Incubator Floor Grid

[Althepalunusual]

Hello! We are about two days away from lockdown with our first batch of chicken eggs. I am removing the turning tray per the instructions, but I realized the bottom of the incubator is a grid work of sorts over the water vessels that help with the humidity. If all goes well and some hatch, will this grid be an issue for their little claws to walk on? I know it’s only a few days tops before I can open and move them to the brooder, but I wanted to check before we’re in lockdown.

Also, the manual says to spray the eggs, but the humidity has been reading in good range—I’ve also read spraying the eggs is unnecessary risk/may affect the chicks poorly.

Thank you!

 

[Debbie292d]

I do not spray the eggs and I hatch silkies which have a very hard shell, almost like porcelain. I believe certain breeds of ducks and geese need their eggs sprayed. I just up the humidity to 70% for lockdown and that does it!

I always use rubber shelf lining. You can get a roll of that probably at the dollar store or Walmart, places like that. When done, I throw it in the washing machine and air dry it.

Wishing you a great hatch!

 

[Althepalunusual]

I do not spray the eggs and I hatch silkies which have a very hard shell, almost like porcelain. I believe certain breeds of ducks and geese need their eggs sprayed. I just up the humidity to 70% for lockdown and that does it!

I always use rubber shelf lining. You can get a roll of that probably at the dollar store or Walmart, places like that. When done, I throw it in the washing machine and air dry it.

Wishing you a great hatch!

Hello! Thank you!

Have you noticed if the floor addition messes with the humidity levels in the incubator? Again, I will have a nonslip floor in the brooder, so this flooring question is just for the hatch days in the incubator specifically.

 

[nuthatched]

Get the foam covered mesh cupboard liner, it's nice.

 

[Huntmaster]

I always use rubber shelf lining.

so this flooring question is just for the hatch days in the incubator specifically.

This is for the incubator floor.