What's the deal with turning? How often should it be done? What happens if eggs aren't turned enough?

[GregJS234]

I've read that a hen turns each egg every 15 minutes. Mot peope seem to say at least 3x a day is good enough.

I've also heard that turning isn't as important during the final week on incubation. What would the ideal turning schedule be?

What would happen if the eggs weren't turned enough?

 

[MaryTheChickenLover]

If your eggs aren't turned enough the chicks will come out of the egg deformed.

 

[nuthatched]

If the eggs aren't turned enough, the blood vessels won't be developed to sustain the chick as it gets larger, the chick will usually die before hatching.
3 is the minimum number of turns and it's ok to do that, but most people do 5-7 times a day or however much their schedule will allow or get an auto turner. you don't turn the eggs the last 3-4 days (referred to as lockdown), so the chick can get into the proper postition to hatch.