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How to avoid turning in the middle of the night?

Discussion in 'Incubating & Hatching Eggs' started by mychookschick, May 18, 2011.

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  1. May 18, 2011 #1
    mychookschick

    mychookschick Songster

    1,192
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    153
    Aug 28, 2009
    Maine
    Hello!

    I just bought my incubator about 2 weeks ago, and I don't have a turner. I don't want to put the money into the turner just yet, as I have other chicken related things that need to be payed for (new grain barrel, thanks to the squirrels, run, window, pop door, etc.)... So, when I figured it out, I would have to turn at 1:30 AM! Ugh! I can't get up at that time! I would be brain dead the next day! Much less for 18 days! How do you people (those without egg turners) avoid getting up in the middle of the night?

    Thank you!

    My Chooks Chick
     

  4. May 18, 2011 #2
    rebel yell

    rebel yell Songster

    1,386
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    Jun 27, 2010
    Alabama
    I turn mine at about 9 am & about 2 pm & again at about 12 am, I work 2nd shift so I am up at this time, just modify it you should be fine.
     
  6. May 18, 2011 #3
    ChickieBooBoo

    ChickieBooBoo Cold Canadian Chick

    28,316
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    331
    Dec 2, 2009
    Canada
    I turn mine at about 7:30 am before school, 4:30 pm when I get home and then again about 10:00 pm when I put the birds away for the night. As long as you turn them on odd number of thems each day so they sit on different sides each night they won't need to be turned at night.
     
  8. May 18, 2011 #4
    mychookschick

    mychookschick Songster

    1,192
    8
    153
    Aug 28, 2009
    Maine
    Ok, so I should still get a pretty good hatch rate if I don't turn it at night?

    Thanks!
     
  10. May 18, 2011 #5
    snazzyboots

    snazzyboots Songster

    745
    3
    121
    Mar 3, 2011
    baltimore
    i just turn mine 3 times per day. i think the odd number is the key so they are never on one side much longer than another
     
  12. May 18, 2011 #6
    florasbell

    florasbell Songster

    121
    1
    101
    May 1, 2011
    germany
    i turn mine every 3 hours starting at 8am, 12pm ,3pm,6pm,9pm when i candle then thats it for the night
     
  14. May 18, 2011 #7
    MarkMatt

    MarkMatt In the Brooder

    18
    0
    22
    May 17, 2011
    Prairieville, LA
    I have hatched hundreds of eggs by only turning them twice a day. Never had an issue and always had good hatch rates.
     

  17. May 18, 2011 #8
    ScissorChick

    ScissorChick Songster

    1,609
    7
    141
    Dec 17, 2010
    Under Your bed
    [​IMG] You do not have to get up during the middle of the night.



    If you turn them an odd number of times daily, (I turn mine 3x) The side

    that the egg lays on the longest (night-time) Changes daily. I've actually

    had very good hatch rates only turning twice daily, so don't bother getting

    up at 1:30 AM.
     
  19. May 18, 2011 #9
    Griffin Nest

    Griffin Nest Songster

    913
    26
    143
    Aug 7, 2010
    California
    i have always turned my eggs:
    1st at around 7:00 am,
    2nd at around 3:00 pm,
    and
    last at around 10:00 pm.

    great hatches with that!!![​IMG]
     
  21. May 18, 2011 #10
    joneus

    joneus Songster

    344
    4
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    Apr 2, 2011
    Ballston Spa
    I'm home all day and my helper is 5, so mine get turned as soon as we get up in the morning (around 8), before lunch (around noon), after we play outside (around 4), before DS goes to bed (around 8) and then again before I go to bed at 11-ish.

    I've read that the really important thing is to make sure they're turned an odd number of times so their "long" time period is on a different side every night.
     
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