The "Accidental" no turn hatch experiment.

[lazy gardener]

And, this is from a set of eggs that had NO turning???? What did you run your humidity at?

 

[HumbleHen207]

Yes, I forgot to plug in the turner and I noticed my mistake on the day of lockdown! I do dry hatches, so humidity ran at about 35% during incubation, and I jack it up to 55%+ during hatch. Eggs were kept in the egg turner at about a 45 degree angle the entire duration of incubation. I have about 35 chicks currently, thinking my overall outcome will be 40-45 chicks.

 

[Orca5094]

Wow, impressive! Can't believe so many made it with zero turning! Just goes to show that anything is possible.

 

[RachelLeigh]

I am so glad to read this thread! Thank you. I too want to try not turning. And what percentage of eggs make it when not turned after half way thru incubation.

 

[JJSS89]

I am so glad to read this thread! Thank you. I too want to try not turning. And what percentage of eggs make it when not turned after half way thru incubation.

Well you'll notice that the OP set 135 eggs and ended up with less than 50 from what it sounds like. Not a good hatch rate.

If a turner breaks midway through incubation or comes unplugged there is no reason to toss it. I would never advocate incubation without any agitation or turning.

 

[HumbleHen207]

We have about 50 now. No, not a spectacular hatch rate, however some of the eggs were old, and its still gets chilly here. I wouldnt advocate for not turning them however, I never would have done so intentionally. It has been an interesting experiment however in the sense that none of the chicks have been weak or sickly like I would have expected.

 

[HumbleHen207]

Some of the later chicks have developed spradle leg and curled toes. Not sure if its a side effect of not turning them or if its merely the incubator getting too hot on occasion. Hopefully a few of them come around, trying to put a hobble on a quail chick is an impossible task I discovered.

 

[JJSS89]

Some of the later chicks have developed spradle leg and curled toes. Not sure if its a side effect of not turning them or if its merely the incubator getting too hot on occasion. Hopefully a few of them come around, trying to put a hobble on a quail chick is an impossible task I discovered.

you ought to try it with a bobwhite chick. You'll lose your mind.

 

[HumbleHen207]

Dont doubt it, they are so small, and bobwhites are very high strung. Some of them seem that they will come around, one of them may not make it though. Tape isnt working for me, any suggestions on making a successful hobble for these tiny birds, or is it hopeless?

 

[JJSS89]

Strip of Band-Aid is what I've always used. Works good once it is on them. Make sure do use neutral colors so the other chicks don't peck at it ad nauseum.

It may take several days until their legs are actually strong enough, it's not an immediate fix in most cases, it just stabilizes the little guys.