Turkeys For 2013

[kuntrygirl]

Just curious, WHat does everyone use to incubate? I have a Hovabator 1588 which I love so far. My DH bought me a second incubator for valentines day to use as a hatcher, a Farm innovators 4200 pro series. I felt bad telling him but I dont really like it and want another hovabator... I think I may order one today and hope it gets here in time. But What do you all use?

I use a Sportsmen GQF 1502, and would not want anything else. This bator does all the work and has a very quick recovery, no mater how much you open the door. Once you set it up and have it set, you're good as long as it is in use. I open mine several times a day, just put in the eggs and take out the chicks, the bator does all the work. I add water and occasionally a new humidity pad(sponge water wick), but that's all there is to it.

I don't like the "vinegary" taste. I LOVE the taste of pickled beets, so I would want my pickled eggs to taste like pickled beets. I guess I could use the pickled juice from a jar of beets and put the eggs in there. Do you think that would work?

It should, I do that with dill pickles all the time. Just reheat it, so the jars will seal.

I'd miss living there too, did they do windows too. haha

Ok, I'll remember to reheat.

 

[Celie]

Mine have started laying I will probably try to hatch them in the incubator this year.

I won't get off topic and talk about geese, since this is our turkey thread.

But have to ask, have you hatched goose eggs in an incubator before. I'm studying and reading and I have a HEADACHE !!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, they hatch the same way as ducks do, only they are a lot bigger!

 

[r4eboxer]

Mine have started laying I will probably try to hatch them in the incubator this year.

I won't get off topic and talk about geese, since this is our turkey thread.

But have to ask, have you hatched goose eggs in an incubator before. I'm studying and reading and I have a HEADACHE !!!!!!!!!!!

I really think they make it more complicated than it is. I used a Styrofoam incubator without a turner, I bought the goose egg turner for my hovabator but my goose eggs were too heavy for it and it just sat there trying with all it's might to turn and never could. The temp is a little different and be sure to cool them once a day for 20 minutes. Turn when you leave for work in the morning, when you get home and when you go to bed. If I remember correctly we have similar work schedules. You will want to up the humidity in the bator to 70 for lock down. On my first attempt at incubating anything I had a 100 percent hatch. I can't remember the incubating humidity but I think it is around 40 percent.

 

[Celie]

Did my turkeys join the union and go on strike? I have 5 hens out of 13, that were laying until a week ago, then turkey eggs went down to 3 a day, yesterday only 2 eggs and so far today only one. I take all the eggs for incubating, so 3 of the hens are sitting on stolen chicken eggs! The original 2 turkeys 2 and 3 years old now, haven't even started to lay yet, and they started laying last year in February. Is anyone out there having this same thing happen, or should I go on an egg hunt? Every time I am outside, I can count all 13 hens, so if they are sneaking off, it's not for long! Sometimes, when it is raining, they will wonder over to the next door neighbors to eat some bugs over there, since they have eaten ALL of ours, which he doesn't mind, they keep the mosquitoes down, but they all come home after they have full bellies and everyone is accounted for. Last year, one of my two hens, then, wondered off and laid eggs in a neighbor's tractor shed, but she stayed gone most of the day, until I had to go every evening and get her and the egg. It really does not seam like they are laying anywhere, just stopped????????

 

[Bettacreek]

Well, still no baby poults. The one is still just pipped. Candled the other and it quit. Fully formed, yolk absorbed, just never internally pipped. :/

 

[Celie]

Well, still no baby poults. The one is still just pipped. Candled the other and it quit. Fully formed, yolk absorbed, just never internally pipped.

Hope this last one makes it !

 

[chiqita]

Well, still no baby poults. The one is still just pipped. Candled the other and it quit. Fully formed, yolk absorbed, just never internally pipped. :/

Cpl said hers sometimes smother themselves and she will make holes in the front to make sure they have air. This did not work for me but I'm trying to get her t make a video of her doing it so I can figure it out for future refrence-

 

[r4eboxer]

Cpl said hers sometimes smother themselves and she will make holes in the front to make sure they have air. This did not work for me but I'm trying to get her t make a video of her doing it so I can figure it out for future refrence-

I have seen this done in video, you take a very small drill bit and with your fingers twist on the blunt end of the egg just enough to penetrate the air sack, this way if the poult, chick, gosling, duckling (take your pic) takes longer to externally pip it has an air source and then can take a good long time to get out of the shell without suffocating.You need to candle so you know where to make the hole, and so you don't hit the poult. Of course the poult will need to internally pip to get the air. Usually if it is a suffocation they have been able to internally pip anyway.

 

[1MrsMagoo]

Sounds like you are close to my part of the start, since I am just over 2 hours from Kuntrygirl, and about 5 miles north of Hammond, just off I-55. I will be picking up a spring lamb from Kuntrygirl, when it is time and if I can bridge the gap for you two, I would be glad to?

You can't get turkeys to do things on our schedule, the little buggers!LOL

Celie.....

I am MUCH closer to you. We may actually start buying some of our feed at the Co-op in Kentwood, so would probably be driving right past you once a month or so! If the timing works out right for the eggs from Julie...you "bridging the gap" for me would be GREAT! I sure would feel better about the eggs knowing you were handling them rather than the postal service!

 

[erinszoo]

Well, still no baby poults. The one is still just pipped. Candled the other and it quit. Fully formed, yolk absorbed, just never internally pipped.

Ours have been hatching since Sunday but they've been taking 24 to 36 hours from the point of externally pipping before they've actually hatched out. We have two that have quit without pipping at all, 12 have hatched - one of those with help after zipping half way. He seemed to just get stuck and not move any more. He was still cheeping at us though so I just took the top off his shell and left him to push himself out. I have two more that pipped finally last night that are starting to zip now finally. It always seems to take forever to get them to the actual hatching point from the first pip. Can I ask, how do you hatch them? Do you have them laying down or sitting with the air sack up in a rack or carton?