Hand-turning vs. auto-turning

[wordgirl]

I'm getting some Ancona duck eggs this week (

) and I do have an auto turner (borrowing bator and turner from a friend) but I was wondering whether hand-turning is better for duck eggs than auto-turning? Or vice-versa? Any advice/experiences with either?

(Sorry for all of my questions - I want to do everything right!)

 

[brahmabreeder]

Auto turning would be better. If you turn by hand you will lose temp and humidity. Plus with the auto turner you won't have to remember to turn them regularly. JMO

 

[ariel4birds]

I've never had a problem with hand turning. Turn 3xs a day. But auto-turners certainly save time!

 

[Oregon Blues]

My friends who raise fancy show ducks all (without exception) say to hatch duck eggs on their sides and hand turn.

Auto turners are much more convenient, but you did ask which was better, not which was easiest.

 

[wordgirl]

Thanks! Hmm. I think I'll probably use the auto-turner unless the eggs don't fit, although I would kind of like to turn them by hand. Problem is, I'm not at home most days, and although I could have someone at home do it, I don't want to add to their plate and if they forgot sometimes it wouldn't be so great.

I don't know - maybe I'll hand-turn....

Oregon Blues, have you and your friends noticed a significant difference in hatchability when you do or do not hand turn? How many times a day would you recommend for the hand-turn method to be better than auto-turning? Thank you for your help!

 

[Oregon Blues]

I've never used an auto-turner, so I can't compare. I turn 3 times a day, including the eggs that haven't gone into the incubator yet

I just bought an old Redwood incubator and it appears to have a system to turn the eggs by pulling a lever. I haven't tested it yet. So it is still hand turning, but doesn't take as long.

My duck eggs will not fit into a chicken egg carton, so I wonder if they would fit into a turner. Goose eggs apparently will burn out a turner motor even of you buy the special goose egg cups for the turner.

If you are not there, I don't see how you could possibly hand turn.

 

[wordgirl]

Thanks, Oregon Blues! I decided to use the auto-turner, although I would have kind of liked to hand-turn. Maybe next time!

Thank you all for your help!

 

[duckluck]

Much better luck with hand-turning vs. auto-turning. You don't have to be exact on timing, though some people swear by it...you can go the workday without turning. Just be sure to turn an odd number of times so the eggs don't spend two nights in a row on the same side. Waterfowl eggs should be turned a full 180 degree turn on their sides. I have heard of people who have rigged up autoturners that can do this without fracturing the eggs, but I haven't personally laid eyes on one.

As for opening the incubator and losing heat and humidity when turning, the mother bird gets up several times a day and does that without a problem, so it isn't a problem that I've ever seen with my Call eggs, plus we do a nightly cooldown period.

 

[QuackerJackFarms]

I won't use the auto turner after loosing 2 batches. That's just me. Sure would be easier in the Auto though!

 

[wordgirl]

Oh, gosh. I don't know what to do now. Can I switch to hand-turning? I think most of my air cells are okay, although there's at least one that's kind of funny and reaches down one side partway.

So if I turn around 7-9 every morning, at 2-3 in the afternoon, and another time before I go to bed (8-11pm), will that be all right? I don't think I can do it at the exact time every day, but if it's within a few hours, is that okay? I would think that if it's kind of consistent that would be okay - I know duck hens turn their eggs a lot more, but it must not always be at the same time every day. Maybe it's the fact that it's only a few times a day that you want each side to have a pretty equal share of up-down time by the end?