If you’re curious about how to hatch turkey eggs and give your flock a confident start, you’re in the right spot. Hatching turkey eggs can be fun, but it also calls for consistency in temperature, humidity, and a bit of patience. Below, you’ll find a straightforward guide to storing eggs, setting up an incubator, checking on embryo development, and welcoming your new poults.
Collect and store turkey eggs
Getting your hands on the freshest, cleanest turkey eggs is the best place to begin. Turkeys are known to hide their nests in less-than-obvious places, so keep an eye on your hens.
Aim for fresh, clean eggs
- Gather eggs at least twice a day to reduce the risk of dirty shells or cracked shells.
- Store them in a cool environment between 50 and 65°F, with around 80-85% humidity if possible.
- Avoid washing unless absolutely necessary. If you must, use warm running water (never let eggs soak).
- Turn stored eggs daily if you plan to keep them for more than a week. It helps maintain embryo health.
Prepare the incubator
Next up, you’ll set up your incubator. Think of it as your “artificial nesting box” that maintains the right environment for those developing turkey embryos.
Temperature and humidity
- Keep the incubator at around 99.5°F. A half-degree fluctuation either way might be okay, but steadiness is key.
- Aim for 55% humidity during most of the incubation. If you’ve washed eggs, you might need to bump up the humidity a little to compensate for moisture loss.
- Place a reliable thermometer and hygrometer at egg level so you know exactly what’s happening where the eggs are.
Turning methods
- Turn your eggs at least 3-5 times a day, or use an automatic turner if your incubator supports it.
- Mark an “X” on one side and an “O” on the other, so you can easily spot which side is up. This prevents you from accidentally leaving eggs on the same side for too long.
- Keep this turning schedule until about day 24 (commonly called “lockdown”), when you’ll stop turning altogether to let the poults get into hatching position.
Candle and monitor development
Candling simply means shining a light into the egg to see how the embryo’s progressing. It’s a good way to quickly spot infertile or non-developing eggs.
Early candling
- Candle around day 7 to check for little “spider webs” of veins. This is a good sign the embryo is alive and well.
- Remove any eggs that appear clear or show no signs of development.
Lockdown stage
- At about day 24-25, you’ll stop turning the eggs. Increase humidity to around 64-70% to help poults hatch without getting stuck in the shell.
- Don’t open the incubator more than necessary at this point. Each time you do, temperature and humidity can drop.
Manage the hatch day
Turkey eggs usually hatch around day 28, though some breeds pop a little earlier or later. Once you see the eggs “pip” (a small crack in the shell), it can still take up to a full day for the poult to fully emerge.
When poults start to pip
- Resist the urge to peel back shell fragments for the poult. Most can do it on their own, and interference can sometimes harm them.
- Keep the incubator closed as much as possible. This preserves the higher humidity they need to slip out of their shells.
- Newly hatched poults can stay in the incubator for 24 hours. Once they’re fluffy and active, transfer them to a warm brooder at about 95°F.
Wrap up and next steps
Hatching turkey eggs is somewhat like a science experiment you can hold in your hand. With steady temperatures, proper humidity, regular turning, and a dash of patience, you can achieve hatch rates above 90%. Once your poults are settled, feed them a good turkey starter, keep them cozy in the brooder, and watch your young flock thrive. Good luck, and enjoy caring for your new turkey poults!