Should I remove egg turning tray at lockdown?

[Jmiller89]

I’m going to be incubating some duck eggs soon and was thinking of leaving the tray that turns the eggs during lockdown/hatch. I will remove the turning wheel. My concern after hatching guineas last year is that the first ones to hatch played soccer with the rest of the eggs and I ended up having to help a lot of them with hatching or splayed legs. My thought is that if the tray is still in then they will have some support to keep their legs from sliding around. Is there a concern of them getting there legs caught up in the tray and stuck? Also do they need to be able to roll in the egg while hatching? TIA

 

[EggSighted4Life]

My concern after hatching guineas last year is that the first ones to hatch played soccer with the rest of the eggs and I ended up having to help a lot of them with hatching or splayed legs.

Soccer does NOT cause splayed legs.. that was due to genetics (like a layer who had someone help her splay early in life) or poor incubation conditions (temp fluctuation, etc). Nutrition of the breeding stock also impacts this.

I'm not even truly sure that hatch surface makes much difference, as much as it gets blamed. Though something semi grippy is preferred.. I used paper towels rough side up with excellent results.

I do think the turning tray is a place to get toes and such caught. I also think the rocking of the eggs (not the soccer) MIGHT be useful in hatching. I have also hatched full incubators with no room to rock anyways..

My solution.. drape towels over the bator to trap warmth and humidity and quickly remove the active/ready chicks to the brooder one at a time after a couple are ready.

Great incubation guide/resource.. cause of issues with eggs/chicks starts around page 51..

https://www.hubbardbreeders.com/media/incubation_guideen__053407700_1525_26062017.pdf

Happy hatching!