hilda-and-evadne Posted August 15, 2011 Share Posted August 15, 2011 Could I ask a couple of questions, please. First, what do you think about this piece of advice I found on the web, about placing the eggs into an egg carton in the incubator so that the hatchlings don't crash about into each other: http://www.sundownsilkies.com/howtohatcheggs.htm I hatch all of my duck and chicken eggs in an egg carton. 3 days before they are due to hatch, I put the eggs into an egg carton with holes cut in the bottom, the move the carton to the incubator. I find that I get a better hatch rate, even with the call ducks, and the chicks/ducks have an easier time getting out. When you just lay the eggs on the incubator floor, once a chick/duck hatches, they will roll and bang around all of the other eggs. This causes the chicks/ducklings to have to readjust themselves in the egg, causing them to get exhausted quicker, sometimes even giving up on hatching. My worry is that the carton would absorb so much of the humidity at first. Second, someone here has mentioned putting a damp cloth into the incubator about this stage - should I do that? Thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted August 15, 2011 Share Posted August 15, 2011 I foud with my mini advance incubator that the egg turning ring got in the way of the hatch and that is only thin so I'd not be inclined to use an egg carton.I also thought that the first chick to hatch spurs the others on to hatch you don't find a broody useing an egg carton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hilda-and-evadne Posted August 15, 2011 Author Share Posted August 15, 2011 you don't find a broody useing an egg carton Thank you - the leaflet that came with the incubator says to put a sheet of kitchen paper down (make hole in centre for the water pots) to help chicks stand, and I have done that and then damped down the paper so it isn't taking up any moisture that the chicks' membranes need. No idea if any of them will hatch. I did candle them three times but can't really be sure of what I am looking at. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chick wiggle Posted August 15, 2011 Share Posted August 15, 2011 I never put anything down in my incubator and they were fine. Also, i do think all the thrashing about the first hatchie (?) does, encourages the others to hatch too. Listen for cheeping in the next day or two, such an exciting time when you think, did that come from the eggs or outside and you strain and strain to hear it and then suddenly, it cheeps again! Nothing like it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
