Turkey Eggs

[msbackwoods]

Our turkeys just started laying eggs, how long can we wait before putting them in the incubator? I've read several different articles and it seems to be roughly the 7 day range. Should we relay on candling if over the 7 day period? Since only getting 2-3 a day, wanted to hold off a little bit.

 

[corancher]

I generally try to collect my eggs Monday thru Saturday and set them on Sunday. You should be fine collecting them for several days and then setting them all together. Remember that when a bird hatches it's own babies it lays eggs in the nest for several days before she starts incubating them.

I don't think candling will tell you anything other than air cell size for egg older than 7 days. I say set them a see what happens.

 

[BAMACK2]

How and where do you keep your eggs after you collect them

 

[SED]

Right now I keep mine in egg cartons on the kitchen counter. I just bought a small fridge off of CL and have it plugged in now to see if I can get it to maintain a 50-60 degree temp. If so, I will start putting them in the fridge.

 

[ColbyNTX]

I set my eggs every Friday and have great hatches. I do this so I can sell the poults over the weekend. Turkey eggs are good for at least 10 days before there is any drop off. I store mine in LG egg turners in my laundry room because there is no windows and it stays cold in there. If you feel the need to keep them at 55 degs, then get a wine fridge but it's not needed.

 

[Dogfish]

I have eggs from a 14 day window in the incubator right now, all fertile and developing.

 

[ColbyNTX]

If you think about it, turkeys will lay eggs in a nest for 2-3 weeks without any temp control and then decide to sit on them and have great hatches. Now if I were selling eggs to be shipped then 7 days would be the MAX due to travle time!