Do you HAVE to turn eggs?

[blaundee]

Has anyone tried NOT turning eggs? What happens if you do not turn them?

 

[sumi]

If you don't turn them your chances of getting a good hatch rate drops significantly. Turning the eggs frequently helps keep the embryo positioned properly in the egg and some people say it stops them getting stuck to the membrane. Broody hens turn their eggs up to 52 times a day.

 

[SilkieSensation]

Turning keeps the embryo from sticking to the membrane & moves it to different areas of the yolk to permit it to absorb the nutrition it needs from the yolk. That being said, I am 1 of the worst at remembering to turn my eggs. I leave for days at a time & the poor things just sit there. I still have good hatches & bad hatches. Often other factors (like temperature) play a bigger role than turning. My suggestion: try to turn at least once per day. 3 times is better.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Here are my links and info~ I always like to fully understand why .... I am forever researching and asking why!!! LOL
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/hatching-eggs-101 is the article and here is a paste from the article




http://dev.biologists.org/content/5/3/293.full.pdf A Critical Period for the Turning of Hens' Eggs

SUMMARY
1. Turning hens' eggs between the 4th and 7th day of incubation gives a
hatchability similar to that of eggs turned throughout incubation.
2. Turning the eggs between the 8th and 1 lth day gives a hatchability similar
to that of unturned eggs.
3. New evidence is presented that absence of turning leads to abnormal
adhesion between the chorion and shell membranes.​

4. The mechanism by which turning effects development is discussed.
ALSO the FOLLOWING SITE:

http://ps.fass.org/content/85/8/1433.full interesting article .... this is just the beginning

Effect of Egg Turning Angle and Frequency During Incubation on Hatchability and Incidence of Unhatched Broiler Embryos with Head in the Small End of the Egg1 O. Elibol* and J. Brake†,2 Abstract

The effect of turning angle (from vertical) and the interaction with turning frequency during incubation on fertile hatchability, embryonic mortality, and the incidence of embryos with head in the small end of the egg (malpositioned) was studied in 2 experiments comprising 2 trials each to determine if a turning angle of less than 45° could be successful. Hatching eggs from commercial broiler breeder flocks from 55 to 61 wk of age were utilized, and turning was for 18 d. Eggs were subjected to turning angles of 35, 40, or 45°, with a turning frequency of 24 times daily (24×) in Experiment 1. Turning angle had no effect on fertile hatchability. However, the incidence of separately enumerated, malpositioned embryos was increased by the 35° angle, compared with both the 40 and 45° angles in Experiment 1. Eggs were subjected to turning angles (from vertical) of 35°, with a turning frequency of either 24× or 96× daily, or 45°, with 24× turning in the 2 trials of Experiment 2. Turning angle and frequency had no effect on fertile hatchability or embryonic mortality, but the incidence of separately enumerated, malpositioned embryos was increased by the 35° angle with 24× turning, compared with the 35° angle with 96× turning, and the 45° angle, with 24× turning, in Experiment 2. These data demonstrated that the incidence of malpositioned embryos was increased by a reduced turning angle, but that this effect was ameliorated by a concomitant increase in turning frequency.


Relevance of turning Written by Gerd de Lange see page for full info.....I FOUND the one that I actually understood here:


http://www.pasreform.com/academy/frequently-asked-questions/incubation/26-relevance-of-turning.html
Broody hens provide optimum conditions for embryos developing in the eggs they are sitting on. The brood patch provides heat from one direction only, and the eggs at the side of the patch are cooler than those in the middle of the nest. However, because the broody hen regularly turns and moves the eggs in the nest, uniform egg temperature is achieved.
In commercial incubation, we try to mimic the natural conditions in the nest. From the point of view of uniform egg temperature turning of eggs seems to be of less importance in modern incubators. Are there other reasons for turning eggs?
As summarized by Deeming (2002), egg turning is essential to normal development for several reasons.
Egg turning

• Prevents adhesion of the embryo to the inner shell membrane.
• stimulates the rate of development of the area vasculosa (the membrane which grows around the yolk and is rich in blood vessels). The area vasculosa is important for sub-embryonic fluid formation, as well as for yolk uptake later in incubation.
• allows normal transfer of albumen proteins into the amniotic fluid, promoting optimum use of the albumen.
• supports the growth of the chorio-allantois (the blood vessels right under the shell) to maximise oxygen absorption.
• embryos in unturned eggs grow at a lower rate compared to embryos in eggs turned each hour over 90˚.
• facilitates movements of the embryo into the normal hatching position and reduces the incidence of malpositions in unhatched embryos.

Advice

• Check the turning device before the start of each incubation cycle, as turning failures, depending on the moment of occurence, are detrimental to results.
• Check and maintain the turning device regularly, to prevent a breakdown during incubation.
• Make sure that turning does not produce shocks or jolts, as this adversely affects hatchability and chick quality.
• If necessary, check and adjust the turning angle: 45˚ is optimal.
• Not turning for the first 12 hours in the setter is advised, based on our practical experience and especially when eggs are transported to the hatchery on the same day as setting. Eggs need some rest time to restore their ‘internal balance’.
• Turning is not absolutely necessary after 15 days of incubation. Especially in incubators with insufficient cooling capacity, it can be beneficial to leave the eggs in a horizontal position to facilitate increased air flow (cooling over the eggs). In some modern setters, there is also the option of turning to three different positions, e.g. 45 minutes each in right, horizontal and left position).

 

[LukensFarms]

I second Sally. Try turning them for the first week and then you don't have to worry about it too much.

 

[Becci]

I've "experimented" and not turned at all. Needless to say my hatch was not good at all.

I usually turn my eggs 5-6 times a day. The more the better, after all a hen turns her eggs 70+ times a day. I believe someone did study that showed a hen turned her eggs up to 96 times a day. My view: If the hen does it, it's probably important!

 

[hickensc]

Thanks for this great information! I just realized my auto turner was off between days 2 to 5,,, Still hoping for a decent hatch,, of course these were important eggs for me.

 

[hickensc]

An update
I set many eggs from many sources for this hatch.
Some eggs from some sources made it to hatch at a 90%,, same source had 90% of those survived hatch and are strong vigorous chicks.
Others did not fair nearly so well,, another breed, I ended up with 30% another 50% and one mostly clear at 7 days,, however,, those that went to hatch time survived.
I ended up assisting the chicks to hatch,, A couple hatched on their own,, and many I did not wait for (I was not going to wait around for them them to die) so possibly they would have been fine on their own, but they survived just fine with my assistance. A few were mal-positioned and did not pip and some pipped in the middle half of the egg.
I hate helping,, but feel I saved a few. So,,, never give up!