better hatch rates with autoturning or hand turning?

[gryeyes]

I have never turned eggs by hand. I depend upon my incubators for turning the eggs. I work and am away from home at least 13 hours a day (90 minute commute each way and a 10 hour work day with an hour lunch break) so I need the auto-turning features.

Therefore, I have no comparison about the difference in hatch rates. I just happen to like not being bothered to turn eggs, the incubators stay closed until or if I candle eggs, and I have two styles of incubators; one has eggs on their sides and the other holds the eggs upright. The former only holds 7 eggs and the latter holds up to 20 to 24 eggs. I have three of each style. Never checked the hatch rate, because the numbers of eggs are so different. (Not too good with math, y'see.)

I want to touch the eggs as little as possible.

 

[Mrs. Feathers]

I have done both and like most things in life I have found benefits and downfalls to both.
The turner is certainly more convenient however, ours faulted on one hatch and we did not catch it right away...lesson to us was still check and note the markings on the eggs to make sure turner is working. The hatch was okay but I worried about it all the way through.
I also prefer to touch the eggs and turn them myself...and also agree that it is nice to get the air flowing just as if Mama hen were to hop off for her feed/drink/poop breaks.
If we are able to hand turn we do ...if life is busy and we are likely to miss turns for that hatch we use the turner.
Haven't noticed a big difference in the hatch rates.
I personally prefer to have them hatch out of the turner so on lockdown day I remove the turner and place the eggs in the incubator. That is just my preference and I have had them hatch out fine in our out of the turner (with the turner off at lockdown).
Good luck with your hatch.

 

[sunnyllama]

I, too, feel like hand turning adds to the experience of hatching. There is something about carefully picking up and turning those little eggs that are fostering life, right in your hands! This opinion may be too "girly" for some, especially on the farm scene but I cant explain how it makes me feel

 

[LaynaDon95]

I just turned mine for the night. I love it. I feel like I'm holding little babies in my hands, and it's only day one.

 

[sunnyllama]

 

[williamsl77]

I am definitely impressed with how many people do hand turn!

 

[Arielle]

I hand turn because the turner was too pricey at the feed store. SO I have manged without but would like to get one someday. Handturning is very personal to me; I know what is going on with the eggs; I have smashed a few, lifting and moving to another location, so I changed how I move them and haved smashed one since. I tried putting eggs in a carton and tilting the incubator but this was not to my liking as my homemade incubator is homemade and laden with 10 jars of water as heat sinks. Eggs laid on their side and hand turned do better in this incubator.

I wash my hands and dry on a clean cloth before turning. No wonder I have chapped hands! I'm always having to wash for some reason . . . .

 

[1keegan]

We're hand turning out of necessity- this borrowed incubator doesn't have a turner.
But I fully agree with LaynaDon95- it feels like holding baby chicks in our hands, and makes us look forward to hatch day.
Maybe after 20 days we'll be tired of it, but it's only Day 2 for us, and it's still fun!

I just turned mine for the night. I love it. I feel like I'm holding little babies in my hands, and it's only day one.

 

[yinepu]

We're hand turning out of necessity- this borrowed incubator doesn't have a turner.
But I fully agree with LaynaDon95- it feels like holding baby chicks in our hands, and makes us look forward to hatch day.
Maybe after 20 days we'll be tired of it, but it's only Day 2 for us, and it's still fun!

lol.. try hatching emu eggs.. 49 days of turning...

 

[LaynaDon95]

lol 1keegan. I'm using a borrowed incubator without a turner and it's day 2 for me also...
See you Feb. 11th!!