Do I need an egg turner?

[tiki244]

Im looking at a styrofoam(?) incubator I think its a Hova Bator picture window without a turner. Do I need a turner? How hard is it to turn by self. What do I set the eggs on? It just looks like a flat bottom. I dont want to go much over 130 dollars. Please help

 

[Tuffoldhen]

If you have the time and can you do not need a turner...My old incubator does not have one and I hand turn my eggs 3 times a day.....they just set on the bottom of the bator like they would be under a hen....mark an X and O on opposite sides of the eggs so you will know which side you have turned the last time.... Set the big end of the egg at the top side of the bator small end towards the front...like in rows....

You can always buy an incubator that will hold and use a turner if you decide later on that you would rather have one.....

 

[ladybug4ut1]

there was one for sale in the buy, sale, trade section on BYC. It is not hard to hand turn. i have done it for my three hatches so far. i tried to use a auto turner and have not had any luck with it. SO i just hand turn i know it is working.

 

[tiki244]

Thanks ladybug and tuffoldhen----can i set a rag or something in there so they wont roll around?

 

[Katy]

You can put some of the waffly (is that a word!!??) rubbery shelf liner on the wire.

 

[ladybug4ut1]

i use shelf liner in mine. i laid them on the wire until i bought some. using a rag or something will affect temps and things. the self liner is the one that is the no slip kind. you can get for like 97 cents at wal mart.

 

[Tuffoldhen]

Mine just lay on top the wire, I don't have trouble with them rolling around....

 

[tiki244]

TY Katy, Ladybug and Tuffoldhen. That will save me about 50 dollars off the price of one and for right now that will work. I can always expand later. Right? HA