The Ultimate Guide to Hatching Turkey Eggs: Tips for Successful Incubation

If you’re a backyard poultry enthusiast or aspire to raise organic turkeys, you’ve undoubtedly contemplated hatching turkey eggs. It’s not uncommon for turkeys to struggle with the incubation of eggs, necessitating artificial means. In this guide, we’ll delve into the nitty-gritty of successfully hatching turkey eggs.

Finding Fertilized Turkey Egg

Learn the importance of keeping a clean environment for turkeys with this guide, covering essential tasks such as regular removal of droppings, changing bedding, and disinfecting surfaces
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For anyone fortunate enough to own turkeys, reaping a fresh supply of eggs is not a task. However, most turkey lovers, particularly those in urban settings, face the challenge of acquiring fertilized eggs fit for incubation. Regrettably, supermarket-sourced turkey eggs are usually sterile. You might need to hit the road and visit a farm or a professional poultry breeder to purchase fertilized turkey eggs. Picking them up in person is often the safest option, considering the fragility of mailed eggs.

Handling the Eggs with Care

Wild turkey eggs
The Cosmonaut, CC BY-SA 2.5 CA, via Wikimedia Commons

Acquiring the eggs is just the starting pointโ€”how you handle them can significantly influence the success of your hatching project. It’s highly advisable to gradually increase the eggs’ warmth rather than immediately placing them in high-heat conditions. Also, note that for the highest hatchability chances, the eggs shouldnโ€™t be over seven days old when they enter the incubator.

Locating the Incubator

The placement of your incubator can make or break your egg-hatching mission. It should be in a steady temperature room, specifically between 70ยฐF and 75ยฐF. Avoid positioning the incubator near windows to prevent the sunlight from dangerously raising the incubator’s internal temperature and risking the eggs’ survival.

Setting Up the Incubator

turkey hatching

Equipment preparedness is a crucial step before the eggs hit the incubator. The basics are ensuring cleanliness and the appropriate water levels. Patience is vital here; wait for the internal temperature to hit anywhere between 98ยฐF 102ยฐF. Investing in an incubator with a temperature control feature can enhance the overall hatching experience.

Turning the Eggs

Surprisingly, egg turning is part of the incubation routine to prevent the embryo from sticking to the shell. This should be executed gently and at least thrice daily. Using a pencil, a simple marking system on the eggs could greatly ease this process. Egg turning is done until approximately the 17th day of incubation.

Monitoring Temperature and Oxygen

Turkey hatches eggs in the woods

Besides maintaining a steady incubator temperature for the entire 28 days of incubation, monitoring the oxygen levels is crucial. Embryos need oxygen, which is obtained from air passing through the tiny egg shell pores. Gradually increase your incubatorโ€™s ventilation to aid this process.

Signs of Successful Incubation

Turkey chick walking in the air

During the hatching journey, it’s thrilling to witness several milestones. By the 19th day, expect to notice shells showing some fracture. By the 21st day, you’ll most likely find the eggs fully hatched with chicks, although awaiting their fur to dry. It’s disheartening to find an unbroken shell by day 21. Such an egg typically houses an ill or weak chick, which sadly must be euthanized to avoid unnecessary suffering.

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