by Good day, poultry farmers and turkey lovers! Artificial incubation of turkey eggs in our material. Let’s talk about temperature and humidity. In recent years, it has become common practice to hatch young birds in incubators at home. Incubators are produced by our domestic industry for use in personal poultry farming.
But the demand for them is not fully satisfied, so poultry farmers make incubators with their own hands from all sorts of junk, which are not inferior in quality industrial. Imported manufacturers also offer small-sized tabletop incubators of different egg capacities on the market.
For example, the popular in Russia incubator “Nasedka” with a standard capacity of 48 chicken eggs on a grid, 32 duck eggs, 32 turkey eggs. Everything depends on the grid! It works from a 220 V power supply. The electronic thermostat automatically turns the heating plates on and off. The automatic drive ensures the rotation of the eggs.
There are different models of imported incubators from the HHD EW series at an affordable price. Take a look at this link range and cost. The model designation indicates the number of chicken eggs that are planned to be incubated. Accordingly, fewer turkey eggs will fit.
Artificial incubation of turkey eggs
The entire process lasts on average 28 days. Normal embryo development occurs at a temperature of 37,5-39,0°C.
- From the first day of incubation until the allantois is completely closed, the temperature should be at 37,5-38,0°C;
- and from the 14th to the 20th day – 38,0-38,5°C;
- from the 21st to the 27th day – 38,5-39,0°C.
Eggs laid in the cold season, for example in late autumn or winter, are incubated at a temperature of 38,0°C, and in warm weather – not lower than 37,5°C.
The eggs are rotated automatically, the first time two hours after placing them in the incubator, and then at intervals of three to four hours, but it is advisable to rotate them every two hours.
Relative air humidity is maintained at a level at which water evaporates little. At an air temperature in the incubator of 37,4-37,5°C, the relative humidity should be 47-48%. As the temperature increases, the relative humidity should be higher and vice versa.
And only during the hatching of turkeys it is necessary to maintain a humidity level of about 70% at a relatively low temperature (36,5-37°C). Air exchange in the incubator also changes according to the incubation periods.
Short-term cooling of eggs stimulates embryo development. Cool the eggs for 10-15 minutes to 30-34°C. It is very important that after cooling the temperature in the incubator is restored within 15-20 minutes.
Turkeys hatching
During the incubation of turkey eggs, attention is paid to the last 3-4 days of embryonic development, when a lot of physiological heat is produced and the temperature of the eggs increases. Therefore, when the surface temperature of the eggs exceeds 38,5°C, they are cooled.
In the last couple of days, the eggs must not be turned over. If the incubator has a grate, then the grate is removed. If the incubator has cells for turning, then this mechanism is removed, leaving the eggs alone on the bottom.
On the 25th day, the temperature in the incubator is maintained at 36,5-37,0°C, and the relative air humidity is increased. During the mass hatching of turkey poults, the humidity is increased to 70% and maintained at this level until the end of hatching.
The babies are taken to the brooder only after they are completely dry!
Vladimir from Karelia compiled advice on artificial incubation of turkey eggs at home.
