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oh yes always cheaper to make your own.
not all that hard really, I was going to do the same thing but I am not a huge fan of auto turners, I have had way more foot problems with a turner than I have with hand turning.
geese and duck are harder on their feet in the shell while the shell is in the upright position and it tends to curl toes. I like them better on their sides and hand turned.
chicken and turkey dont appear to have the added weight and dont tend to crunch up their feet.
I dont know maybe its just a bad experience or more with an auto turner. everyone has different hatching results and it could very well be a me thing LOL.
The hovabator goose egg trays (bought or homemade) have the eggs on their sides. But because of the range of the turner, they won't be turned a full 180 degrees like with hand turning, maybe like 90 degrees. I just don't have the time (or memory lol) for hand turning.
I just had my first turkey hatch with curled toes. Now I feel guilty if the turner was the cause. I decided I wouldn't sell him because of the toes so I gave him to a broody last night to raise. Checked a couple hours later and he was near death! She had totally attacked him and left him in the cold. I think one or both wings are broken. The poor poor thing! He's much better this morning after warming up, but he's still got a long ways to go. I wish innocent babies didn't suffer as a result of my learning curve.
Everyone has a learning curve , dont beat yourself too badly. the main thing is you found him before he expired. you can splint the toes in hopes of them straightening out. tooth picks work best. paper tape to hold them on and not tear the skin coming off.
give it a try it might help a lot.
Broody hens can be such twits, sometimes stuffing an egg or more under her will be ok, but I have had some kick out strange eggs also. other will gladly take anything for an egg. < cough little jap hen> cough duck eggs cough lol. whats funny is watching her raise ducklings up to be chickens, its so funny, poor ducks cant figure out why sheisnt taking them to the water though lol. poor confused babies.
try the tooth pick trick and keep us posted.
edited many times on many posts due to lack of sleep and poor finger coordination this morning.