Egg carton question

[Fred's Hens]

I also turned the eggs 90 degrees at least once per day so that they were getting tipped in all directions.

Yup. Only do this every 3 days, but for the same reasons. Rotate each egg from 12 to 3 on the clock. 90 degrees.

 

[ThreeLittleCritters]

People develop their own methods. Whatever you find effective. I find that my system works for me. It's all compromises. Shipped eggs equals= sit still in cool place for two days. Set in incubator, do not turn until day 2. That's as complicated as I wish to make it.

As for incubating in the upright position, it has had better results, for me. That's key. For me. Yes, I leave them in the egg cartons for hatching. I would not want to lay down eggs just before hatch and possibly confuse the chicks who are positioning themselves for hatch.

Again, this is my method. I also like to incubate at very low humidity. Some call it the "dry method". Actually, that means 30-35% for me. I don't push the high humidity until day 19. I also don't believe in high heat the last three days. I turn the heat down to 98.5. The eggs themselves generate a lot of heat the last 6 days. This is the time I think a lot of folks may be "losing" their chicks. A bit cooler temps seems to help with many issues.

I had not heard that about the lower temp at hatch. Thank you! I am doing the dry method as well. I saw that it can help get the air cells to stay in the correct position. I think that future hatches will be less stressful than this one is for me. This is my first one so everything is new and I've read so much that I'm not sure what will be the best methods for me. Do you leave all eggs in the carton for hatching or just shipped eggs? Thanks again for all of the info! I appreciate it!

 

[wlhtx]

Yup.  Only do this every 3 days, but for the same reasons.  Rotate each egg from 12 to 3 on the clock.  90 degrees.

Hmm... I hadn't thought about doing that, but I think I will. I can't tilt my entire incubator from side to side because I also have goose eggs incubating right now and they have to lay on their sides - but I like the idea of the extra little turn of the chicken eggs.

I'm also trying to do the "dry method" - which was working great when I just had the 5 geese eggs in. But as soon as I added all my chicken eggs (I set 39) in the styrofoam cartons, my humidity has shot up. I can't seem to get it back down below 55% - even with a small bowl of rice in there... I guess it's just that my bator is so full?

 

[Aacre]

Hmm... I hadn't thought about doing that, but I think I will. I can't tilt my entire incubator from side to side because I also have goose eggs incubating right now and they have to lay on their sides - but I like the idea of the extra little turn of the chicken eggs.

I'm also trying to do the "dry method" - which was working great when I just had the 5 geese eggs in. But as soon as I added all my chicken eggs (I set 39) in the styrofoam cartons, my humidity has shot up. I can't seem to get it back down below 55% - even with a small bowl of rice in there... I guess it's just that my bator is so full?

Are you using regular rice or instant rice? I've found that regular didn't help me either. Have you tried dry washcloths?

 

[lazy gardener]

What about using some of the silica crystals that they use in potting soil? Or using a few dessicant packets that come in pill bottles?

 

[wlhtx]

It's regular rice and it has worked a little in that it had brought the humidity down from the mid 60s (where it was for the first 12 hours after I out all the chicken eggs in) to the mid 50s. But I would like it to be lower than that... I will try the washcloths, at least until I can find some of the silicone packets.... I KNOW I have to have some of those around the house. Hmm... Ooohhh - I think I have a couple packs in the Elf on a Shelf box I can steal!