Turning Incubator instead of eggs?

[bnentrup]

Ok,
I am newbie to hatching eggs. I have built a basic homemade foam, still air incubator, that is holding strong at 100.9 degrees. I am using Bill Worrell's method of dry incubation (will follow precisely).

MY QUESTION: Anyone here have success stories of NOT turning your eggs? I have been turning them the first few days, but could not help notice that pro-model egg turners seem to only rotate the egg about 45-degrees from one side to the next. If this is true, could I just do the same and rotate my entire incubator on an incline (being sure to not loose the eggs out of the carton holders) and achieve the EXACT same as the egg-turners?

Thanks Guys

 

[Falcon61]

yes you could. its just to keep the chick from sticking to the shell. odd number of times per day (3 or 5) so it not on the same side two nights in a row while your sleeping.

 

[debilorrah]

Yes you certainly can. My bator's turner is a unit that I place the bator on and it turns the whole thing.

 

[bnentrup]

Excellent! Just what I thought; I was going to be a bit upset if someone claimed mother hen always made sure she rotate her eggs 180-degrees! I can buy into the fact that she randomly moves the multiple times per day, thus keeping shell 'burn' from occurring.

I have 5-Brand new 3-year old hens (a nice mix of breeds), and picked up 24-eggs from the chicken farmer. One of the 5-laid an egg yesterday, and we included that one with our 24-hatching eggs for a 25-egg first run. I think we will do well as we have made a calendar, chart, and have the turning reminders set via SMS txt and email!! Yup, we are going to do it by the book.

Unfortunately, today we had another egg from our new hens laid, and we decide to crack open (partake) and discovered that yes indeed it was fertile.Oh well, means I should go ahead and set the next week or so worth aside if we want more hatchers!

thanks!

 

[countrychix]

I just finished my second hatch last Thursday. About day 2 or 3 into it I decided that I had had enough of turning eggs manually, one at a time (I had 24 eggs in there this time and it took quite a while,plus huge temp and humidity drops, etc). So, I decided that I would put all the eggs in egg cartons, flaps and tops removed, and place them in the bator on a 2x4 cut-off so that they were resting at a 45 degree angle. Instead of turning each egg individually, all I had to do was turn the egg carton around and set it back down at the same 45 degree angle. It accomplished exactly the same thing the egg turners do and it only takes a few seconds. I could do 2 cartons by only partially opening the lid in less than 10 seconds. I left the eggs in the cartons for the remainder of the hatch and had great success. Of the 22 that went into lockdown, I had 18 that hatched. So overall it was a 75% hatch rate on my second time incubating with 1.) a homemade $10 incubator, 2.) Shipped eggs, and 3.) eggs were 14 days old due to postal delays. Happy???, you bet I am.

 

[bnentrup]

Countrychix; I am impressed with your post and happy to have you reply with real results - 75% is GREAT! I hope to achieve the same.

 

[clairemac9]

we have 2 brinsea incubators one is an automatic turner and the other manual but we have more of a sucess rate with the manual ? so now we turn both

 

[darbella]

I place the eggs in cartons and can get 5 dozen eggs in the bator this way, then I have a block of wood about 2" tall and I place that under a different side of the whole bator 3-5 times a day. I dont even have to open the lid. But for some reason, myself and a lot of people are having trouble with humidity in my area as of lately. Of course the weather here is so onconsitant that it is probably the reason why. Here it is May and we are suppose to be at 27 degrees tonight. Figures I just put my 11 week old poults in the coop yesterday and now they are going to be chilly! I just put plastic over all the cracks in the coop and also the door. Thankfully it has a window that faces the sun sop is mice and toaty warm insinde right now.

 

[deerman]

Quote:
That works with incubator with a fan, but not with most still air incubator, because eggs are closer to the heating unit..


Yes most incubator turn whole tray at 45 degree.

 

[plecostrum]

i am confused as to which end up or on side should i be turning could you send me a pic of your turner as this sounds a great idea

thankyou

when turning and i in effect rolling it on its side ?
or with point down turn it over fat end down?