The incubation of turkey eggs should be carried out according to the rules that will allow you to get the maximum result. Before proceeding with the laying, the farmer should familiarize himself with the features of the preliminary verification of the material, competent laying and the incubation itself. How incubation occurs at home, read this article.
Which eggs are suitable for incubation?
Eggs suitable for incubation must have certain parameters. To check the material for suitability, it is examined externally. According to the results of the study, choose those in which:
- flat shape;
- shell without damage;
- regular oval;
- natural color and color purity;
- lack of excess inclusions;
- weight from 75 to 90 g.
Did you know? The first incubators were built in ancient Egypt about 2.5 thousand years ago. In addition to the use of products in everyday life, the Egyptians used hatcheries for ritual purposes.
Storage rules
The selected material must be stored under conditions that allow its quality to be maintained until bookmarked. These include:
- storage no more than 10 days after demolition (the best result is possible when laying 5-day samples);
- humidity 80%;
- room temperature 12 ° C.
Extra eggs
Additionally prepared samples must be enlightened using a special device - an ovoscope.
Did you know? An ovoscope is an optical device for transillumination of poultry egg products, consisting of a lamp and having a small recess for convenient location of the material.
Screening is mandatory because it helps to identify unsuitable material that has no external flaws. A good material will include one that has the following characteristics:
- there is only one yolk, there are no sharp edges and is located in the center;
- the air chamber is small and is located on the blunt side.
Do I need to wash before bookmarking
Before laying, it is necessary to clean the eggs from contamination. The procedure must be carried out manually, without using any means. It is forbidden to rinse with water.
Important! Material that has been purified using water becomes unsuitable for incubation.
Egg laying
Material laying is also necessary to carry out, following some requirements:
- eggs should not be chilled;
- it is necessary to lay out in trays, having previously grouped the material by size and weight;
- the tab should be uniform, the position is determined by the type of incubator.
Turkey egg incubation schedule: table
The entire incubation period (28 days) is divided into 4 stages. During each of them, it is important to adhere to separate content standards.
| Day | Temperature | Humidity | Cooling | Coup day |
| 1-7 | 37,5°-38° | 60-65% | no | 4 |
| 8-14 | 37,6°-37,8° | 40-45% | no | 6 |
| 15-25 | 37,5°-37,6° | 65% | 20 minutes, 2 times a day | 6 |
| 26-28 | 36,6° | 70% | no | 0 |
Embryo developmental stages
Embryo development is monitored by ovoscopy. Check for compliance with development standards is carried out three times for the entire incubation period.
| Term | Development stage |
| 8 days | The embryo is formed and located in the yolk, has the beginnings of the cardiovascular system, a network of vessels is visible. |
| 13 days | Blood vessels converge on the pointed side, allantois is formed, the embryo is clearly visible. |
| 26 days | The chick is clearly moving, the body occupies almost the entire internal space, the air chamber is enlarged. |
The timing of the appearance of the chicks
The material is kept in the incubator for exactly 4 weeks. The first biting begins on the 25-26th day. On the 27th day, the process is widespread, and by the end of 28 days all the chicks should hatch. The average hatching time for turkeys is 8 hours.
Immediately after birth, the chicks are replanted in a warm place with an air humidity of at least 73% so that they can dry out and get used to the new environment. A suitable place would be a box with a bed of hay or a lightweight cloth. A day after hatching, turkey poults can stand on their feet, and by day 3 they are considered strong.
Important! Turn the eggs once every 3-4 days until placing in the incubator.
The first 76 hours, humidity and temperature should not change, then the level of humidity can be reduced. During this period, the absence of feeding is allowed, but 3 days should be the deadline for the chicks to stay without food. It is better to install a feeder in the box.
Newbie Common Mistakes
Incubation inefficiencies may be due to mistakes made by beginners. The main disadvantages of farmers are:
- violation of the temperature regime (strong cooling or overheating);
- improper air humidity (excessive dryness or high moisture content);
- rare and sharp turns of the incubation material, which leads to uneven maturation of the embryo.
A well-planned process is one of the guarantors of effectiveness. That is why following the above rules for incubating turkey eggs will help the farmer to complete the job successfully.
