Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Poultry and Pets => The Hen House => Topic started by: scabs on April 09, 2012, 18:14
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I finally did it, I bought a (fairly) cheap manual 10-egg incubator, set it up as per the instructions and put some eggs in.
I believe I don't start turning them until 24 hours later, but what I'm unsure about is how much I turn them: a quarter turn, 180 degrees..?
I'd really appreciate some advice on this, as I usually leave it to the birds to do all the hard work!
Cheers,
Andrew
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Hey,
Be warned, hatching eggs is very addictive, I cannot stop :wacko:
You should let the eggs rest for 12 - 24 hours, pointy end down, before you put them in the incubator.
mark one side x and the other 0 and turn 180 deg at least 3 times per day, more if possible and always an odd number of times. this is so you alternate the side they are on during the night. This is usually the longest they go without being turned.
Remember to stop turning after day 18 and to raise the humidity level.
Good luck ::)
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180 degrees! Perfect, that's the bit I was struggling to find out.
Thank you.
:)
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I turned my eggs 3 times per day manually with a push/pull rod that came with the incubator.
I have now purchased an auto-egg turner for the incubator, but it says it cycles itself every 2 hours, which means it is turning the eggs 12 times per day? ....... Or have i misunderstood?
I ask because i thought that the eggs should be turned no less than twice and no more than 4 times per day?
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in commercial set ups the eggs are tilted every hour and broody hens are always re-arranging their eggs. So long as they are turned at least 3 times a day for the first 18 days then they should be ok.
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in commercial set ups the eggs are tilted every hour and broody hens are always re-arranging their eggs. So long as they are turned at least 3 times a day for the first 18 days then they should be ok.
Thanks Joyfull