O.K., I am going to try it. My last 2 hatches were not exactly great, so I might as well try. My questions are: 1) do you recommend a cardboard carton over styrofoam? 2)do you cut out some of the carton at the bottom for air circulation? 3)do you incubate in them the entire time?My turner is not working and I've been elevating alternate sides anyway,so I don't think that would be a problem. Thanks all.
So far all I've used are the cardboard ones....I thought they might have better circulation than the styrofoam ones. I don't cut out any of the bottom. I do cut off the lid of the carton tho. I've been having good luck and have done several hatches this way and have more hatching this way right now. I'd think you could put a board under one end and just move the board from end to end to tilt the eggs several times a day although I haven't done that.
On day 18 I put mine in a pulp carton which I punched out the cup bottoms. As the hatch started I was impressed by 2 things: 1. The chicks push out the top and don't bowl around the other eggs in the process. 2. The biological mess is contained to the carton. I know this will make cleanup so much easier. All the shells and muck are in the carton. I plan to do it again this way.
Here is a link to a recent thread on this topic. It has tons of great information on it. https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=43576 Haha, forgot to paste the link,
I use a Sportsman. I use the egg cartons from day one. Since you are turning yours by propping it up on different side it will be ok to use them from day one. The less you have to handle the eggs the better the hatch. Less chance of dropping the eggs when transferring the eggs. Some of us are more accident prone .