What should I do? Turkey eggs question UPDATE 3 hatched !

[fried green eggs]

I was given 4 turkey eggs last Saturday because the hen stopped sitting on them and the person knew I had a incubator. He didn't know how far along they were. I didn't think they would be viable however when I candled them - one looks to be about 2 weeks behind other three. I candled them again on Thursday and the three look like they are at day 18 but, I only have chicken eggs as a comparative for day to day development. How do I know when to start lock-down. I need pictures of candled turkey eggs past day 18. Can anyone help ?

 

[BayGoose]

Past day 18, the egg will probably begin to look like it's being filled up by the chick upon candling anyhow. They take 28 days to hatch, so try to find duck candling pictures as they have the same incubation period and should look about the same developmentally wise. If you are unsure when to go into lockdown, I'd say it's definitely safe to wait until you hear peeping from within the eggs or view your first external pip, then raise the humidity and go into lockdown. I do this all the time with all my birds and been doing it for years with great success. I hope you are able to hatch these guys and good luck!

 

[fried green eggs]

Thank you for the reply! I will look for duck candling pics like you suggested. I have them on a auto-turner. I hope they peep when I'm home because, I'm guessing they would have a hard time hatching in the auto-turner.

 

[Sweetlilbaby]

http://animalscience.ucdavis.edu/Avian/pfs32.htm This shows turkey eggs being candled it only has 4 pictures (two from early in incubation and two right at the end of incubation) but i thought it might help

 

[fried green eggs]

Thanks for the link. I'm going to candle again tonight and hope they are still moving. I'm a little worried that humidity is too high because I've read that Turkey eggs don't drydown as well as chicken eggs. I had the humidity at 35-40% and when I came home tonight its showing 53% . I didn't change anything and I can't see any pips.

 

[fried green eggs]

Well I candled last night and knew they must be getting close but, thought I would candle again tonight. I had the eggs on the auto turner and they hatched Today with it still moving them.

The three little chicks were all dry and fluffed up when I got home. So, I took out the auto turner and will let the chicks move the last egg around tonight. The last egg looks to be on day 10 or so and still developing.

 

[madi99]

congrats!!

i have absolutely no experience with turkeys but i would love to see pictures!!!!