What am I doing wrong?? (hatching question)

[shelleyd2008]

I NEVER have any luck hatching turkey eggs. Usually, they quit within the last week or they pip and die. I've always tried shipped eggs, never my own until this year. The first egg from my (no longer here) turkeys pipped yesterday and died. It was kind of 'gummy' over the pip?? Humidity is around 65% in the hatcher, the incubator has humidity around 30-35%. Both are hovabator genesis's, one is a 1583 (hatcher) and the other is a 1588 (incubator). I have them in an auto-turner in the incubator then lay them on their sides for hatching in the 1583. Any tips? I've only got a few more turkey eggs set and I'd like to get at least SOME of them to hatch!

 

[birdbrain5]

somtimes people say if they are in the auto turner during incubation you should keep them upright, like in an egg carton that is cut down for hatch. just to keep the position of the egg the same. some say it doesnt matter.. you might try it just to see how it works out for you. also, do you know if your humidity is correct? i have a 1588 and i have had mine at 65% but i had shrink wrap happen my first 2 or 3 hatches, now ive been putting it up to 70%, especially if i see them pipped i make sure its plenty high. i hope you have better luck this next try!.. i hope i do too, i can hatch them but i cant seem to keep them alive

 

[MissTurkey4]

It sound like you are not getting proper evaporation durring incubation. Try no water or less water. I have to hatch mine with little or no water. I know that sounds crazy but it works for me. If I raise my humidity the poults die from lack of oxygen.

 

[ColbyNTX]

I don't have any problems hatching turkeys. I only hatch between 30-40 per week though depending on how the girls lay that week. My hatcher stays between 65-69% humidity but the temp in my hatcher is at 98.5. I incubate at 99.7 but have a lower temp at lockdown in my hatcher. I use turkey egg trays which are just like chicke trays but larger in my cabinet incubators. At lockdown I lay them on their sides in the hatching trays just as you would a chicken egg. Your humidity seems fine if it's right. It sounds as though the temp is too high! High temps and high humidity will cause what you are saying. Get another theromometer to check temp and try to lower it to 98.5 at your next lockdown and see if that helps. I do this for everything.

 

[MissTurkey4]

Porters tips on hatching? http://www.porterturkeys.com/egghatchingtips.htm

Our ALBC page 26 to check the evaproration of your egg. http://albc-usa.org/EducationalResources/master_breeder_turkeys.html

I can't hatch eggs from other elevations. It will not work at all. My turkeys eggs are different because they have adapted to our elevation.

 

[faykokoWV]

This was helpful, my midget white eggs go on lock down tomorrow.

 

[shelleyd2008]

Quote:
That can't be it since my incubator never gets water. It runs between 25% and 35% humidity most of the time.

 

[GJ_Kate]

My first 2 hatches this year went great with one of them at 100% from my own eggs. I barely added any water during incubation, but you wouldn't need to. We live in really really dry area, so this just kept us in the 20s and 30s. Then at lockdown, I tried to get the humidity as high as possible, like the high 70s. Those darn membranes on turkey eggs are like leather! I've assisted several poults make it out by just tearing the membrane a little once they have it started.

This last hatch I had went HORRIBLE though. I had temp problems in both incubation and lockdown. Stupid styrofoam bators!!! I only had 2 hatch out of 10. One other one zipped about 1/3 of the way, but I wasn't home. It died...

 

[MissTurkey4]

Quote:
Where the eggs you last hatched from eggs not local to you? Eggs from sea level turkeys will hatch poorly or not at all if you are at high elevation. I also have better luck with a older flock for hatching. You just have to find what works for you. If you live at high elevation maybe these tips will help.

http://www.thepoultrysite.com/articles/1123/hatching-at-high-altitudes

http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=615648ap

 

[GJ_Kate]

Quote:
Where the eggs you last hatched from eggs not local to you? Eggs from sea level turkeys will hatch poorly or not at all if you are at high elevation. I also have better luck with a older flock for hatching. You just have to find what works for you. If you live at high elevation maybe these tips will help.

http://www.thepoultrysite.com/articles/1123/hatching-at-high-altitudes

http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=615648ap

Actually this last hatch was all mine too. Nothing different, same tom and 2 hens. I haven't gotten any turkey eggs shipped. I did buy some from someone local and they are doing OK, but had a couple clears.
Thanks, I'll read those articles!