Why are you not supposed to turn the egg in the last three days?

[little white]

And how does the broody hen know not to turn the egg?
... We're on day 19, and I picked up the egg today to take a look at it.
Is that bad? yikes.

 

[TACEYPERKINS]

I dont know that queston either. I'll go look it up!

 

[nivtup]

You are fine, I have 5 hatch while still in the turner last week.

 

[fremo]

The point of turning eggs is to allow oxygen to penetrate every cell in the forming chicken. Depending on what type of egg it is the last three days all that is happeneing is the now formed chick is absorbing the egg yolk which becomes his food source until it learns to feed also it contains DNA programming from its mother. They absorb this yolk while lying on their backs in the hatching position where they can pip and push with their feet.
The air gap starts to fill up with carbon dioxide as they almost double in size during this time and this is for a reason. The chicks start to struggle for breath so they start to try to get out. If facing the correct way there first attempt at pippng should get them into this air gap where they will start to breathe through their mouths for the first time. The air by now has a high level of carbon dioxide which triggers their pipping muscle in their neck to swell until it is so big it acts as a hammer to help them break out.(thats why they have fat heads when borne)
If you put the egg on a flat surface it will roll to its correct position and you just put it back in that way.Hope that helps.

 

[Trenary Duck Farm]

From Ohio State University:

Turning Eggs

In commercial incubation, eggs are placed in flats, and the flats are automatically tilted back and forth every hour. The purpose of turning is to prevent the developing embryo from sticking to the shell. For eggs in small incubators that do not have an automatic turner, it is recommended that they be turned at least three times a day.

To assist this procedure, place a mark on each egg with a pencil. Alternate the position of the mark when eggs are turned. If eggs are incubated in an upright position, the round end always should be up and the more pointed end down. Beginning at day 18, chicken eggs should no longer be turned.

The need to turn eggs is being re-examined. There is some evidence to suggest that eggs need to be turned for only the first half of incubation; however, at this time the safest recommendation is to turn chicken eggs for the first 18 days of incubation.

 

[little white]

Fascinating. Maybe that's why my girls just gently tap the egg into place under their breasts.. so the egg rolls to its correct spot on its own.

 

[IggiMom]

Quote:
Fremo, that was very interesting. Hmmm.

Catherine