Do not turn eggs??? What do you think???

[twigg]

She is turning them

It's what chickens do .... the debate isn't around what chickens do, it's more what we do in an artificial environment.

Anecdotal articles aside I have yet to see any properly controlled and verified study suggest that eggs should not be turned. There are many that suggest that regular turning increases hatch rates.

I think this simple fact is left open to discussion mainly because quite a lot (maybe 50%) of eggs will hatch whether they are turned or not.

Surely the point of discussing incubation, and advising each other should be aimed at maximising hatch rates, not settling for something less.

 

[MaransGuy]

Surely the point of discussing incubation, and advising each other should be aimed at maximising hatch rates, not settling for something less.

Luckily, for all of us, we have these great forums that allow us to discuss things without stringent purposes and permit us to discuss things outside the norm. I would not consider any of the data to suggest that anyone not turn eggs. This has been mentioned over and over again. I do not think that you will get better results by not turning. However, I am not convinced that I will get better results from turning either. Obviously, one person's experience cannot be used as the final word on anything. The fact that LoveFarming got equally good results from turned eggs as those that were not turned is noteworthy and interesting. I would not consider it as "settling for less" as he did not get less, he got the same. I also would not infer that discussions such as this be discontinued just because I did not agree with the subject. In fact, on another board last year a thread like this was started as well. There were a couple people on there that also claimed to not turn their eggs and also had good results. I would not disagree with them or call them foolish as I cannot say that what they are doing is wrong. If it works for them then so be it. I am always interested in hearing about methods that work differently than what I am accustomed to and find it exciting. Again, I am happy that we have the ability to share these ideas across such a wide audience!

Richard​

 

[twigg]

I get that, Richard, and I agree with you. My point about beginners is that there can be a tendency to take an idea and run with it.

If you have read my posts you will have realised by now that I enjoy the discussion, but sometimes that involves saying *Hang on a minute .... that's a dangerous theory and needs rather more proof, esp. when the balance of proof, and normal practise says otherwise ....

One sample from someone who got similar results from turning or not turning actually suggests they were doing something else wrong

lol ..... opinions are the same as butts .... everyone has one

 

[MaransGuy]

One sample from someone who got similar results from turning or not turning actually suggests they were doing something else wrong

I would agree if the results they got were not good. Unfortunately, Jim did not say that he had good results, or poor ones, only the same ones, so at this point we cannot determine whether something was done wrong or not. While I share your concern for beginners being led down dangerous paths, I think it is a bit premature to say that this is the case here. Did Jim get a 50% hatch rate or an 80% hatch rate. Additionally, if turning increases hatchability and all the eggs were incubated together,then whatever was being done "wrong" to the turned eggs would have been done to the still eggs as well. This should result in a clear difference in hatch rate due to the benefit of turning over still incubation.

Richard​

 

[twigg]

Did Jim get a 50% hatch rate or an 80% hatch rate

I would indeed sit up and stare if he got a 95% hatch rate

Until he does, however, basics need paying attention to.​

 

[lilshadow]

My mother told me the other day that my grandmother would hatch her banty eggs in just a cardboard box with a light only in there. No turning, no humidity check nothing, and mom said that gran always had a good hatch rate. I may have to try this no turning thing.

 

[TerrasCritters]

LilShadow, your so right, what did they do back in the day when hatching there eggs, boxes drawers etc

Good luck with your hatch!

 

[LoveFarming]

To answer your question on percentage......even though I think THAT line of discussion is what begins leading new people into EXPECTING certain results, and the adage: Don't Count Your Chickens Before They Hatch, came out of truths of hatching eggs.
However, for those that need to have numbers..........on MY birds eggs which is where I believe the comparison of turning and not turning counts since the cirumstances surrounding the eggs is exactly the same on each batch that goes into the bator........results = 100%
Now these are small batches, maybe 6 to 8 eggs each out of 2 different breeds..... but those were the results.

And if my previous message was read correctly, then there wouldn't really have been a need for follow up as my message neither told people to turn eggs or NOT turn eggs.........I pointed out I had done both and have had excellent results either way........so if so many were to infer that I was trying to tell people to NOT turn eggs........quite the contrary as the results were the same, so turning didn't harm anything, so my eggs go into the turning trays anyway and I let the incubator do everything is was designed to do...... I just like knowing that should I need to pull out one of my smaller incubators, I don't have to plug in the separate turner if I don't want to do so, and that would increase the capacity of that smaller incubator.

Let's try not to make one post or another become for or against any 'side' of an issue unless the post clearly states that they are for or against something.

Jim

 

[LoveFarming]

Quote:
My above statement is why my results shouldn't have mattered and anyone new to hatching and using incubators should be able to see I am not telling them what method to use or not use.

 

[LoveFarming]

Quote:
I think it's interesting that everyone answered no to the first question. Though unable to actually pick up the eggs and turn them, I've always observed hens periodically lifting themselves up to rearrange the eggs beneath her. Whether they are doing it just to get comfortable is debatable, but I would hypothesize that the hen's maneuverings for the sake of comfort could have evolved to be essential for a successful hatch, or at the least, to not be detrimental to it, as it is for reptile eggs. I would not have answered no to that question.

As an example to sort of tie in with Terrascritters comment above, Emu breeders say that Emu eggs have to be turned 180 degrees EXACTLY without fail to the left (eggs are incubated on their side, NOT upright like most NEWER incubators hold the eggs nowadays) and then the next turn is to be exactly 180 degrees in the other direction, to the right. So never turning an Emu egg completely around in a circle.
Now I have Emus, and I have to say that these birds are not dainty in the least and they are also not equipt to be able to gently move an egg, their gentleness is all relative to the size of the bird and the strength of their egg, but NEVER have I seen the male Emu stand up, roll ech and ever egg exactly 180 degrees to the left, then the next time exactly 180 degrees to the right. In fact I have seen more Emus sit without budging for days at a time, some, most, never eating even if food is placed right in front of them while they sit.
Does that mean the method of turning during artificial incubation is incorrect? Heck no, I did those exact turning methods and I have 3 Emu eggs to hatch out of 4 eggs that were SHIPPED to me here in California all the way from Kentucky. So shipped eggs, AND I turned them and did the tried and true method. I did this BECAUSE I had no other eggs to compare to at the time and being the first time I did Emu eggs, I wanted to use all the 'basics' that long time breeders had come up with for hatching these eggs were great results.
In the future as my birds begin regular laying season and I can sort of 'spare' a few eggs....I will attempt with the Emus as well doing the turning and then non-turning methods and just see what happens........so those results won't be able to be posted for quite some time.

Jim