I hand turn mine laying on their side and when I tried to use the carton it put them standing up and down rather than sideways so I took a toilet paper roll and cut it into rings and placed the eggs each on one sideways. It worked great keeping the eggs on their side and no kick ball with the baby chicks.
I have done it both ways, and seriously...I don't really like the egg carton method. I think I've lost more chicks that way (couldn't get out). I've also been doing a lot of reading up on that, and I see that a lot of the successful farmers are just laying them down when incubating. I guess that seems right, cause when the Hen hatches them, they ain't standing up an twirling around.
As Ranchhand said, be sure and cut the sides of the cartons down - otherwise when they pip and zip, they'll just hit the side of the carton, and the carton can also impede the top of the egg shell flipping open if the carton sides are too high. I try to make sure that the full top half of the egg is above the carton.
I like the idea that if the eggs are upright when incubated, they should remain upright the last three days for hatching.
If the eggs are on their sides, being hand turned throughout incubation, then it's probably better to hatch them on their sides. If they are in an automatic turner, they are near upright throughout incubation and will be oriented in that plane.
It's really simple logic, and a dash of physics, (which I failed spectacularly), don't get too confused. Sift all the info you get and find what works for you.
One word of caution- if setting in fiberboard cartons, keep a very close eye on the humidity and make sure the water never touches the cartons.
If the eggs are on their sides, being hand turned throughout incubation, then it's probably better to hatch them on their sides. If they are in an automatic turner, they are near upright throughout incubation and will be oriented in that plane.
It's really simple logic, and a dash of physics, (which I failed spectacularly), don't get too confused. Sift all the info you get and find what works for you.
One word of caution- if setting in fiberboard cartons, keep a very close eye on the humidity and make sure the water never touches the cartons.
I have been wondering that, thanks. I'll go with styrafoam.
i like the idea of the toilet paper roll cut just to keep the egg still. i have an auto turner so the eggs are upright, so i should put them upright to hatch? or on the sides? all directions and whatnot say to put on the sides, but someone just mentioned they should stay in same position they have been in all along.. now im confused