Incubating eggs do I turn them at night

[chickenmama109]

I am wanting to I cubate about 5 eggs and I know I have to turn them in the day but do I turn them at night and how many times do I turn the



Thanks to all help

 

[JaeG]

Just turn them an odd number of times during the day, at least three times. Hens tend to use their beak on the large end and flip the egg over its small end, rather than just rolling them sideways so I try to replicate that. But I don't think it makes much difference - it's just important to expose the growing embryo to a different part of the yolk each time so it's getting the best nutrition.

 

[chickenmama109]

Ok thanks no turning eggs at night will they be ok for the night

 

[JaeG]

No, they'll be fine overnight. Goodluck!

 

[BYC910]

Try to turn your eggs at least five times a day . No less than three though Mark one side X and the opposite side O .If it goes through the night with X up tonight then it should go through the night with O up tomorrow night . Also if you can manage it the egg should be slightly tilted with the pointy end lower than the large end .

 

[bobbieschicks]

My broody hens sleep at night too. So I would say, no you don't have to turn them at night.

 

[chickenmama109]

thank you every one

 

[lazy gardener]

Please read: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/hatching-eggs-101.64195/

It will answer all of your questions. If you don't find the answer in this article, I will be very surprised.

 

[Ridgerunner]

What you are trying to achieve in hand turning them is that they spend about an equal amount of time with the two opposite sides up over a two day period. It doesn't matter if you are off a little bit but do try to get it close. If you miss a turning it's not the end of the world, but do try to be consistent.

The best way to achieve this is to set up a daily routine around work or school and sleep. I don't know what your daily schedule is but maybe for a three turning schedule you turn them when you get up, turn them when you get home from work or school, and turn them when you go to bed. One side will spend a lot of time up one day when you are away from home and when you are sleeping, but that balances out the next day.

If your schedule is different and you wish to you can set up a 5 turning schedule, the more you turn them the better but that difference is pretty marginal. It's not likely to affect your hatch rate of the health of the chicks. A lot of people are tremendously successful with a three times a day schedule.

The advantage of turning them an odd number of times a day is that you don't have to do any math. As long as you stick to the same schedule every day it averages out. An even number of turnings is a lot more challenging to balance out if you sleep through the night or are gone during the day.

So as long as you set up an odd number of turnings schedule and stick to it, you do not need to turn them at night when you are sleeping or when you are gone to school or work during the day.