Turkey Talk for 2014

[Momhunter]

Thanks. I'll find one of the air cell guides.

Thanks, it sounds like Porter likes lower temp during hatching. I have been matching the temp in my hatcher and incubator. Due to my early hatches I lowered in incubator temp from 100 to 99.5. I'll lower my hatcher to 98.5 and leave it's humidity up and see how things turn out for this weeks hatch and next weeks.
Thank all of you for your help and suggestions. I'll keep you updated on results.

 

[sonderah]

Just did day 10 candle on my 1st turkey eggs I've ever had. Set 9, but I knew at least 4 had frozen, just didn't know which ones, and saw 4 little babies swimming around!! 18 days to go!!!

 

[Arielle]

Quote: I'm sorry I can't explain the science very well, but the point behind lowering the temp is that at that high a humidity the oxygen level is decreased sufficiently to kill chicks. BY decreasing the temps little, the air can resaturate to a more normal level. Remeber at hatch time the chicks are making thier own heat. ONly those still developing need the warm heat to keep developing; otherwise hatched chicks are good under a heat lamp of 95 . . . . SO a hatching temp of 98.5 should be fine.

 

[Sydney Acres]

Quote: I'm sorry I can't explain the science very well, but the point behind lowering the temp is that at that high a humidity the oxygen level is decreased sufficiently to kill chicks. BY decreasing the temps little, the air can resaturate to a more normal level. Remeber at hatch time the chicks are making thier own heat. ONly those still developing need the warm heat to keep developing; otherwise hatched chicks are good under a heat lamp of 95 . . . . SO a hatching temp of 98.5 should be fine.

Sounds like you explained the science pretty well!

I have to admit I'm getting confused by the term hatcher vs incubator. I thought chicks/poults hatched in the incubator then went into the brooder. Did I miss a box? Or are you using the term hatcher to refer to the last few days of incubation when you raise the humidity and stop turning the eggs, which I've heard described as lockdown?

I am venturing into hatching for the first time, and the eggs are on day four of incubation. I have one broody (chicken) hen setting on her own five eggs, plus 11 eggs in the incubator from two other hens that will be separated in pedigree cages at lockdown. The incubator eggs were started about 18 hours after the broody eggs, and my original plan was to let everyone hatch, leg band everyone to keep track of parentage, then slip the incubator chicks under the broody hen on the first night. But now I have a second broody hen, so it looks like I'll be able to let her continue her brood over ceramic eggs, then distribute the chicks evenly after they're banded, assuming that there's enough viable eggs to justify having two broodies when they're candled. If not, I'll break the brood of the second broody early.

 

[uphilljill]

Hatcher vs incubator: More of a tool for people who are doing staggered hatches. (Setting new eggs every week.)

For example I use a Hovabator with turner for incubating, then when the eggs are getting towards hatch time I move them over to a TSC incubator (sans turner) for hatching. It keeps the dedicated incubator cleaner and allows for adjusting hatch temperature and humidity without effecting newer eggs.

If you're hatching all your eggs at the same time, a hatcher is not necessary.

 

[R2elk]

Sounds like you explained the science pretty well!

I have to admit I'm getting confused by the term hatcher vs incubator. I thought chicks/poults hatched in the incubator then went into the brooder. Did I miss a box? Or are you using the term hatcher to refer to the last few days of incubation when you raise the humidity and stop turning the eggs, which I've heard described as lockdown?

I am venturing into hatching for the first time, and the eggs are on day four of incubation. I have one broody (chicken) hen setting on her own five eggs, plus 11 eggs in the incubator from two other hens that will be separated in pedigree cages at lockdown. The incubator eggs were started about 18 hours after the broody eggs, and my original plan was to let everyone hatch, leg band everyone to keep track of parentage, then slip the incubator chicks under the broody hen on the first night. But now I have a second broody hen, so it looks like I'll be able to let her continue her brood over ceramic eggs, then distribute the chicks evenly after they're banded, assuming that there's enough viable eggs to justify having two broodies when they're candled. If not, I'll break the brood of the second broody early.

An incubator is typically used during the early part of incubation up until lock down. In the incubator. the humidity is typically controlled at a lower % than the % humidity used during lock down. Also whether done by hand or by automatic means, the eggs are turned in the incubator. An incubator can also be used as a hatcher which is the case for most people since they normally only have one incubator and most just change the incubators during lock down.

A true hatcher does not come with a means to automatically turn eggs since there is no need to turn eggs while in lock down. The eggs are placed in the incubator until lock down at which time they transferred to the hatcher.

Using both an incubator and a hatcher together makes it much easier to deal with staggered hatches. The incubator always gets to be set at the proper conditions for incubating and the hatcher always gets to be set at the proper conditions for lock down. Even using an incubator and a hatcher together it still is best to set eggs once a week rather than daily so that one is not constantly opening the hatcher during lock down and allows for a few days to get the hatcher cleaned out after each hatch.

 

[BullChick]

Quote: I'm sorry I can't explain the science very well, but the point behind lowering the temp is that at that high a humidity the oxygen level is decreased sufficiently to kill chicks. BY decreasing the temps little, the air can resaturate to a more normal level. Remeber at hatch time the chicks are making thier own heat. ONly those still developing need the warm heat to keep developing; otherwise hatched chicks are good under a heat lamp of 95 . . . . SO a hatching temp of 98.5 should be fine.

Sounds like you explained the science pretty well!

I have to admit I'm getting confused by the term hatcher vs incubator. I thought chicks/poults hatched in the incubator then went into the brooder. Did I miss a box? Or are you using the term hatcher to refer to the last few days of incubation when you raise the humidity and stop turning the eggs, which I've heard described as lockdown?

I am venturing into hatching for the first time, and the eggs are on day four of incubation. I have one broody (chicken) hen setting on her own five eggs, plus 11 eggs in the incubator from two other hens that will be separated in pedigree cages at lockdown. The incubator eggs were started about 18 hours after the broody eggs, and my original plan was to let everyone hatch, leg band everyone to keep track of parentage, then slip the incubator chicks under the broody hen on the first night. But now I have a second broody hen, so it looks like I'll be able to let her continue her brood over ceramic eggs, then distribute the chicks evenly after they're banded, assuming that there's enough viable eggs to justify having two broodies when they're candled. If not, I'll break the brood of the second broody early.

Some people do use a second incubator for lockdown. It frees up the main incubator for hatching more eggs right away.

 

[uphilljill]

Your broody plan sounds good. If I'm sure the broody isn't going to break, I've also given them eggs out of the incubator to finish hatching. They don't realize they're sitting for a shorter period and it frees up incubator and brooder space.

 

[uphilljill]

I'm FINALLY joining the egg club! We go our first turkey egg today!

(It's still below freezing here and we didn't get to it before it froze and cracked,

but at least now we know to be on the watch for more.)

 

[Arielle]

Yup-- I use my LG as a incubator and for hatching aka lockdown. BUt when I really load upon eggs, I need my larger incubator to handle far more than 40 eggs, or if I need to stagger the hatches like turkey v chickens eggs, it sure helps management wise to have 2 up and running.

Incubator-- used during the time before "lockdown" for turning and low humidity and good ventialtion.

Hatcher-- no turning, waiting for hatching, and higher humidity.

Brooder-- Hatchees go into brooder for heat , and food and water and play.