I'm going to ask a question that may seem dumb to some of you experts. I'm hatching eggs for the second time in my incubator. 1st time I had 23 to start, narrowed down to 12 on day 16, and out of those 12, all 12 hatched. I would say pretty good for the first time. This time I decided to try my automatic egg turner that came with my incubator. First of all I don't even understand how the thing turns the eggs successfully. But here is my question......When it comes time for the chicks to start hatching do I simply unplug it and they hatch in their little spot? or on day 18 should I take the egg turner out and let them hatch as I did the others. Thanks for any advice on this issue. You guys are great!!!!
I would take them out of the egg turner and place them on their sides as you did with the previous hatch. If you left them in the turner the chicks could become trapped in it when they have hatched. Also as hatch can become messy it would be a real pain cleaning all the hatch gunk off the turner. Good luck with your hatch
I'm with Yorkshire, did one hatch leaving turner in thinking the temp would be same at that same height. That may be true but had to keep an eye on the chicks after one got it's leg trapped between rails. Was nerve wracking and wouldn't do it again. Since those first years I've had 100% hatches so the theory of temp even if true was sight enough and unimportant at that late stage. I've even read recommendation of turning heat down 0,5F for hatch. Lowering egg to bottom of incubator does that.
I have to say I'm even confused as to how the egg turner actually turns the eggs. I haven't stared at it long enough to actually see it in motion.
It turns them too slow for the naked eye, about 4-6 times per day, each time about 45 degrees. x2 12/12 first hatch is very good! Hope this one is just as good!
