I put 48 eggs from my own hens into the incubator I bought, and now I am not sure how often to turn them. The Agriculture bulletin on hatching eggs says to turn them at least 3 times a day. But my sister, who has hatched eggs successfully, says not to open the incubator more than once a day to turn them, because it cools them off too much.

Anyone in here with experience that may have some wisdom they want to share, I am in need of it. Thanks

-- daffodyllady (daffodyllady@yahoo.com), March 16, 2002

Answers

Hi, I take a piece of 2" by 4" lumber about a foot long and put it under one side in the morning-put it under the other side in the afternoon. At night put it in the back when I get up I put it in the front-don't open the incubator except to put water in it. Daryll

-- Daryll in NW FLA (twincrk@hotmail.com), March 16, 2002.

I've had success turning four times a day, three times a day, twice a day, and even once a day. I figure once a day is enough, since the real thing only turns them once a day.

-- Bear (Barelyknow@aol.com), March 16, 2002.

I've incubated eggs several times. If I only turn them once a day, then only about 50% hatch. When I turn them twice a day(10am & 10pm), about 98% hatch. A broody hen gets off of her eggs atleast twice a day to relieve herself and eat and drink. I figure she stays off atleast as long as it takes for me to turn the eggs in my incubator. But do make sure that you keep water in the bottom at all times. I have also had great success with hatching geese, turkey, guinea, and chicken eggs all in the same incubator at the same time. They do take different lengths of time to hatch though. Hope this helps..........

-- Jodie in TX (stanchnmotion@yahoo.com), March 16, 2002.

Daff, lol My instructions in my turner says to turn at least three times in 24 hours. And not let eggs touch each other. I have had about 25% hatch not turning at all. The instructions say it's important not to have the eggs lay on the same side overnight. So they recommend turning an uneven number of times in 24 hours. Linda

-- Linda (awesomegodchristianministries@yahoo.com), March 17, 2002.

I turn mine morning and night, for an 80% to 100% hatch. I try not to turn them the same way every day, as I have heard the chalzae (sp?) might wind up and damage the hatchability. I don't know if it's true or not, but I have always turned them in a back and forth motion.

-- Terri (hooperterri@prodigy.net), March 17, 2002.

OH! I try to check the temperature 3x a day, especially as the growing chicks start putting out heat themselves as they get older. I can't if I am gone during the day, of course. I have also heard that it helps the chicks to position themselves if the big end is up the week before hatching, but I haven't had a chance to try it as I haven't had to hatch chicks for a few years since one of the hens will go broody now. I DID have a couple hatch out of the side of the egg in the incubator: I had to help them crack the shell so they could get out.

-- Terri (hooperterri@prodigy.net), March 17, 2002.

Hi,

The first time I incubated eggs, the borrowed incubator had a turner with it so I didn't have to worry. This time, I'm turning the eggs at least 3 times a day according to the directions on Chick Scope (a website that deals with school hatching projects.

One of the other posts mentions that the eggs should not be touching each other. My instructions did not address this issue. My question is ...Don't they touch each other when under the hen?

Another question I have is how do you know the humidity level is ok?

-- LBD, Maryland (lavenderbluedilly@hotmail.com), March 17, 2002.

I read a discussion on this topic last spring "somewhere". One made the argument that turning is not necessary, that the end does not really turn her eggs.

Hatching eggs is one of my favorite "hobbies". I have two of the large cabinet incubators, and during the summer they are usually both full of eggs, with eggs crammed into every nook and cranny besides. Last summer I decided to experiment - - the article aroused my curiousity - and I had the means to see for myself.

The incubators turn automatically - - so one incubator I left turning, and the other I turned off the turning mechanism. I didn't see any appreciable difference in the hatch percentages or the health of the chicks. I have to agree that perhaps turning is not necessary.

Now. . . . I also have a "hatching" cabinet, ( it and one of the incubators I bought for 1/5 of their value from an ex-emu breeder). Last summer I would put the eggs in it for incubating too. I always write the date the eggs are due to hatch on the top of each egg with a felt tip marker - - before I put them in the trays, so when I had eggs incubating in the hatching cabinet - which has no turner, I would turn them once a day - -marked end up one morning - - down the next, and I always knew which were turned/or not.

I guess the answer to the question is - - whatever you prefer. If you are more comfortable turning - I would say once a day is plenty.

Judy

-- J McFerrin (JMcFerrin@aol.com), March 17, 2002.

My incubator is small and the eggs lay on their side. I try to turn every eight hours, but am not compulsive about it. Water is important. If you candle ( look inside using a light) you can tell the air sac is getting bigger and the chick will be too dry to turn inside the shell to hatch. I put an X on one side and an O on the other.

-- Robin in East Texas (Southpawrobin1@aol.com), March 18, 2002.