Setting eggs for lockdown

[SpoiledHens]

I'm attempting my first hatch and am using a homemade incubator, the Styrofoam force air cooler type. I'm currently at day 14, I've candled and culled the eggs. I started with 18 eggs and after candling am down to 12 that appear to be developing.

I've been manually turning the eggs daily (6-7 times a day), I made the turner by using two 12 count Styrofoam egg cartons that pivot on a 1" piece of PVC pipe.

The question that I have is for day 18 lockdown. Is it best to keep the eggs in more or less an upright position (using a hatch tray) or would it be better to lay the eggs on their side for the final few day,

Any help would be greatly appreciated !!!!!!!

 

[AmyLynn2374]

I'm attempting my first hatch and am using a homemade incubator, the Styrofoam force air cooler type. I'm currently at day 14, I've candled and culled the eggs. I started with 18 eggs and after candling am down to 12 that appear to be developing.

I've been manually turning the eggs daily (6-7 times a day), I made the turner by using two 12 count Styrofoam egg cartons that pivot on a 1" piece of PVC pipe.

The question that I have is for day 18 lockdown. Is it best to keep the eggs in more or less an upright position (using a hatch tray) or would it be better to lay the eggs on their side for the final few day,

Any help would be greatly appreciated !!!!!!!

People do it both ways. I prefer mine laying down on their sides. I mark the air cells so when I go into lockdown I have an idea of where they should pip and I face that side up so I can see. Many people prefer to hatch upright in the cartons and have equally successful hatches. If you hatch upright you may want to keep a closer eye toward the bottoms of the eggs for malepositioned pippers because they are harder to see and can suffocate quicker if they are against the side of the carton.

 

[SpoiledHens]

Thanks for the information. So they pip at the air sac line? Do you know if they tend to pip at the low side of the air sac or the high side of the sac? I planned on using a cardboard egg carton for a hatch tray, I cut it way down and shortened it in height. But the more I look at it the more I think that it doesn't seem to safe once the chicks hatch. Seems like their little legs could get caught and possibly trapped between the cup like holders.

Would it be okay to just lay them on their side and elevate the air sac end a little higher by leaning them against a rolled up towel or material ?

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Thanks for the information. So they pip at the air sac line? Do you know if they tend to pip at the low side of the air sac or the high side of the sac? I planned on using a cardboard egg carton for a hatch tray, I cut it way down and shortened it in height. But the more I look at it the more I think that it doesn't seem to safe once the chicks hatch. Seems like their little legs could get caught and possibly trapped between the cup like holders.

Would it be okay to just lay them on their side and elevate the air sac end a little higher by leaning them against a rolled up towel or material ?

You can, but if the air cells are adequate size there's really no need to do more than lay them on their sides. I have an LG and I put the rubber shelf liner down on my screen for comfort and grip after they hatch. They generally pip in the vicinity of the dip in the air cell. Sometimes higher up and sometimes slightly lower, but generally it's the side that the air cell is drawn down on.

 

[SpoiledHens]

Thanks, I think I'll go with your advise and just lay them down. I will also be using the cushioned shelf liner. Again, thanks, this is a learning process for me !!!!

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Thanks, I think I'll go with your advise and just lay them down. I will also be using the cushioned shelf liner. Again, thanks, this is a learning process for me !!!!

Good luck!