Advice on egg rotation

[grego86]

This morning I started my first incubation batch but I did not buy the automatic egg turner with my incubator. I've heard I can hand turn them every 8 hours ? Is this long enough to wait or to long ? Open to suggestions.

 

[XxMingirlxX]

My advice is taken from this article which is very helpful if you are hatching eggs, you should really give it a read

:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/hatching-eggs-101

"

Mark eggs, using a pencil, with an X on one side and an O on the other. Make sure to turn the eggs at least 3 times a day, or odd number of times. Turning by hand they should always be turned an odd amount of times and move them to a different part of the tray to protect them from temperature variation. You basically roll the eggs with your fingers/palm from X to O. It is important to NOT ROLL the eggs in the same direction every time. Improper rolling can cause the chalazae that holds the yolk in place to tear.Turning the egg prevents the embryo from touching and attaching to the membrane inside the egg. The most convenient way to turn eggs is to purchase an egg turner. Take extra precautions when turning eggs during the first week of incubation. The developing embryos have delicate blood vessels that rupture easily when severely jarred or shaken, thus killing the embryo. ​

"

 

[grego86]

Well I read the 101 guide. Didn't find anywhere in there where it said how often to rotate the eggs just to do it a odd number of times and never use the same direction. So the setup below I've seen in so many incubator setups. Is this successful as long as I lean the eggs from side to side ? I cut the bottom out of each hole so it can circulate air. I live in SW Arkansas and I'm keeping my incubator at 100F and 60% humidity. Are these numbers ok ?

 

[XxMingirlxX]

As for being clear on turning rules : follow what I listed above, turn a minimum of three times a day at regular intervals anddo not turn after day 18.

Temperature depends on your type of incubator. For forced air incubators, the optimum temperature is 99.5F and for still air ones 102F is optimum.

As for humidity, it depends on what kind of hatch you want to do. The overall goal of humidity is to aid the egg's weight-loss in incubation. An egg should lose 13-14% of it's original weight during incubation. You want to aim for the size of air cell shown below. As a result, humidity isn't a fixed number. As a guideline to begin from and to adjust from there. I would start it a 20-30% and raise to roughly 65% in lock down but you should adjust depending on the guidelines above. PLEASE NOTE : if you live in a humid climate you will need to take this into account.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Well I read the 101 guide. Didn't find anywhere in there where it said how often to rotate the eggs just to do it a odd number of times and never use the same direction. So the setup below I've seen in so many incubator setups. Is this successful as long as I lean the eggs from side to side ? I cut the bottom out of each hole so it can circulate air. I live in SW Arkansas and I'm keeping my incubator at 100F and 60% humidity. Are these numbers ok ?

As stated 99.5 for forced and 101-102 (101.5)F for still air taken near the TOPS of the eggs. As for humidity the first 17 days I highly recommend a low humidity incubation method especially for the styro bators. Most hatchers that aren't in a high elevation that use 50% + during the incubation period end up with dismal hatchers and many fully developed chicks that do not make it out from the shell. I don't like seeing higher than 45% and prefer 30-35% myself. Here is a little info and insight on how to adjust humidity according to your egg's needs. http://letsraisechickens.weebly.com...anuals-understanding-and-controlling-humidity (It looks like you have the LG 9200? I use that bator for hatching as well.)

When I hand turn (which I actually prefer to the automatic turner) I do either 3 or 5 times a day. It all depends on how early I get that first turn in. There are some people that use the method you are using. I lay mine and turn individually.

Another note is to always check all thermometers/hygrometers for accuracy.(Even brand new.) And never trust the bator gages w/o checking them. A thermometer that is innacurate can compromise your whole hatch. I run with nothing less than 2 and usually use 3.

Good luck!

 

[twink90]

When your laying eggs on the floor what's the best way to turn them? Pick up & actually roll it left or right. Let it lay on ground while you roll it or flip it completely over, end over end?
I have an old metal incubator & think I may have flipped to rough or to quick as I had 4 develop blood rings by day 7

 

[grego86]

twink90 you can roll them side to side very gently but never in the same direction. Meaning don't keep rolling it to the left/right every time. Mix it up some and you can mark an X on one side and on opposite side draw a O that way you know you've rotated them for sure. I've been told never to rotate end over end. Good luck !

 

[AmyLynn2374]

twink90 you can roll them side to side very gently but never in the same direction. Meaning don't keep rolling it to the left/right every time. Mix it up some and you can mark an X on one side and on opposite side draw a O that way you know you've rotated them for sure. I've been told never to rotate end over end. Good luck !

I was told never in the same direction because it weakens the chalazae. I don't know if this has any credibility, but I have seen it said repeatedly. I've never watched a broody "turn" eggs, but it would be interesting to note how they do it. I roll them one way and then back on the next roll usually.

 

[XxMingirlxX]

I was told never in the same direction because it weakens the chalazae. I don't know if this has any credibility, but I have seen it said repeatedly. I've never watched a broody "turn" eggs, but it would be interesting to note how they do it. I roll them one way and then back on the next roll usually.

Yes, that is true, improper rolling causes the Chalazae to tear.

As for how broodies do it, we will never know lol, they are magic. We have spent decades trying to mimic how they do it in the form of incubators but mother nature knows best.