To AUTO Turn Or NOT To AUTO Turn?.. Which Is Best?

While the auto turners make things easier, I hand turn everything, especially Call duck eggs.

 

I would do it with the turner. Turning by hand requires that you open the incubator, which means you lose all the humidity and heat. There are really no advantages to hand turning other than an emotional attachment to the eggs (not necissarily a good thing) and the fact that you can fit more eggs in the 'bator. Also, an auto-turner turns the eggs 24/7 as opposed to you only turning them 3x a day, and not at all at night. This is a much better way to go IMO. Good Luck with the hatch!

Grammar fix'd

 

I would hand turn them. Duck eggs seem to do better on their sides.
I incubated 9 mallard eggs and I did a test myself. 5 were hand turned on their sides, and 4 were in the auto turner. I gave away 2 eggs to my friend who had a broody hen, one each of side and auto turned eggs. Of the two I gave away, the side one hatched and the auto turned one didn't, and of the 7 I had remaining, all the side ones hatched, and one out of the auto turned eggs hatched, and he's a runt and he wouldn't have gotten out of the egg if I hadn't gotten him out. (I eventually gave my friend 2 of the ducklings to keep the sole one company, and all turned out female while all mine turned out male *face slap*)

 

My Incubator has a roll turner- so the eggs can lay on their sides- and be turned automatically. I bought it specifically because of that function. I did buy an auto turner in my first incubator- but only used it the first few times - and then later for chicken and quail eggs. I have found through my own incubation that Duck eggs do so much better laying down in a more natural state.

 

Duck eggs develop better if they get turned hourly in the first week. After that it is ok to go down to 4-6 times per day. So I always use a turner. It is also true that duck egg do better laying on their sides with the pointed end pointing down. I basically use goose egg rails in my incubator.

 

I do both at the same time That way if I dont get to them (gotta work or something)at least the auto turner works. Ive tried both and when I combined them I get the best of both worlds. But if you can do it every time hand turning wins by a shade. But ever since I've did both no down side at all.

 

I've used an autoturner on chicken eggs, but for Calls, hand turning is best.