I hatched turkeys! My first time! Homemade bator!!

[booker81]

Now what do I do?

I had two pip yesterday, and I thought it would take them a while to get out, but woke this morning to peeping - they're out and about! They're rolling the rest around, but one more looks to be pipping now. Most of what I read is for chickens, but how long should I leave them in the bator? I think they hatched not too long ago - they were still wet, but within 1/2 hour are almost dry now. From what I read of chicken eggs, it says not to open the bator up. I need to make sure to give explicit instructions to my husband, as he'll be home today and I'll be at work.

I honestly didn't think I'd hatch any - friend gave me 15 eggs, took me a couple more days to build the bator, had temp issues, humidity was lower than "good" during most of incubation. I have a brooding set up, but I didn't really get my hopes up!!

 

[Ridgerunner]

It's simple. Treat them like chickens. Keep the incubator closed.

Just like chicks, they absorb the yolk and can go three days without food and water. Leave them alone with the incubator closed until the hatch is over.

Congratulations. I hatched my first turkey last year and will be putting turkey eggs in the incubator tomorrow. There is a thrill involved for sure.

 

[kuntrygirl]

That is TOTALLY AWESOME !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am soooooo happy. They are so cute!!!!!!!!!

Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!

 

[zekii]

Congratulations ... !!! What breed of turkeys were these ?
I'm expecting some eggs next weekend ... Midget Whites, will be only the second time I've tried
to hatch, and the 1st turkey eggs, will be using my new Brinsea Oct-30 Eco.

ZeKii

 

[booker81]

They're....mutts? LOL! I'm up to three now, one more hatched while I was at work

My friend gave me a bunch of eggs after he tried to hatch some, and I decided to give it a whirl. I'm not sure of the breeds, but he had one white Tom (not thinking BBW, as it was over a year old and active), a black tom, a slate hen and a sort of chocolate colored hen.

I really wasn't expecting much - I've raised chicks, including meat chicks, but never hatched anything out (hence the quick, cheap, put together homemade bator made of a cooler, a light bulb and a hot water thermostat). Since this worked, I've been eyeing eggs for Bourbon Reds to raise for meat, now that I know I can do it!

Is brooding them much different than chicks? I have another homemade brooder - a big rubbermaid tub with a hole in the top for the heat lamp, I'm used to showing them food and water, and just the watching their activity to determine if they're hot or cold. I disinfect after each batch, and I'll be putting them in a separate area from my chickens. I have some poultry Nutra-Drench for water that I like to use for the first few days as a safeguard, says it's for turkeys too. Am I missing anything?

 

[NYRIR]

Job well done!

Boy those eggs are pretty!

 

[ChicwannaB]

coo!! can you post pics of your incubator?? I have a friend who's an incubator junkie, he inc's them and gives them to me!! Great deal.
Im in mid-Michigan too!!
Have had chickens for a year now, about to get my first turkeys poults, end of April.

 

[booker81]

I'll get some pics up when I get home - it's just a old cooler, holes cut in it, with a wire "bench" to keep them in the middle and block off the bulb, a light socket I took a lamp apart to get, and a hot water thermostat from Home Depot. I wired the thermostat to a 6' extension cord, and plugged the light socket to that, so it would regulate. Turned out great!

Ended up getting three out of the hatch. It was a learning experience - I'd mess with the thermostat and get it too high or too low while incubating, and ended up only having the humidity at about 20% during incubation and only got to 70% at lockdown, but I'm still happy with my three

 

[ChicwannaB]

Well, I should say SO...congratulations.
My first time to hatch I bought some $40 Orpintons and used a brand new Little Giant incubator, lost the whole batch. I was totally bummed and depressed. So I got a Brinsea, only holds 7 at a time, but if all 7 were to hatch that would be a BIG addition to my flock at any one time so I'm happy. I've done a batch of my own mixed breeds and got 5 out of 7, killed one accidently myself, but it did make it to hatch!! Ive since sold that little bunch to a neighbor and in the process met someone I didn't know before. Thats always good.
Now I have 6 Jersey Giant eggs coming and 6 or 7 white Chantecler coming to do. Plus I did buy 3 turkey poults which I'll get when they hatch. Oh! Ive been reading about the broad breasted bronze, which is what I bought, oh dear, wish I hadn't chose them. They supposedely put on so much weight so fast they develope joint problems and have trouble getting around. Can be 40 pounds in 4 months time. I do plan on them being meat birds but I wanted to learn about how social and friendly they are, which I've read about. Excited to raise them, but wish I'd chosen a different breed. I got BB cuz I didn't want flyers Id have to be worrying about all the time, I live on a busy road and fear them causing an accident. Guess I'll have to build some sort of roofed over enclosure if I get different ones in the future.

 

[booker81]

Here's a couple pics

Incubator:


Running:


Turkeys!