Turkey eggs requires a specific incubation process due to the difference of turkey eggs from chicken eggs. The incubation process for turkey eggs lasts for 28 day and requires precise control of the temperature, humidity and movement of the turkey eggs within the incubator. If these conditions isnt followed, the turkey eggs may not hatch.
Following the chart for incubating turkey eggs will ensure that the turkey eggs hatch successfuly. To setup the incubator for turkey eggs, you should preheat the incubator for at least one day prior to placing the turkey eggs into the incubator. The incubator must be set to the correct temperature for the turkey eggs, or 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit.
How to Incubate and Hatch Turkey Eggs
However, the temperature at the top of the incubator may not be the same than the temperature at the level of the eggs. Therefore, it is important to use a reliable hygrometer to measure the humidity of the incubator, as the humidity control within the incubators are often inaccurate. Additionally, you should use fresh turkey eggs; ideally, they should be collected within one week of the turkeys laying the eggs, and stored in a cool location until they are placed into an incubator.
If the turkey eggs are too old, they may not hatch. For the first 21 days of incubation, the turkey eggs should be incubated at 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit, with the humidity levels set to the high 50s percentage point. During this time, you should turn the turkey eggs three time each day.
The turkey eggs should be turned at a 45 degree angle, and can be individually marked with an “X” with a ballpoint pen. If you dont turn the turkey eggs, the embryos will die. Additionally, an automatic turner can be used within the incubator to turn the turkey eggs.
However, you should remove the turkey eggs from the automatic turner after day 25 of incubation. Candling turkey eggs will allow for monitoring of the development of the embryo within the turkey eggs. Candling should be performed at day seven of incubation.
To candy the turkey eggs, you shine the eggs into a dark room with a bright light. Fertile turkey eggs will display a pattern of veins, while infertile turkey eggs will not exhibit any vein. The turkey eggs should be candled again at day 14 to ensure that no embryo have died within the incubator.
In case any dead embryos are located within the incubator, you should remove them. By day 21, the turkey eggs with the developing embryos will appear mostly dark within the eggs due to the development of the feathers of the turkey poult. Candling turkey eggs allow for the identification of which turkey eggs are developing.
On day 22 of the incubation process, the turkey eggs should be locked down. During this time, the turkey eggs should not be turned. Additionally, the humidity should be increased to the 70s percentage point by adding water to the water trays within the incubator.
The temperature should be slightly decreased during this time, as well as the incubator lid should be sealed. High humidity during this time will soften the shell of the turkey eggs, allowing the poult to hatch from the shell. During this phase, the incubator should not be opened.
The process of the turkey poult to hatch from the shell is referred to as pipping. An internal pip occurs when the beak of the poult punctures the air cell within the turkey egg. An external pip occurs when the beak of the poult crack the shell of the turkey egg.
After pipping, the turkey poult will hatch from the shell over a period of 12 to 24 hour. During the hatching process, it is important to not assist the poult in breaking out of the shell. This process allows the poult to properly absorb the yolk sac, which will provide the poult with the energy needed to begin walking and gain strength.
The correct humidity and temperature of the incubator are critical factor to ensure that the turkey poult will successfully hatch. If the temperature increases to above 103 degrees Fahrenheit, the high temperature may harm the embryos, which can lead to spinal deformity within the poult. If the humidity within the incubator is too low during the early stage, the air cell within the turkey egg will become too large, which can lead to the poult drowning within its egg.
Because turkey eggs are larger than chicken eggs, small errors regarding the humidity and temperature within the incubator will have a large impact on the turkey eggs. After the turkey poult have hatched from their shells, they should be moved to a brooder. The brooder should be set to 95 degrees Fahrenheit.
Additionally, you should provide the turkey poult with game bird starter feed that contains 28 percent protein; the poult require this level of protein for developing muscle and feathers. After the poult have developed feathers, the temperature within the brooder can be decreased. They should of been kept warm.