Zero turn/ not turning eggs?

[CajunFeatherz]

Has anyone out there ever successfully done a zero turn hatch (where the eggs are incubated without turning)? I know there is the one specific article that exists, which is very compelling. I also looked through the threads a bit but haven't seen much on the topic from firsthand experience.

I just hatched a batch of eggs doing zero turn, by accident, and wanted to share my experience. I'm also about to hatch a batch of expensive Crested Cream Legbars, and considering doing zero turn again, but was hoping to get some more feedback.

In my recent zero turn hatch, I stole a ton of eggs out from under three hens that went broody and loaded them all into the incubator. I didn't candle, I didn't count, I didn't turn. This was the end of a majorly huge hatch season and I was just exasperated with hatching (did I mention I'm literally about to hatch again?? Lol). So I threw them in (several nests with eggs of all stages found and cleaned out and deposited over several days into the inc) and waited it out. After about 17 days, they started hatching, in total it took about 23 because apparently some eggs were just straight fresh. 11 hatched of 30, and I now wish I'd have done more to confirm their status since it seems the zero turn WORKED. However, I don't know how well it really worked since I don't know how many of the other eggs were duds, not viable, etc.

So I guess what I'm asking for is, has anyone out there done zero turn hatches with more than about a 30-50% rate?

 

[RubyNala97]

The most important days for turning are 2-8. So it sounds like since your eggs were under broodies that they may have gotten turned adequately enough before you put them in the incubator to hatch. If it was better to not turn them then birds in nature would not turn them. Lol. Since you are a Hatcher I’m sure you know the benefits of turning so I won’t get into all that. But consider that these eggs were being turned before you moved them.

 

[MichelleBelle]

I just tried a no-turn incubation and 85% of my eggs hatched. Of the eggs that didn't hatch, a third of them weren't fertilized. I'm quite surprised by these results, and thought I'd share them. Did you try any more zero-turn incubations after the accidental one? What were your results?

 

[aart]

Is this the great new thing......'Zero-Turn Incubation'?
Never heard of it before.

 

[HatchCraft]

I'm really interested in this subject. I have had very mix results in the past from 100% with button quail to 50% with chickens. There are so many variables including the quality of the eggs and the position they are incubated in. I plan to try some more experiments with no-turn this year. I would love to hear other peoples results. It would seem if one egg could hatch without turning then all eggs should have the same potential. Allowing the chickens to sit on the eggs several days before putting them in the incubator is cheating. That an old country trick guaranteed to improve your hatch rate.

 

[aart]

@WVduckchick @Pyxis @Redhead Rae
Y'all ever heard of this 'zero turn' thing?

 

[Redhead Rae]

@WVduckchick @Pyxis @Redhead Rae
Y'all ever heard of this 'zero turn' thing?

Nope, first time. I know some people who hand turn have gotten away with not turning for a few days while they are away, but never heard of not turning at all. I just got auto turners because I'm forgetful.

 

[WVduckchick]

I’ve not heard of anyone doing it on purpose, except as an experiment.

@PaulX found some wonderful lab studies on the effects of turning. Maybe he will pop in and link them here. If not, I’ll try to find them again.

 

[Mosey2003]

My turner wasn't working and I didn't realize. Out of 24 eggs set, 4 hatched and 2 died shortly after. I would never do it on purpose.

 

[007Sean]

@WVduckchick @Pyxis @Redhead Rae
Y'all ever heard of this 'zero turn' thing?

I've heard of it and probably read the same article...there have been a few studies done at various universities on 'zero turn' incubation. I wouldn't consider not turning the eggs. Even with turning you sometimes get hatching defects, without turning I think would increase deformities. just my