- Jun 4, 2011
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I am needing some advice on a turkey egg that our hen has. She laid 12 eggs and has a nest on the ground right outside our house. Only 1 of the 12 was fertilized or started to form into an embryo...so that egg is in her nest by itself. Normally this wouldn't be a problem. However, she also has 2 chicks...about a month old that she is still keeping with her. Because of that, she is not on the nest all day. Usually only in the morning, afternoon and overnight. That and the extreme temperature...over 100 degrees here...are making me wonder if this one egg is going to make it to hatching time. I have no idea when she laid these eggs, so I have no way of knowing how far out hatch time is. We found the nest about 2 weeks ago..before that, she was bedding down at night with her older chicks.
The other problem is that our dog knows where the nest is. We are keeping her away from the nest when the hen is not on it, but it is very hard.
So...my question is, with all of these circumstances, should I take the egg and put in our incubator or will the temperature change make it less likely that it will hatch? I really think it only has 2 weeks or less left. I just wasn't sure if the egg sitting out in the heat without her constant regulating the temp. with her body heat is a bad thing or if it the egg will be ok? I really want to give this chick a chance to hatch and if I don't have to take away the egg, that would be better for later when it is time for her to take it with her other chicks.
Any advice/suggestions would be so greatly appreciated, as I know this is a time sensitive thing and if I need to get the incubator ready, I will do so quickly.
Thank you!!
The other problem is that our dog knows where the nest is. We are keeping her away from the nest when the hen is not on it, but it is very hard.
So...my question is, with all of these circumstances, should I take the egg and put in our incubator or will the temperature change make it less likely that it will hatch? I really think it only has 2 weeks or less left. I just wasn't sure if the egg sitting out in the heat without her constant regulating the temp. with her body heat is a bad thing or if it the egg will be ok? I really want to give this chick a chance to hatch and if I don't have to take away the egg, that would be better for later when it is time for her to take it with her other chicks.
Any advice/suggestions would be so greatly appreciated, as I know this is a time sensitive thing and if I need to get the incubator ready, I will do so quickly.
Thank you!!
