Non slip surface importance...????

[Shellybob]

Hello... just wondering if my Nurture 360 surface is to slippery for my chicks that are hatching tomorrow? I just read that I should have covered it with something. Should I be worried or do something now on the last day of lockdown?

 

[Justso]

I know it's way too late to answer you for this time, but @Faraday40 had a great solution to this
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/illinois.37/page-1299

 

[Shellybob]

I know it's way too late to answer you for this time, but @Faraday40 had a great solution to this
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/illinois.37/page-1299

Thank you for responding That batch didnt hatch and am on round two now, due June 3rd I had seen this same idea and will be doing it on lockdown day!

 

[Faraday40]

@Shellybob
Some chicks may be fine with the hatching surface in the NR360, but tiny quail & seramas will have difficulty. I also like to have a soft surface for newly hatched chicks in case any have swollen navels.

I just cut a piece foam-like of shelf liner (from $1 store) to the shape of the incubator. I cut out a circle in center for where the turner attached.

Then I had the idea of just having it there to cushion eggs for the entire incubation. During my 1st hatch, some of the tiny eggs were jostled a lot during turning & even flipped over vertically. For my hatch with the shelf liner, the eggs rolled smoothly and I noticed that I no longer could hear the turner. Bonus.

There was a bit of rubbing, but it didn't affect the hatch rate at all.

 

[Shellybob]

@Shellybob
Some chicks may be fine with the hatching surface in the NR360, but tiny quail & seramas will have difficulty. I also like to have a soft surface for newly hatched chicks in case any have swollen navels.

I just cut a piece foam-like of shelf liner (from $1 store) to the shape of the incubator. I cut out a circle in center for where the turner attached.

Then I had the idea of just having it there to cushion eggs for the entire incubation. During my 1st hatch, some of the tiny eggs were jostled a lot during turning & even flipped over vertically. For my hatch with the shelf liner, the eggs rolled smoothly and I noticed that I no longer could hear the turner. Bonus.

There was a bit of rubbing, but it didn't affect the hatch rate at all.
View attachment 2149981

Very nice! Thank you! Definately going to do this!

 

[LavinmyBasket]

Thank you for responding☺ That batch didnt hatch and am on round two now, due June 3rd I had seen this same idea and will be doing it on lockdown day!

Just a tip...If the liner is too thick and holes are too small it is difficult to get your humidity up.

 

[Shellybob]

Just a tip...If the liner is too thick and holes are too small it is difficult to get your humidity up.

Ok good to know thank you

 

[CrisAnderson27]

@Shellybob
Some chicks may be fine with the hatching surface in the NR360, but tiny quail & seramas will have difficulty. I also like to have a soft surface for newly hatched chicks in case any have swollen navels.

I just cut a piece foam-like of shelf liner (from $1 store) to the shape of the incubator. I cut out a circle in center for where the turner attached.

Then I had the idea of just having it there to cushion eggs for the entire incubation. During my 1st hatch, some of the tiny eggs were jostled a lot during turning & even flipped over vertically. For my hatch with the shelf liner, the eggs rolled smoothly and I noticed that I no longer could hear the turner. Bonus.

There was a bit of rubbing, but it didn't affect the hatch rate at all.
View attachment 2149981

That's exactly what I use....but I use black. Because...well...black lol.