New here - I have chickens and Rio Grande & a broad Bronze hen that mates and some Wild crosses. I had the wilds actually hatch some of their own eggs last year with the help of my banty hen, but the turkey hens get crazy if allowed to hatch their eggs out (imagine 4 very angry 15 pound gals attacking me from their nest at eye level, and the 3-4 foot tall toms joining in - OUCH@x#$!!). Guess that is why they are "Wild" turkeys.
In the interest of maintaining the peace that usually is manifest in the coop and yard, as well as the integrity of my carharts and flesh, this year I was thinking I would like to take the eggs and hatch them myself. I read some old posts including some on turkey egg hatching and I still have a few questions :
1)was unsure if a standard egg turner will work for wild's eggs - they are about lg duck egg size, and the bronze's are a bit larger.
2)I am seeing folks largely recommend the Hova 1588 - I am seeing prices of about $200 on eBAy (new 1588 with Hova 1610 turner)- does that sound right? Not sure I can justify the cost for my hobby, but suppose I could sell some poults to recoup the price.
3)Also, I wonder if there is a way to mark eggs that will not injure them, so I can keep track of date put in, and which hen they are from.
4)I have one hen who insists on laying in the mud by the waterer - should the mud be cleaned off her eggs before hatching, and if so, with what? Always heard you should not handle fertile eggs with bare hands if you want them to hatch, so what does muck do to them?
5)Does everyone candle their eggs? Is it worth taking them out of the bator to do it?
Thank you for reading my post, your time and any help you can share - Andy
In the interest of maintaining the peace that usually is manifest in the coop and yard, as well as the integrity of my carharts and flesh, this year I was thinking I would like to take the eggs and hatch them myself. I read some old posts including some on turkey egg hatching and I still have a few questions :
1)was unsure if a standard egg turner will work for wild's eggs - they are about lg duck egg size, and the bronze's are a bit larger.
2)I am seeing folks largely recommend the Hova 1588 - I am seeing prices of about $200 on eBAy (new 1588 with Hova 1610 turner)- does that sound right? Not sure I can justify the cost for my hobby, but suppose I could sell some poults to recoup the price.
3)Also, I wonder if there is a way to mark eggs that will not injure them, so I can keep track of date put in, and which hen they are from.
4)I have one hen who insists on laying in the mud by the waterer - should the mud be cleaned off her eggs before hatching, and if so, with what? Always heard you should not handle fertile eggs with bare hands if you want them to hatch, so what does muck do to them?
5)Does everyone candle their eggs? Is it worth taking them out of the bator to do it?
Thank you for reading my post, your time and any help you can share - Andy
