WHere to store my turkey eggs?

[Arielle]

I picked up a year old hen ( and Tom) on Friday and have started collecting her eggs. I have 2 choices where to store the eggs until I set up an incubator. I want to try really hard to hatch the first eggs as she was in a pen with multiple toms and I would like to have poults by other toms as well as the one I bought.

Which is better?

Basement at a steady 60 degrees or

Refrigerator at 40-42, maybe 45 degrees.

Thank you.

 

[bryleighs_gmal]

i have raised turkeys for 30 years i always place in the basement

1st....my hatch rate is better

2nd...i dont let any of my eggs reach below 60 for hatching...


everyone is different this is my way...try both ways to find your way

 

[Arielle]

Thank you--the basement it is.

 

[ColbyNTX]

Quote:

Don't forget to turn them a few times a day in storage also!

 

[A.T. Hagan]

In Florida I keep my eggs in the refrigerator because except for cold spells in the winter there is no cool place to keep them. If you have a basement that really does stay at 60 degrees then that is the place to use.

 

[Arielle]

To AT Hagan: The basement really is at 60 degrees; used the same thermometer as I use for the brooder to check both basement and 'fridge. I'm in southern New England and kept the south trees to shade the house.

To ColbyN TX: Thanks for the reminder. I turn them every time I think of it, so 4-5 times a day.

 

[Arielle]

UPdate--

Hot weather is increasing the basement temp so I have moved the eggs to the top of my chest freezer which feels cold to the touch. Waiting to check the temp. ALso changed egg cartons to a plastic one; read that stored eggs can loose too much moisture. The basement has high humidity anyway--DH runs the dehumidifier all summer ( I shut it off for now) . Guess I need to practice the wet bulb technique to check storage humidity!

I have read conflicting info on how long to store turkey eggs. Some info is 7-10 days like chickens others say turkeys are unique and can be held longer--but how many days without decreasing % hatch????

 

[bryleighs_gmal]

i do not go over 8 days i have tried many times from 4 days to 6 days my hatch rates was better at 8 days of age..i even tried 12 days fertility hit 50% decrease i went back to 8 days..

 

[A.T. Hagan]

I've set turkey eggs up to three weeks old and still had about half of them hatch. But you'll get your best hatch rate if they are ten days or less old. Assuming good storage.

 

[ColbyNTX]

Don't worry so much about the temp. I keep mine in a little giant egg turner in the laundry room which stays about 70! I collect eggs for 1 week because I set every Friday but up to 2 weeks still gets good hatches. Remeber, a broody will lay a few weeks with no way to control the temp and still have good hatches. It is also late in the season and fertillity usually drops because the Tom is not as interested as he is in the spring.