better hatch rates with autoturning or hand turning?

[milakegrl]

Last spring I hand turned my shipped eggs (SEVERAL batches), I too enjoyed holding the babies in their shells. BUT I believe I had problem with the humidity fluctuation (which I read can cause thick membrane), from opening the bator while turning 20+eggs, & some of the chicks had trouble hatching. OR from the fact they were shipped- I also read here shipped eggs have a thicker membrane from the bumpy traveling (I can't find the link w/the new set up). I hand hatched a couple (after losing some & I could see they were having trouble- not for the impatient or faint at heart, but here is a fantastic thread I'll put at the bottom if anyone needs it) and the inner membrane was so thick and gross. I am definitely not an expert - my knowledge comes from this forum & 1 spring of hatching (my rate was not the best either). SO, I hatched shipped eggs & hand turned with a not so great hatch rate. There was a short time where I overlapped setting eggs and didn't turn at all. The hatch rates were pretty much the same. This time (I'm actually on day 2 today!) I have a turner & shipped eggs. REALLY hoping for a better result. And REALLY excited to try again! I have blue, blue/green & olive eggs. Daddy roo is pure Ameraucana! Yea!! Hoping for blue layers at last!


https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/9316/intervention-helping-your-chicks-hatch

 

[spartacus_63]

Eggs don't know if they are hand turned or mechanically turned.

There have been studies done on when best to start turning, stop turning and the optimal degree to turn.

I use a flat egg turner (my eggs lay flat and are basically rolled back & forth) which is counter intuitive to some of the studies, but I maintain high hatch rates, and I have never witnessed hens that turn their eggs on end.

 

[gimmie birdies]

I have a hand turning still air. I would hope the eggs can sense the love in the hand turning, plus I coo to the eggs as they are being turned.

 

[NatJ]

Eggs don't know if they are hand turned or mechanically turned.

There have been studies done on when best to start turning, stop turning and the optimal degree to turn.

I use a flat egg turner (my eggs lay flat and are basically rolled back & forth) which is counter intuitive to some of the studies, but I maintain high hatch rates, and I have never witnessed hens that turn their eggs on end.

This thread is almost a decade old.

I have no idea WHY so many old threads are now appearing on the bottom of my screen, but I'm guessing it happened to you too

 

[PDXJULES]

Is it a lame question? I also wondered if maybe eggs being shipped would make a difference. Like maybe the autoturner is better for shipped eggs because it keeps them more upright. But not shipped eggs would not matter as much.

Anyway... even just philosophical thoughts would be appreciated. 8)

The auto-turner in my incubator is roller bars - going all one direction like a conveyor belt... which seems it can can really cause weirdness when eggs are different sizes and weight. leave them in a pile at one end!

I used the turner just 1 night after a 4 day uptight rest, 1 after opening - with tipping the carton avery couple hours, then 3 upright in the 'bator with tilting. Then put the bars in and eggs on - with a couple smaller ones on top. Rook a deep breath and went to bed. Auto turning is good, right?

Woke up at 5 AM day 4 with dread for my eggs. I thought the turner bars just too much action, so i got up early to unplug that part,. I let eggs rest again, on their sides a few hours, then got them upright again in cups, for a week of gentle tipping, and last week also hand turning til lockdown.

Air cells I could not see the 3rd day - except 1 loose one - mostly looked good day 8...including one i cracked and repaired with nail polish! By day 17 I removed just 3 of 18 eggs, 1 undeveloped, 2 quitters. A few more are not large embryos and may be quitters - or slow. Will know better this weekend. Layers of color on shells sure makes it hard to see veining.
Its day 19 and i see no movement or pips yet...tho there were large dark masses visible with decent air cells day 17. Hope i did the right thing for these shipped cold season eggs. Wish us luck over the weekend!

 

[PDXJULES]

This thread is almost a decade old.

I have no idea WHY so many old threads are now appearing on the bottom of my screen, but I'm guessing it happened to you too

Many new Members looking for info, combing whatever comes up in searches, and interacting by topic within the thread - that bumps older conversations into recently active status.

 

[spartacus_63]

I have a hand turning still air. I would hope the eggs can sense the love in the hand turning, plus I coo to the eggs as they are being turned.

When I candled my eggs yesterday, I coo'd to them...just in case.