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I'm picking up my first turkey hatching eggs tomorrow. Do they need specific humidity during incubation? I usually incubate at 25-35% humidity until lockdown. Will that work for them too or do they need a higher humidity? They take 28 days right? They're bourbon reds if that matters.
 
I'm picking up my first turkey hatching eggs tomorrow. Do they need specific humidity during incubation? I usually incubate at 25-35% humidity until lockdown. Will that work for them too or do they need a higher humidity? They take 28 days right? They're bourbon reds if that matters.

I incubate turkeys exactly like chickens, low humidity until lockdown, then as high as possible for hatching. Kevin Porter has an excellent writeup about hatching turkeys on his website: http://www.porterturkeys.com/egghatchingtips.htm
 
Just picked up an LG still air for hatching. New ones are digital. Old ones were very finicky to set temps. $40 at TSC


Thank you, that was what I was wondering. I read online that the air LGs are set to 100. I know the brinsea are set to 99.5... I have heard of dropping the temp a bit in the hatcher but didn't know if it was a small increase if that would be bad idea. Also, didn't want to end up with a hatcher that was filled with issues.
 
A homemade "coolerbator" is ideal for a hatcher. The big drawback for them is that it's hard to fit an automatic turner inside, but not a problem for hatching. One HUGE advantage is that when you open the top, all the humid air does not dump onto the floor like both styrobators and cabinet incubators. This work especially well if you have a sliding glass top set down into the cooler, so you can lift the lid anytime without losing the warm moist air, and slid the top just a little to reach if as needed. With the sliding top removed: Sliding top in place:
Since you are calling it a "coolobator" does that mean it doesn't have the Same temp range as the incubator?
 
Since you are calling it a "coolobator" does that mean it doesn't have the Same temp range as the incubator?

Mostly because I used a giant cooler as an incubator. If you look up home made incubators, here and on the internet at large, you will find most are using a cooler as a insulated "case". This simplifies a lot of the building. For mine, I didn't even drill any holes, just passed the electrical stuff out of the drain plug, and intentionally don't make it too airtight so that there is enough oxygen exchange.

I do run the hatcher a little cooler, I aim for between 98 and 99, whereas the main incubator is between 99 and 100. Sometimes I find the temp dropping to 97 or even to 95, when I add cold water or leave the top open too long.
 
Here's a pic of my hatch....4 Olive eggers, 1CCL, and two mixes CCL over GLW/RB/Lav Orp


If anybody is interested, I will probably have some extra OEs......
 
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Mostly because I used a giant cooler as an incubator. If you look up home made incubators, here and on the internet at large, you will find most are using a cooler as a insulated "case". This simplifies a lot of the building. For mine, I didn't even drill any holes, just passed the electrical stuff out of the drain plug, and intentionally don't make it too airtight so that there is enough oxygen exchange.

I do run the hatcher a little cooler, I aim for between 98 and 99, whereas the main incubator is between 99 and 100. Sometimes I find the temp dropping to 97 or even to 95, when I add cold water or leave the top open too long.


Aaah, thank you for clarifying.
 
Here's a pic of my hatch....4 Olive eggers, 1CCL, and two mixes CCL over GLW/RB/Lav Orp


If anybody is interested, I will probably have some extra OEs......

They are adorable! No matter how many times I see chick pictures I still love them! I really like the little round black one on the right, the one with the gray/white chest and throat.
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