Wet paper cartons in lockdown.......Never mind - solved.

[aart]

Eggs are on day 19 lockdown, setting in cut down and open on the bottom paper egg cartons.

The paper carton has become saturated with water from wet paper towels below the mesh.

Are the damp cartons a problem? Should I change them out?

Hoping someone's online now that can advise from experience.

TIA

 

[lazy gardener]

I would remove them. Can you take them out and lay the eggs flat? It sounds like, even if you did that, the paper towels are too close to the mesh and will be wicking moisture onto what ever is above it.

 

[lazy gardener]

I would remove them. Can you take them out and lay the eggs flat? It sounds like, even if you did that, the paper towels are too close to the mesh and will be wicking moisture onto what ever is above it. Any water in contact with the eggs may cause them to take on more moisture and cause the chicks to pip into liquid instead of air in the air cell. Good luck. What is your humidity and how do your air cells look?

 

[aart]

Yeah, I took them out replaced them with dry ones and shimmed up the mesh so the wet towels wouldn't touch the cartons.

Thanks!

 

[aart]

Air cells on day 18 were a bit smaller than ideal, but weights showed an average of 13% loss.

Lockdown humidity is about 60-65%. Prelockdown humidity was an average of about 35%.

 

[lazy gardener]

Sounds like you're good to go! Happy hatching!

 

[aart]

Sounds like you're good to go! Happy hatching!

Thanks!