Interesting Information!

[PoultryQueen101]

I was at a poultry clinic yesterday and they showed us how to grade eggs by candling. But after, we were talking about hatching eggs and it led to an interesting conversation.

Did you know that you sould really only turn your eggs once a day? Momma chicken only turns her eggs once a day, if any. We have humanized hatching eggs in an incubator so well that we are disrupting the growing embryo.
You see, the chalazae of the egg already constantly spins the embryo so it does not stick. And when we turn the eggs, we are disturbing this constant turning.

And the interesting thing is that with our own hatches, the less we turned did make a better outcome. And a few times we forgot when eggs were due, we turned eggs until we saw they pipped, and this also resulted in a better outcome. I would assume that it's because our way of managing the incubator simulated a mother hen so well. By opening and letting them cool for a minute, and turning them like momma hen.

So I'm challenging you to try this and let me know if the outcome of your hatch changes. We sure are going to try it.

 

[sourland]

I am not disagreeing with this, but I am not certain that the information about a hen turning the eggs only once a day is correct. If you have ever watched a setting hen, you have noticed that she periodically shuffles and moves about slightly in the nest which in effect turns the eggs to some degree.

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

x2. I see my hens actually reach under themselves with their beaks and rearrange their eggs. I've caught them doing it several times a day, and I'm sure they're doing when I'm not there as well.

Perhaps the better hatch rates were because the eggs had less contact with bacteria from your hands? I use an auto turner now, and I have noticed that my hatch rates have improved. I figured it was because they were being turned more and touched less by me.