using egg cartons ?

[ChickenAlgebra]

We've used nothing, plates, egg trays, plastic egg cartons and pulp/paper egg cartons.

Nothing - Never again. It's a mess, the hatched chicks have no where to go to cuddle up to rest really, then they play soccer with the unhatched eggs.

Plates - Near the same as nothing. Why bother.

Egg trays - Works fine, same as egg cartons. I'm just not a huge fan of the plastic being used. More because I worry about if it's santizied enough before I use it next time.

Plastic egg cartons - I cut the bottom off or the carton CAN get too much moisture in it. But I like it otherwise. Keeps everyone in place, they unzip, pop out a bit, then come back to their slot (or a neighbor's slot sometimes if there are openings). Same issue with the egg trays unless I recycle/toss them.

Paper/pulp cartons - Same as plastic only I don't cut the bottoms off. My favorites because we can throw the mess in the compost pile and let everything break down.

The only thing with the cartons/trays is make sure you keep an eye on unzipping eggs to make sure someone doesn't knock their shell over a neighbor. Seems like we get one or two a year who manage that trick and we have lost a chick who couldn't get out of his egg as such. Since then, if someone gets a shell over another egg, we will open up even on lockdown and take that shell out. So far, no problems with that. It's usually the last few eggs hatching because there is more room to move the shell around.

 

[ginznchix]

What about somehow separating eggs by type? I have 5 or 6 different breeds/egg colors hatching and if I'm not there to see a chick come out of the egg and he wanders around the bator I won't know which egg group he came from. Does anyone ever build some kind of walls or dividers to keep groups separate at hatch? Or is that why some use boxes?

 

[PeasChisGuis]

The plastic egg trays are dishwasher safe so I plan on just throwing it in before the next hatch.

 

[cnterfld21]

I hate to bring a thread back from the dead ... LOL But I literally just started my first batch of eggs to hatch about 5 minutes ago

I am excited and so are my kids. I am using the egg carton technique so hopefully everything turns out great.

 

[loveourbirds]

I hate to bring a thread back from the dead ... LOL But I literally just started my first batch of eggs to hatch about 5 minutes ago

I am excited and so are my kids. I am using the egg carton technique so hopefully everything turns out great.

I do recommend poking holes in the cartons for ventilation. but everything should be fine.
best of luck,
brian

 

[kathycal]

I also just started a batch to hatch. I am using the paper carton method. They are in a Little Giant still air incubator. My concern is how do I make sure the eggs in the end of the carton that is lifted up and are closer to heating element don't get to hot and the ones on the lower end aren't too cold? I know they need to remain at a constant temp.

 

[loveourbirds]

I just jumped into the middle of this thead, so im not sure of their instructions.

this is my method:
cut the cartons in half lengthways. put the eggs in the cartons and set them in the incubator leaning toward one wall. when you turn lean them against the opposite wall. if you leave the carton whole you will end up with some eggs that get to hot.

 

[kathycal]

Thanks. When you lean them do you just lay it on its side or prop something under it?

 

[loveourbirds]

lay it at about a 45 degree angle against the side of the incubator. you can put something under it if you want, but I found this to be more unstable.