped, well if I candle tonight and some of the air cells are “normal” and now stabilised, do I remove from carton and lay on side?
Also the eggs that might still have unstable air cells, do I keep those to hatch upright? Ones with saddle shaped air cells but stable do I lay them flat? Sorry I’m so confused

You can leave them all in the carton of you want to, it shouldn't hurt anything. If the air cells all look good though I would put them on their sides.

 

[CocoPopz]

You can leave them all in the carton of you want to, it shouldn't hurt anything. If the air cells all look good though I would put them on their sides.

You can leave them all in the carton of you want to, it shouldn't hurt anything. If the air cells all look good though I would put them on their sides.

Thank you so most have them are now sturdy but a couple are saddle shaped but least they aren’t moving around anymore, so I have laid them flat but their is 1 where the air cells is sturdy most of but theirs a corner that moves so I’ve left that in the carton and see what happens. Also don’t suppose you know anything about dry hatching? So my last batch didn’t go the best and I think I failed with my humidity, it was reading normal but the chicks that died before hatch was very very wet so I’ve swapped for the dry hatching method and got a new humidity reader, heard very good things about dry hatch, well I’m just confused what I do for lockdown, so my humidity had sort of stabled around 25-35% and the air cells are looking fine to me, not too large or too small so thinking it has made a difference this time! So on lockdown do I add water or not with dry method, if I do do I just spray the eggs with water or still use a tray, and what humidity should it be on lockdown with dry hatch method? Xx

 

[MGG]

Thank you so most have them are now sturdy but a couple are saddle shaped but least they aren’t moving around anymore, so I have laid them flat but their is 1 where the air cells is sturdy most of but theirs a corner that moves so I’ve left that in the carton and see what happens. Also don’t suppose you know anything about dry hatching? So my last batch didn’t go the best and I think I failed with my humidity, it was reading normal but the chicks that died before hatch was very very wet so I’ve swapped for the dry hatching method and got a new humidity reader, heard very good things about dry hatch, well I’m just confused what I do for lockdown, so my humidity had sort of stabled around 25-35% and the air cells are looking fine to me, not too large or too small so thinking it has made a difference this time! So on lockdown do I add water or not with dry method, if I do do I just spray the eggs with water or still use a tray, and what humidity should it be on lockdown with dry hatch method? Xx

So I would leave them in the carton then. You might want to put the grippy liner in the incubator too though so if they jump out of the carton they don't get splay leg. I have done a couple dry hatches. For me it was just an experiment, and my hatch rates didn't seem to benefit from it, so I don't do it anymore. I had a 90% hatch rate onthe dry hatches. I have 95-100% on my other ones. I keep humidity around 35-45%. Everywhere's different though, so it could very well help you. For dry hatches, run dry the first 18 days and then up humidity like normal for lockdown. For lockdown I like my humidity at 65-75%, I usually have really good success with that. Like I said though, everywhere is different so you'll have to figure out what works for you. Just make sure you get that humidity nice and high for hatching. Good luck! I hope you have better success with the dry hatch. Sorry about the last couple ones. It's all a learning curve.

 

[CocoPopz]

So I would leave them in the carton then. You might want to put the grippy liner in the incubator too though so if they jump out of the carton they don't get splay leg. I have done a couple dry hatches. For me it was just an experiment, and my hatch rates didn't seem to benefit from it, so I don't do it anymore. I had a 90% hatch rate onthe dry hatches. I have 95-100% on my other ones. I keep humidity around 35-45%. Everywhere's different though, so it could very well help you. For dry hatches, run dry the first 18 days and then up humidity like normal for lockdown. For lockdown I like my humidity at 65-75%, I usually have really good success with that. Like I said though, everywhere is different so you'll have to figure out what works for you. Just make sure you get that humidity nice and high for hatching. Good luck! I hope you have better success with the dry hatch. Sorry about the last couple ones. It's all a learning curve.

Thank you for your help. The unstirdy ones I left in cartons but the ones that was stable I’ve laid flat and I’ve put in my grip sheet. I will up my humidity tomorrow then on day 18. Do you find spraying the eggs directly with water helps or do you just use the trays? I’ve heard someone say about the spraying method as well as their tray and it helped but I’ve never done that way before either, willing to try anything in the hope these hatch better than the last batch thanks sgain!

 

[MGG]

Thank you for your help. The unstirdy ones I left in cartons but the ones that was stable I’ve laid flat and I’ve put in my grip sheet. I will up my humidity tomorrow then on day 18. Do you find spraying the eggs directly with water helps or do you just use the trays? I’ve heard someone say about the spraying method as well as their tray and it helped but I’ve never done that way before either, willing to try anything in the hope these hatch better than the last batch thanks sgain!

I don't have any trays in mine, but I would fill them if you have some. What model is your incubator? I don't spray mime unless I have to open the incubator during lockdown. Fill the trays and see where that gets you. If you need more humidity, increase the surface area of the water.(with lids or pans, etc.)
Good luck!

 

[LadiesAndJane]

So it’s day 18 tomorrow and tonight on my night turn (I turn manually) I was going to put the grip matt down and prepare as such as I won’t have time tomorrow other than to add the water.
so my question is, it’s the first time I’ve incubated the eggs in egg cartons, they was shipped eggs with damaged air cells, all unstable air cells and saddle shaped, well if I candle tonight and some of the air cells are “normal” and now stabilised, do I remove from carton and lay on side?
Also the eggs that might still have unstable air cells, do I keep those to hatch upright? Ones with saddle shaped air cells but stable do I lay them flat? Sorry I’m so confused

I would love to hear what you ended up doing and how your hatch went. I am dealing with similar problems with shipped eggs. Thanks!

 

[CocoPopz]

I would love to hear what you ended up doing and how your hatch went. I am dealing with similar problems with shipped eggs. Thanks!

Hey I’ll keep you updated, day 20 today and the one I originally kept upright in Carton I quickly candled today and it’s stable so I’ve laid on its side and added more water to try increase humidity. So now all 6 are late flat but up until lockdown had been in cartons. Not getting my hopes up for them unfortunately their air sacs are quite badly saddle shaped, they had a hard time in post, well only 6/24 developing says it all! Really really hope they work though!

 

[LadiesAndJane]

Hey I’ll keep you updated, day 20 today and the one I originally kept upright in Carton I quickly candled today and it’s stable so I’ve laid on its side and added more water to try increase humidity. So now all 6 are late flat but up until lockdown had been in cartons. Not getting my hopes up for them unfortunately their air sacs are quite badly saddle shaped, they had a hard time in post, well only 6/24 developing says it all! Really really hope they work though!

Thanks! Good luck!

 

[Eggscaping]

Thanks! Good luck!

Best of luck to you! I had 8 shipped, complete newbie, never had an incubator nor hatched anything other than a failed plot before this, and they all hatched. The last one was 2 days after the others and I was going to toss it but when I picked it up it cheeped loudly, so I assisted it out of the shell. So my advice is, don't give up on an egg unless it smells. The lat one had the air cell on the side, but she's running around outside now with all the others! Keep us posted, please! And remember to take lots of pictures!