Turning eggs

[Beka]

So I need to turn them an odd number of times, minimum- 3 times a day which I can cope with but if I'm in the house all day then would it be beneficial for me to turn them 5 or 7 times that day or should I stick to 3 everyday?

 

[Billy7871]

A hen will turn her eggs every 15 min so I read. So i guess 5-7 times a day is fine. Auto turners turn them that many times a day. I have a friend who turns them in the morning and at night. 2 times a day and the do fine.

 

[Ridgerunner]

This link addresses turning eggs in detail, both before and after incubation starts. Chickens can't count and I'm sure they have no concept of odd and even, but if turning them an odd number of times helps you have a system that insures you turn them regularly, that's great. Whatever works.

Texas A&M Incubation site
http://gallus.tamu.edu/Extension publications/b6092.pdf

 

[Beka]

Sorry, my question wasn't very clear. What I meant was- is it ok to turn the eggs say 5 times one day and only turn 3 the next or should I just stick to turning them the same number of times each day?

I read that you turn them an odd number of times so that they end up on a different side every night because they won't be turned through the night. I also read that you should weigh your eggs every day during incubation- is this necessary?

 

[bantiesrule]

I've turned them different number of times on different days. I do try to do an odd number so they are not on the same side every night but that doesn't always happen. I've also missed a day or two (out camping) and have always had good hatches with my chicken eggs.
I have never weighed eggs that I've incubated, never even heard of doing it. Why would you?

 

[Ridgerunner]

A hen does not turn each egg the same number of times each day. 5 one day and 3 the next will not matter. Turning them does matter.

I understand your point about leaving them on different sides at night. A hen will not do that but I certainly don't think it will hurt anything to do it your way.

If you have a scale that is that accurate, you can better tell if your humidity is right by weighing them. I personally think it is overkill to weight them every day. I don't think you gain enough information to enable you to better manage your incubation. I also believe in handling the eggs as little as possible during incubation to reduce the risk of introducing bacteria to the eggs, no matter how much I have washed my hands. But that is just my personal opinion. I an certainly not an expert.

Good luck!

 

[jvls1942]

the hen is on her eggs all night so they get turned through the night..

I have never weighed an egg.. I suppose if you are in college and are doing an experiment, it would be necessary. hatching eggs takes up enough of my time,, I am not about to start weighing eggs..

I have 500 to 600 going at a time.
and what about the big hatcheries that have 50,ooo going.. I don't think so.

I very seldom candle, either..

candling is mostly for the curioous.

if an egg is not cracked, it can go the whole incubation time without going bad and exploding.. and if an egg does go bad, you will smell it in plenty of time to remove it...

and you should remove it as soon as possible..

 

[Beka]

Thanks alot of the advice, it is much appreciated.

Eggs loose 15% of their weight by the time they hatch. If you draw a graph showing the starting weight and the hatching weight then weight your eggs everyday you can draw in the line it is following and alter the humidity accordingly. It's a simple and probably useful procedure but since it's not necessary and is time consuming- I'll pass, it would be interesting to do at some point though. It was comprehended by the man who owns? runs? bird world.