Candling Turkey Eggs, and the science of turning eggs...

[R2elk]

We aren't exactly scientific with our turning. We just attempt to roll it gently 180ish each time every 8 hours. We also have three batches all on the same schedule so we make sure to do them all the same. Once they get to one side of the pan we reverse and they roll back the other way to the other side. Prob takes about 6 rotations to get all the way from side to side.

Read the section about turning eggs in Hatching Eggs 101 by @Sally Sunshine

It explains why you need to turn the eggs in the opposite direction on alternate rotations when you turn it rather than always turning it in the same direction.

 

[Deep Roots]

Very helpful. Is it normal if all the eggs look the same? At day 15 every egg we picked up in batch one looked identical inside. The ones we thought were prob duds all now look like the other ones. Just seems a statistical anomaly if all our very first batch not having a clue what we are doing all got halfway developing.

 

[R2elk]

Very helpful. Is it normal if all the eggs look the same? At day 15 every egg we picked up in batch one looked identical inside. The ones we thought were prob duds all now look like the other ones. Just seems a statistical anomaly if all our very first batch not having a clue what we are doing all got halfway developing.

If all are fertile and all the eggs were put in the incubator at the same time, it is normal for all of the eggs to be at the same stage at the same time.

 

[Deep Roots]

If all are fertile and all the eggs were put in the incubator at the same time, it is normal for all of the eggs to be at the same stage at the same time.

Just seems crazy all would make it.

 

[R2elk]

Just seems crazy all would make it.

They still may not all make it. There is a lot that can go wrong between now and actual hatching. Many can be DIS at the end if the humidity is too high during the incubation phase and the air cell has not gotten big enough to support them during hatching.

I have had 100% hatches of turkey eggs in the past.

 

[Deep Roots]

Two more questions:
We saw some instructions on setting the eggs big end up during pipping but all the videos we see show the eggs just laying on their side through the whole process. Also it said to increase ventilation. How? Our small incubator doesn’t really have vents.

 

[R2elk]

Two more questions:
We saw some instructions on setting the eggs big end up during pipping but all the videos we see show the eggs just laying on their side through the whole process. Also it said to increase ventilation. How? Our small incubator doesn’t really have vents.

Some people think it is beneficial to incubate and hatch upright because of the wonky air cells normally associated with shipped hatching eggs. I put my turkey eggs in the hatcher on their side and not upright.

All incubators have vents. Unfortunately too many people close down the vents in their efforts to raise the humidity. This can cause failure to hatch. Check your incubator's manual to learn where the vents are and open them.

 

[Deep Roots]

Here is the one vent. Maybe shim the lid 1/8”?
Here is how the eggs are positioned. First pips appeared this am about 10am. Locked down since last night. Humidity is 85. Temp is 100. Thoughts?

 

[R2elk]

Here is the one vent. Maybe shim the lid 1/8”?
Here is how the eggs are positioned. First pips appeared this am about 10am. Locked down since last night. Humidity is 85. Temp is 100. Thoughts?

Based on the condensation, I think your humidity is too high meaning it is higher than the 85% you say it is. If you crack the lid open, you may not be able to control the temperature or the humidity. Somewhere there should be a vent or vents that are either plugged or have a means of being opened or closed. You may have to wait until after the hatch is over to thoroughly inspect the incubator to find the vents.

 

[Deep Roots]

Cracked the lid a touch. Temp is stable.
lay the eggs on their side or leave em?
no clue why we didn’t think to ask all this earlier