Friday, May 21, 2010

How do I hatch turkey eggs without an incubator?


Answers:
About the only other way is to get a turkey to sit on it, or a goose, or some other bird large enough to keep it warm. Honestly, trying to hatch any egg without a parent bird or some sort of an incubator is a big waste of time and energy, for an almost certain failure. However, if you don't want to buy an incubator, and you still want to try to hatch the eggs, you can make a crude incubator out of a wooden box or a styrofoam cooler. Provide a source of heat, usually a light bulb, and some means to control the temperature, such as a household line voltage thermostat. You will have to be competent to wire it and to build it such that it is not a fire hazard. Add a pan of water inside to provide humidity, and maybe you'll have a successful hatch.

The incubation period for turkey eggs is 28 days, and they should be kept at 99 degrees, and 55-60% humidity. Raise the humidity for the last three days to assisit the chick in the hatching process. The eggs need to be turned over at least twice a day during the incubation period, except for the last 3-4 days, when the chick is orienting itself into the hatching position.

Here is a good website about hatching eggs: http://www.msstate.edu/dept/poultry/hatc...

You can get a decent small incubator for about $50, which believe me is worth it, not having to build one on your own.

www.cutlersupply.com
www.dblrsupply.com

I have two incubators, the hovabator and the little giant. I think the hovabator is better.

Good luck

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