Handmade Turner for my next batch of goose eggs. IS this OK? - PICs-

[marathonmultiplesmom]

Those are goose sized plastic eggs to show it. I also posted over in incubating but didn't get much response. I think they are mostly chickens over there. But I am still new at incubation and want to know if you think the turn in my hand-made turner is right? (before I set them in a couple days)
I am getting 12 chinese goose eggs and I don't want to fudge it because I am dying to have some goose-bumps!!!!

(goose with bump!) LOL

 

[bock]

SMILES!

Why don't you just hand turn your eggs or buy a turner, it's much safer.

 

[marathonmultiplesmom]

Well, the only turner I could find locally was for chicken eggs and I don't have time to wait for one to get shipped. The eggs will be here tomorrow or the next day. Plus, I can't really afford a turner. This cost me like $3 to make. I am hand turning the eggs I have in there now. The main reason for wanting them like this is to turn them more quickly, avoid handling them and fit more in there. I can only fit 9 more in if I lay them down. I can fit all 12 if I use this contraption. What do you think though? The angles are ok?

Just noticed you said its safer... is this not safe? The actual goose eggs are slightly bigger but 4 will fit in there with little or no wiggle room.

 

[bock]

Quote:
Well, what I meant by safer was, sometimes homemade things just don't work like they should. You did do a very good job though, but won't the plastic melt if it is too close to the heat source? Happy hatching

 

[Golden Valley Farm]

I have always hand turned my geese ,peafowl ,chickens etc. and thats just what there moms do. It looks like a great idea but I would be afraid if one plopped out or it slipped.

 

[chickenzoo]

I think you might be better if you laid the eggs down in it, instead of sitting up, that way there is less chance of them smacking each other. Neat idea though

 

[katharinad]

Eggs are heavy and your contraption my not work right with weight in it. Plus you are only using 2 sides of the egg with this turner. I rather use all sides. You are better off hand turning them, and it does not take that much time with the small quantity you have. My goose egg turner quit on me with my 15 large duck eggs. The chicken egg cups were to small. The manufacturer is sending me a replacement motor, but in the meanwhile I'm hand turning. I bet the motor shows when I have to stop turning the eggs anyway. BTW mounting a pencil to the button side of the trays my work better then the cardboard. I worry that the moisture in the incubator makes the cardboard fail.

 

[marathonmultiplesmom]

Thanks for everyone's input. I have DH workin on a wooden base that is based on my cardboard design. I am going to do it upright after considering all options and consulting with a local who has been incubating water fowl for 20+ years. He said I could stand them up or lay them down but when it comes to the hatch it might get crowded if they stand. My main issue with laying them down is that I have more eggs coming than will fit laying down. I have 8 eggs laying down right now in the bator and they will be moved over to the hatcher eventually but their times together in the bator will overlap.

I don't know if anyone noticed but I have little foam spacers to prevent them from crashing against one another. If I need more, then I will just use cut up paper towel rolls from the inner tube. I saw someone here who did that with duck eggs and it held them snug when eggs had to be removed.

I also did test it with some weight in them and it actually seems to be better with weight... so we will see. Still waiting on my chinese eggs to arrive.

Someone mentioned that they wondered if the plastic will melt. I am using a forced air incubator so the temp should be fairly steady all over. I don't think there will be a hot spot hot enough to do that.
I found this reference on melting temps of plastics:
http://www.plastictroubleshooter.com/ThePlasticTroubleshooter/melt_temps.htm

But just to make sure I had addressed every concern that I had not thought of... I threw one of the baskets into 120 degree water for a little bit... no melting or softening!

 

[katharinad]

I didn't think the temperature would be an issue either. Those silverware trays are build pretty well. They can actually be thrown into the dishwasher, which is way hotter.

 

[newduckie]

I think it is ingenious. Good luck and let us know how it works before my next goose hatch. I am finding it a pain to turn by hand. going to lockdown tonight, so YEAH>........ no more turning. Let us know.