If you want your turkey eggs to hatch healthily, use an incubator. An incubator can help keep the temperature of the eggs stable. The incubator also has a container that can be filled with water. This container can provide the moisture your turkey needs to stay healthy. To aid growth, turkey eggs should be turned several times each day. After 28 days, the chicks will hatch and are ready to be cared for into adulthood.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Heating the Incubator
Step 1. Choose an incubator with sufficient space
There are several types of incubators that can be used, but all incubators work the same way. One of the most important stages in choosing an incubator is making sure that it is the right size. Turkeys can lay 2-3 eggs per week, so know how many turkeys to keep and which eggs to incubate. After that, choose an incubator that fits your needs and budget.
- Non-fan incubators are inexpensive and are very suitable for incubating a small number of eggs. Since there is no air circulation in this incubator, you must open the incubator to maintain sufficient oxygen levels. In addition, you should adjust the temperature of the incubator and turn the eggs every day.
- The fan incubator can keep the air circulation in the incubator balanced. Most fan incubators can be programmed by the user. In addition, this incubator has a shelf that rotates automatically. This rack can keep the turkey healthy.
- Most incubators have a special slot for storing eggs. Therefore, you can find out how many eggs can be incubated. Most incubators can be used to incubate the eggs of chickens or other poultry species. Therefore, you do not need to buy an incubator made specifically for turkey eggs.
Step 2. Set up the incubator 24 hours before adding the turkey eggs
Place the incubator on a safe and stable surface in a room at a constant temperature. Plug the incubator into a wall outlet. Allow the incubator to heat up and adapt to the humidity of the room. To prevent the health of the turkey eggs from being compromised, preheat the incubator before adding the eggs.
- While waiting for the incubator to heat up, store the turkey eggs in a cool place, such as a cupboard. Cold temperatures can restrain the growth of turkey eggs. Before incubating the eggs, warm the eggs for 4-8 hours until they are at room temperature.
- Generally, most incubators have fans that can keep the air distribution in them balanced. These incubators are easier to find than non-fan incubators. The fanless incubator must be opened to let oxygen in. Know what type of incubator you are using while waiting for the incubator to heat up.
Step 3. Fill the water container to increase the humidity of the incubator
Depending on the type of incubator used, the water container may be labeled with the letter “W” which means water. If the water container isn't labeled, look for a flat container or one that doesn't have an egg rack. Pour 120 ml of clean water into the water container. The temperature of the water being poured does not need to be very specific because the temperature inside the incubator will heat the water until it evaporates.
To change the humidity level of the incubator, adjust the water content in the water container. Add more water to increase the humidity of the incubator. To reduce the humidity of the incubator, reduce the moisture content in the water container
Step 4. Set the incubator thermometer and then heat the incubator to the appropriate temperature
When looking at the front of the incubator, the thermometer clamp is located in the center, slightly to the right. Slide the handle of the thermometer into the clamp and position the thermometer so that it points towards the center of the incubator. Set the fan incubator temperature to 37.5°C. When using a fanless incubator, set the temperature to 38 °C.
- Use a thermometer with a long handle for best results. The thermometer should be at least of the turkey's egg height for a more accurate measurement of the incubator temperature.
- To increase the height of the thermometer, place a plastic cup or wooden block under it.
Step 5. Tie a cloth on the bulb of the second thermometer and dip it in the water
To make a thermometer with a wet bulb, moisten a cotton shoelace, slip it over the thermometer bulb, and tie it tightly. Dip the other end of the shoelace in the water. After that, check the thermometer and make sure it is 27-32 °C and the humidity level is 55%.
- As long as the shoelaces remain wet, a thermometer with a wet bulb can measure the average humidity level of the incubator.
- To determine the humidity level of the incubator, compare the measurement results of a wet bulb thermometer with the overall temperature of the incubator. To simplify this process, print out the results of the incubator humidity measurement using a wet bulb thermometer.
- To make it easier to determine the humidity level of the incubator, purchase a high-quality hygrometer at your nearest pet store.
Part 2 of 2: Caring for Turkey Eggs
Step 1. Mark the eggs with a pencil to keep track of their play schedule
Place the egg on its side. Write an "X" on one side of the egg and then write an "O" on the opposite side. When going to rotate the eggs in the incubator, you can rotate the eggs 180 degrees by paying attention to the signs that have been written. The eggs must be turned properly for the turkey to grow optimally.
Do not use colored pencils, pens, or markers. This stationery contains chemicals that can seep through the pores of the egg and interfere with the health of the egg
Step 2. Gently place the eggs into the incubator
Arrange all the eggs so that the marks are facing the same direction. If the incubator has a special place to put eggs, place the eggs in them and make sure the pointed end of the egg is facing down.
Step 3. Turn the eggs 3 times a day for 25 days
Turn the eggs daily to prevent the turkey from sticking to the eggshell. Take the egg, turn it to the opposite side, then place the egg back into the incubator. Use the letters written on the eggs as a guide for turning the eggs correctly.
- Rotating the egg can prevent the turkey from sticking to the eggshell. If the eggs are not turned, the eggs will not hatch.
- Turn the eggs as often as possible to keep the turkeys hatching healthy. This process is quite time consuming, so use an incubator that has an automatic egg turning device if you are going to incubate a large number of turkey eggs.
Step 4. After 1 week, use a flashlight to illuminate the eggs and test the condition
This process is called egg binning. This process is done to identify fertile eggs. When turning the eggs, shine a light on the eggs with a flashlight. You can see a turkey embryo which looks like a dark, tuberous lump of flesh at the widest part of the egg. If the vessels are not clearly visible, the egg may be infertile and should be discarded.
- Infertile eggs often have dark or red circles in them. In addition, the embryo will look like a small black spot stuck to the egg shell.
- Some embryos take a long time to grow. Therefore, continue to incubate eggs if the situation is uncertain. Infertile embryos will stop growing. If the embryo continues to grow but the vessels are not clearly visible, wait a few days.
Step 5. Lower the temperature and increase the humidity of the incubator after 25 days
Rearrange the incubator to keep the turkeys healthy and happy. Lower the incubator temperature to about 37 °C. Increase the humidity of the incubator to 75%. With this setting, the eggs are ready to hatch.
When using a wet bulb thermometer, the temperature should be 32-34 °C
Step 6. Wait for 3 days and do not spin the eggs until they hatch
The chicks will be ready to hatch after 25 days. Therefore, do not turn or move the eggs. Watch for cracks in the eggs. On day 28, the eggs will hatch and a healthy, fluffy turkey will be born.
When they hatch, the chicks may roll onto another egg. Use the markings on the eggs as a guide when rearranging turkey eggs
Step 7. Transfer the turkeys to the brooders
Make sure the incubator is warm to keep the chicks warm when they hatch. Place the sawdust evenly on the surface of the incubator, then place the food and drink bowls. After you train the turkey to eat and drink, the turkey is ready to grow up healthy and strong.
- Newly hatched turkeys should be guided when eating and drinking within 24 hours of hatching. Dip the turkey beak in the bowl. Make sure that no food or drink gets into the nose.
- Watch the turkey's reaction to the incubator temperature. If the turkeys huddle together under a heat source, the broiler may be too cold. If the turkeys are close together away from the heat source, the broiler may be overheating.
Tips
- Unfortunately, dead eggs are commonplace when incubating turkey eggs. Not all eggs can thrive. Also, not all turkey chicks will hatch strong.
- Discard any eggs that look cracked or damaged. Eggs may be infertile. Therefore, there is no point in incubating the eggs.
- Immediately place the turkey eggs into the incubator. Do not let the eggs chill for more than 1 week. Eggs that stay cold too long will result in unhealthy turkeys.
- When they start to hatch, the eggs will crack at the thickest part. The chicks will generally dig around the circumference of the egg, and open the ends like opening a hat. You don't need to spin the eggs.
- Pay attention to the water content in the incubator. The humidity of the incubator will change over time. If the humidity is too low, the turkey will dry out. If the humidity is too high, the turkey will sink into the egg.
- Don't handle the eggs too often. If the eggs are not disturbed too often, the eggs will hatch smoothly.
- The hatching time for turkey eggs is not the same as for most other poultry eggs. Therefore, do not incubate chicken and turkey eggs in the same incubator.
Warning
- Don't help hatching eggs. This can compromise the safety of the eggs. Resist the urge to help. Let the eggs hatch by themselves.
- Turkey eggs are very fragile. Since the oil on your hands can seep into the eggs, always handle the eggs with clean hands.
- Diseases that come from chickens can be transmitted to turkey eggs. Do not handle chicken and turkey at the same time. Clean hands after handling chickens so that the disease does not spread.
