Egg laying specifics please?

[pdpatch]

So far I can say they most likely can or cannot be predictable. Our on Red Bourbon sometimes lays every day, sometimes every other day. But she has started to settle down and lay every other day in the morning. I haven't checked fertility since the first couple of eggs for here, But I suspect they are not yet as the base of here tails feathers are wet, So she may not be moving here tail yet.

You should check at least twice a day during cold weather a couple of hours after sun raise and a couple before sun set. You collect then see if they are cold or not and adjust when you collect eggs so the have some warmth to them. You can store turkeys eggs until you get enough to put into the incubator but after x number of days the percentage of those that hatch goes down.

Our Spanish Black have not started laying yet.

Don't be shy about checking for fertility, as that is better then waiting 28 to find out no hatch. You can candle them or just crack one open.

Last year we didn't get an incubator until late and those eggs that did get in there didn't hatch or develop at all. It was a big disappointment to say the least.

Tom

 

[One Acre Wonder Farm]

good info Tom! So, I'll go on the assumption that their schedules are more like chickens and less like ducks. I do check the coop twice daily (to water in the a.m. and when I collect eggs in the evening) so I'll check around for eggs both times.

I'm putting chicken eggs in the incubator this week, so if my turkeys should start laying in the next 3 weeks it will be a good time to check fertility. I am glad you mentioned your experience with infertile eggs, I just might have started incubating from the first egg rather than crack one to check for fertility as I am SO anxious to have poults

Though you know what they say about watched pots never boiling

They may never lay an egg for me! (I realize it is probably WAY to early to expect eggs from my turkeys in Vermont but a girl can dream).