Standing up my eggs

[JacquesKinderchicks]

Quick question: How do you get your eggs to "stand up" with the large side up? I'm using a Brinsea incubator so I have the black tray and metal spacers. Can I use something to prop them? Something they can lean on?? I don't want to put pressure on the eggs to have the metal spacers holding them up tightly.

Also on day 18, is it best to remove these metal spacers? Let the eggs lay down? Can I do this on day 18 morning? And what is the best cloth to put down under the eggs.

 

[nuthatched]

Lay them down and put the foam mesh shelf liner under them

 

[Ridgerunner]

Quick question: How do you get your eggs to "stand up" with the large side up? I'm using a Brinsea incubator so I have the black tray and metal spacers. Can I use something to prop them? Something they can lean on?? I don't want to put pressure on the eggs to have the metal spacers holding them up tightly.

I don't have a Brinsea incubator. Can you give me a link to the same model incubator you are using so I can see what you are talking about. I don't understand what metal spacers you are talking about.

Also on day 18, is it best to remove these metal spacers? Let the eggs lay down?

Again, which model are you using. Do you have an owner's manual? What does it say about lockdown.

Many of us lay the eggs flat during this phase. Many incubator manufacturers recommend that. That's the way I do mine. But some people like to hatch standing up with the pointy side down. The way I've seen to do this is to take and egg carton and cut away a lot of the carton where it holds the eggs so the pipped chick doesn't pip where there is egg carton material. I'm not sure of that would work in your specific incubator, they are all different.

Can I do this on day 18 morning?

The general recommendation is to go to lockdown after 18 days of incubation. Locking down at 17-1/2 days instead of waiting until exactly 18 days will not matter. Sone people lockdown a full day early with few problems.

And what is the best cloth to put down under the eggs.

What does your owner's manual say? What came with your incubator. Brinsea makes different models so different modes may need something different. My concern on this is airflow. Different things may affect that in different models. Mine (not a Brinsea) came with precut 1/4" hardware cloth that goes on the floor to give them traction without affecting airflow. Some people use shelving paper or such to give traction but that would not work in mine.

 

[JacquesKinderchicks]

Thanks for the info! The model Brinsea I am using is "Octagon 20 Advance". It is very old but holds temperature great! I've had it running several days to check this. I do have an additional thermometer and humidity gauge inside to keep track. Because of the age, not sure if there was ever a cloth that came with it. I will remove the metal pieces before lockdown. Another suggestion on this forum was to add foam mesh shelf liner. Thanks for the suggestion! Sounds like a great idea.