Taking eggs out of turner tonight, should I lay something on the wire?

[WillowWoodsFarm]

Today will be my last time turning my eggs and I was curious if I should put something down on top of the wire in the incubator? Also, I read somewhere that you can mist the eggs with some water before lockdown to help raise the humidity...is this something I should do? I have water in the bottom of the incubator along with a wet paper towel. The humidity is at about 65% and I was going to put in a wet sponge as well. Ugh, my stomach is in knots

Thanks to everyone who has giving me great advice already and to the ones who will!

 

[ReikiStar]

Personally, a hard wire bottom is not what I want my first introduction to the world to be on, so we use one of those foam mesh shelf liners and then paper towels on top of that so we can keep it clean after the eggs hatch and while others are yet to hatch. Gives the chicks a softer and non-slippery surface (help them get their land legs) and let's us keep it clean during the hatch.

 

[Gypsy07]

I like to put down a square of kitchen towel for them. I think they'd probably be okay with the plastic mesh tray though...

 

[biddybird]

I always put down paper towels, makes clean up much easier and seems better for the chicks to push around on when they hatch.

 

[Gypsy07]

Quote:
Ooh, it's Biddy! How's Tripod doing? Or was s/he called Scooper? Or Trinity? I just remember all the suggestions. Is s/he still okay?

 

[ContessaKris]

I don't have a turner but I have mine in an egg carton. Should I remove that before lockdown and use the stuff you suggested? Or can they hatch in there?

 

[jm93030]

Quote:
I LIKE HATCHING MINES IN THE EGG CARTONS

IT REALLY MAKE IT EASY FOR THEM TO GET OUT AND THE EGGS DONT GET KICK ALL AROUND , YOU CAN LOOSE A CHICK OR TWO IF THE EGG GETS FLIP OVER AND THE CHICK SUFOCATES.

 

[WillowWoodsFarm]

Ok, I am going to lay down a kitchen towel for them. What do you guys think about the humidity...what should it be at? Everyone seems to have a different idea at what the humidity should be. It is currently at about 65%. Should I raise it?

 

[cmom]

I put mine on the wire. I take the chicks out of the incubators as soon as they hatch and into the brooder boxes which have the course pine shavings in them and after they fluff out then they go into a brooder cabinet. It also has wire in the bottom but I do put some paper towels in them for the first couple of days.

 

[Christie Rhae]

Quote:
I LIKE HATCHING MINES IN THE EGG CARTONS

IT REALLY MAKE IT EASY FOR THEM TO GET OUT AND THE EGGS DONT GET KICK ALL AROUND , YOU CAN LOOSE A CHICK OR TWO IF THE EGG GETS FLIP OVER AND THE CHICK SUFOCATES.

I thought I read somewhere about cutting the bottom out of egg cartons for air? Is this necessary? I am hatching my first batch laying on their sides on that foam type shelf liner. Seems soft and cushy and they will still be able to get a grip to stand up.
Maybe next time I will try egg cartons.