Incubating turkey eggs

I've got 4 turkey eggs in the bator to test things out but I have seen a couple varying opinions and not finding anything in my turkey book. What's the proper humidity for turkey eggs? I know for chicken eggs you want between 50-65% until pipping is that not recommended for turkey eggs? I've got a few chicken eggs in with 4 turkey eggs right now, I'm not seeing much for movement but having trouble candling the turkey eggs successfully. I read that someone doesn't candle turkey eggs but only twice during incubation, day 14 and day 25. Thoughts on that? I candled yesterday which was day 10 and I just saw big masses. Almost thought there may have been movement but could have just been me. My plan, since I've only got one "good" bator, was to do both these turkeys and chickens together and then when the lockdown day comes for the chickens move them to my other bator for hatching. I've also got a dozen turkey eggs (about 7 days old for the first couple) that I want to stick in a bator but wanna make sure I'm doing it right for the turkeys.

I personally shoot for 25 to 35 during incubation. And raise 65 to 70 for hatch.

But if that humidity works that you have for your chicken eggs I wouldn't change a thing.

They incubate the same as chicken eggs only 28 days.

If you wanted to hatch at the same time set your turkey eggs and a week later set chicken eggs.

Then you could have chicks to teach the poults to eat and drink.

Good luck

I clandle my turkey eggs on day 9 and 22. You shouldn't move the eggs in the last 3 days of hatching.

My Temperature & humidity:

day 1-7: 37,8°C - 60%
day 8-24: 38,3°C - 60%
day 25-28: 38,3°C - 80%

I have hatch rates above 90%.

austria89 said:

I clandle my turkey eggs on day 9 and 22. You shouldn't move the eggs in the last 3 days of hatching.

My Temperature & humidity:

day 1-7: 37,8°C - 60%
day 8-24: 38,3°C - 60%
day 25-28: 38,3°C - 80%

I have hatch rates above 90%.

Click to expand...

What works for you and your location does not necessarily work for someone else and their location. By all means you should continue to do what works for you.

As @feedman77 says the 55% humidity during the incubation process may be too high in this case. I have had as high as 100% hatches using 30 - 35% humidity during incubation and 60 - 70% humidity during lockdown. Using 80% humidity at lockdown where I am located would assure an almost totally complete failure to hatch. Using 60% humidity during the incubation period at my location would prevent the eggs from developing a large enough air cell and would also result in an almost 0% hatch.

Keep doing what works for you but don't expect it to work for everyone else.

Quote:



Humidity does not have such an impact as temperature.
What influences should have localization to a closed system? If 50-60% humidity result in a 0% hatch, you have definitely another problem, maybe too low temperature, unstable temperature, bad fertility, germs,...
The exact way to determine the optimal humidity is to weight the eggs. They should lose 10-16% weight.

austria89 said:

Humidity does not have such an impact as temperature.
What influences should have localization to a closed system? If 50-60% humidity result in a 0% hatch, you have definitely another problem, maybe too low temperature, unstable temperature, bad fertility, germs,...
The exact way to determine the optimal humidity is to weight the eggs. They should lose 10-16% weight.

Click to expand...

I am going to assume that you are at an elevation that is near sea level which is the only thing that I can think of that would allow you to be able to hatch successfully at the parameters you stated.

I also know that your stated hatching temperatures are not what anyone recommends. I understand your location and why you use °C but here we use °F. The recommended temperatures for incubation days 1 through 25 is 99.5°F. The recommended temperature for lockdown and hatching is 98.5°F. The reason for the reduced temperature for the last 3 days is the cooler air will hold more oxygen which is needed by the hatching poults.

I personally have never seen an incubator or hatcher that is a closed system. Local conditions do have an effect. The local condition that probably has the biggest effect is altitude.

Quote: I live on 1520 ft.

The altitude does not influance the humidity only temperature does.

Quote: Cool air contains the same amount of oxygen like warm air -> about 20,95%. Temperature does only change the density of the air.


99,5°F -> 98,5°F -> density increases by 0,179% That wouldn't even measurable.

Okay, I am working on trying to lower my humidity now. I myself am practically at sea level, like 33 feet lol.