Hand-turning vs. auto-turning

[Oregon Blues]

Those times will work.

 

[wordgirl]

Will there be any problem with the fact that some of the eggs (not all) have funny-shaped air cells - one or two stretch significantly down the side of the shell. Will having them on their sides make it worse, or has the time for improvement already passed?

 

[destinduck]

I know this thread is a week old. But I am very surprised that no one told you that you can use the auto turner AND the hand turning TOGETHER. This is what I do and have great hatches.Also I am hatching mainly migratory and exotics .which is alot harder that domestics. Time for improvement has passed.They are what they are,They may still hatch though. Good luck and use both methods next time or even still the rest of the way this time and see how well this combined method works

 

[wordgirl]

I know this thread is a week old. But I am very surprised that no one told you that you can use the auto turner AND the hand turning TOGETHER. This is what I do and have great hatches.Also I am hatching mainly migratory and exotics .which is alot harder that domestics. Time for improvement has passed.They are what they are,They may still hatch though. Good luck and use both methods next time or even still the rest of the way this time and see how well this combined method works

How do you do a combined method? Do you rotate the eggs (a quarter turn) around in the turner several times a day?

Thanks!

 

[destinduck]

I just give them a half turn 3times a day if I can. The turning is mainly so the embryo doesnt stick to the shell btw. I use the combined method because if you happen to forget about it or just cant (because of work) they are still being rotated. I feel that for waterfowl to have better hatch rates they need to be hand turned. But for whatever the reason is I got even better hatches using the combined method. Ive spent more time than I probably should have observing momma ducks tending their eggs. They play with em alot.

Maybe that is the reason this method works so dang good.

 

[wordgirl]

Thanks! Do you just rotate them in the turner?

 

[destinduck]

Yep.

 

[yinepu]

I know this thread is a week old. But I am very surprised that no one told you that you can use the auto turner AND the hand turning TOGETHER. This is what I do and have great hatches.Also I am hatching mainly migratory and exotics .which is alot harder that domestics. Time for improvement has passed.They are what they are,They may still hatch though. Good luck and use both methods next time or even still the rest of the way this time and see how well this combined method works

I do the same sort of thing.. (though a teeny bit different)
eggs in the auto turner .. then one 180º turn by hand per day

 

[wordgirl]

Thank you! I think I may try to start rotating the eggs in the turner, at least once a day. Should I do a 180° turn, or a 90° - with a 180°, aren't the eggs still being tipped from the same sides? Or is that better for them?

 

[yinepu]

Thank you! I think I may try to start rotating the eggs in the turner, at least once a day. Should I do a 180° turn, or a 90° - with a 180°, aren't the eggs still being tipped from the same sides? Or is that better for them?

I think most turners only go between 45 and 90 º (you would need to check yours)

so if you turn 180º either once a day or three times a day you should be good! (your choice as to how many times you turn.. but make it an odd number)

by turning 180º the side of the egg that was on the bottom.. becomes the top.. it encourages more vein growth all the way around the egg rather than just tilting the egg back and forth