Nesting material in an incubator

[Ryoohkey]

i was wonder if anyone has ever added straw or shredded paper inside an incubator so when the chicks hatch it would be a much easier mess to clean up rather than having to "scrub" it out, my incubator is a forced air styrofoam

 

[HickoryHollow]

i was wonder if anyone has ever added straw or shredded paper inside an incubator so when the chicks hatch it would be a much easier mess to clean up rather than having to "scrub" it out, my incubator is a forced air styrofoam

Somebody else just asked the same question recently. The general consensus (including me) is that it would be a real fire hazard with no real meaningful benefit. Just my 2 cents.
Tim

 

[Ryoohkey]

thanks

 

[happyhens1972]

I always wait til day 18 when I turn off the automatic turner, ready for 'lockdown' and place a couple of layers of kitchen towel on the base of the incubator. This helps absorb any hatch 'goop' and dries off really quickly so doesn't mess with humidity too much. I think if you used 'nesting material' like hay or straw, you could harbour all sorts of bacteria and put your hatch at risk.

 

[dheltzel]

I have started using the rubberized shelf liner from the dollar store on top of the hardware cloth. It catches most of the mess and is soakable and reusable.